Forums > Areas > Jalisco's Lake Chapala Region

chinagringo

Jan 1, 2011, 7:24 PM

Post #1 of 10 (4521 views)

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Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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Today, the 2nd Annual Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim was held on the Lake in front of the Beer Garden. Last year, Pedro, Yvonne and a couple of other lunatics started this event on a lark. They managed to raise approximately $6,000MXP for the local Cruz Roja. This year, a great deal more effort was put into promoting the event and participation increased. Between the sponsorships and the profit from the raffle, early indications are that something in the neighborhood of $200,000MXP was raised! All of the organizers, participants and those that effectively promoted this event should be commended! Interestingly, only one of the three local forums from Lake Chapala even carried info and news of this worthy cause.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

Pita

Jan 1, 2011, 8:27 PM

Post #2 of 10 (4505 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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That's a wonderful thing to hear. It is unfortunate that the organizers of this event did not post about it on all three of the local forums. I hope next year they will advertise this on all 3 forums, the LCS, walmart, superlake, sorians, etc - all free posting areas.

chinagringo

Jan 2, 2011, 9:47 AM

Post #3 of 10 (4456 views)

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Re: [Pita] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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I believe what you have seen is politics, personalities and a certain lack of common sense getting in between a good cause and the organizers. In spite of failing to use the forums to promote the event, I would guess that a fair number of hard working people got behind the event and worked their butts off to raise this kind of serious money. Many people do not realize that when then come upon a Cruz Roja group fund raising on the streets, it is often a group from Guadalajara taking advantage of the Tapatio traffic and the Gringos in the area. Not a dumb move by them but it does eat into the Chapala Cruz Roja's opportunities.
Regards,
Neil
Albuquerque, NM

DavidHF

Jan 2, 2011, 1:44 PM

Post #4 of 10 (4423 views)

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Re: [Pita] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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Cruz Roja volunteers were on-site at LCS, SuperLake, and many other public venues daily for months soliciting sponsors for the Polar Bear Plunge for the since before Thanksgiving. There was substantial visibility of this event.

don pedro

Jan 2, 2011, 5:48 PM

Post #5 of 10 (4390 views)

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Re: [DavidHF] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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my forum was the only one that promoted it. the others including this one did nothing. i was on the committee and other media did a fine job. that's why it was successful and the work of the volunteers. as i suspected , these forums including mine are a drip in the bucket in the overall scheme of things for anything around here. no thanks to any of you "regular" forum posters, we managed to raise over $200,000 pesos for a service that saves lives,including yours. SNORK!
pictures of the event are posted on my board.
so how much did you contribute davidf?
i could say much more but i will shut my pie hole now!
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

don pedro

Jan 3, 2011, 3:59 PM

Post #6 of 10 (4317 views)

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Re: [Pita] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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instead of trying to give us advise,pita, why don't you get involved. some of us know what to do.i have owned ad,pr and sales promotion agencies in eastern and western canada-you?
next year it would be nice if more people jumped in the lake and got sponsors to do so. i stick to what i said,print radio and television are far more important than these limited reach forums, but it's nice to have them on board for the event as well.
why don't YOU ensure that this happens-eh! SNORK!
http://chapalamexicoinfo.createforumhosting.com
naivete is a chronIc disease and by its very nature;the afflicted never know they have it.-SNORK!

Pita

Jan 3, 2011, 9:48 PM

Post #7 of 10 (4283 views)

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Re: [don pedro] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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Fair question. I would have been happy to get involved IF I HAD KNOWN about the event.

In this decade, Internet / social marketing is as important as radio, tv and newspaper advertsing. Even in Mexico.

And here's a little bonus: virtually ALL of it is free! Next year, try adding Facenook, Twitter and forum posting to your other advertising outlets. It's free and might get the word out to those under the age of seventy. SNORK.

Pita

Jan 3, 2011, 10:30 PM

Post #8 of 10 (4280 views)

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Re: [don pedro] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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By the way, how come neil's remarks escaped your criticism? While both our comments were accurate, his were WAY more snarky than mine. (perhaps he knows the players, so he can speak more factually).

Zardoz

Jan 4, 2011, 5:52 AM

Post #9 of 10 (4270 views)

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Re: [chinagringo] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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Oh guys save the snark for something worth it. Folks did good, this is a pile of money.
I saw people selling shirts at LCS and Superlake so it was promoted more than people
thought and yes I sponsored someone to go in the water Pedro :-) :-) Write down
the suggestions for next year and enjoy the success!!!!

Pita

Jan 4, 2011, 6:34 AM

Post #10 of 10 (4265 views)

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Re: [Zardoz] Cruz Roja Polar Bear Swim Lake Chapala

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Well said, Zardoz. Thank you.