Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views
Collection of Stories, Perspective and Ideas for Coffee Meets
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| Daily Progress |
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| More than Money! |
Where does the problem lie? With me or them?
Probably with both. Or is it that I offered my hand to the lady who was not prepared to extend it in the first place!
Whatever may be the reason, I felt as if the handshake was not real – an halfhearted handshake.
For those looking for tips and the etiquette of a proper handshake, here is a good list made and published by Social Triggers.
Other resources on the dos and don’t of handshake
1. Art of Manliness – How To Give an Impressive Handshake‘
2. Inc.com The Art of the Handshake: 8 Dos and Don’ts
3.
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| Tips to Make Content Attract |
More more practical tips on how to write or frame interesting content.
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| State to rebuild with your help! |
CMO Kerala
Verified account
@CMOKerala
Aug 17
For the people of Kerala, the road to recovery is going to be a long one. Your help no matter how small will be a step to restore normalcy. Donate to:
Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund
NO: 67319948232
Bank: State Bank of India
IFSC : SBIN0070028
SWIFT CODE : SBININBBT08
Here’s the account details of CM’s Distress Relief Fund as seen on a tweet. Apart from this, the account details are being shared by many on Facebook. It’s seen posts with account information and now I heard a news that some con man has shared a personal account details as CM’s fund.
How easy it’s to mislead the common man and share a different account detail. So, what’s the way out?
One of the easy way to solicit fund is through this way ( SHARE THE LINK TO THE CM’s WEBSITE). The page will carry the account details.
Btw, create a micro-site or create a landing page with all the right content to solicit funds from donors!
1. Well designed landing page with option to copy the account details or it will enable public to easily add the beneficiary.
2. Make display banner will related images. Every Kerala Gov site homepage should carry banners asking for donation.
3. Write content which conveys the purpose of deposit and the importance of each penny that goes into CM’s account.
4. Send email to NRI’s asking for donation
5. SMS campaign to remind people about the need for funds.
Above all, I would like to see CM or any govt spokesman addressing the public on a daily basis. This will be an easy channel to decimate information about the relief activities. In such an address, can include the account information, link to the website and also have text with information of money connected, etc.
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| Loss in the Family and Neighborhood |
Chechi…chechi….Chechi…
Acha njanum verette….
The waling cries from grief stricken daughter and of a lady reverberated in this locality. It was the last few minutes of this lady in her house – where she had lived, prospered and lead a hopeful life.
I was one among the people in the locality who stood outside the house to see her off on her final journey.
Standing outside along with others, I was thinking of the little interaction I had with her. She worked in a courier company close to our house in Kumarapuram. My mind when to the short conversation I had when I picked a parcel from her office. In a short time, she had pleasantly asked my whereabouts and my wife. It was a pleasant gesture, quite unexpected from people these days.
Now standing outside here house, all I could recollect is her smile, and that bit of conversation. I missed her today, like those who teary eyed ones who stood outside. I wish I could have spoken to her, probably smiled at her, rather that rushing past her, without a glance.
Well, that’s how each moment slips away, and we end up loosing people, moments. Oh, the precious moments.
I felt sad for the daughter who will live rest of her life without her mother. What all will she miss about her? Her care, concern, questions, her thoughts about her future, studies, getting a suitable partner….
Only one solace… a part of her mom will continue to live with her. I hope she’ll get the support, love from her father, her uncles and her neighbors. That’s my prayer!
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And there was one more death in this locality – one Mr Gopakumar. I never knew his name, till I saw it in this poster. I haven’t spoken to him, but I keep seeing him riding a vespa scooter and we used to cross each other’s path without an eye contact.
Oh, I will miss him too. Don’t know much about him – I thought he was working with University of Kerala.
Moments – Fleeting Moments
How to make every interaction with people more meaningful?
When a friend/colleague/relative passes away, do you wish you had spent more time with that person?
IT would take huge amount of money for the state to build the broken infrastructure, and system to get it going. So, where is the money coming from? While there are contributions from private sources, there are still more to be done.
Raising Funds – Kerala Floods
So, what are the ways administration or private entity can raise funds? How to get the message out to the public to donate generously? Is there a system that can makes things easier? Who is appealing to whom?
Here are few thoughts I would like to share.
1. CM or any charismatic leader who can move the masses should appear on prime time Tv everyday with an appraisal of the day’s activities. This perfectly scripted message will summarize the activities, task done, work and areas where more help is required. Also, appeal how much more money is required. For instance, if 20,000 core is required, then the person or the administration should work for a amount of 30000 cores. Keep an audacious goal to achieve the goal.
2. Create a micro site to carry the latest information. Only verified information will be posted where people can refer as the ONLY source of right information.
3. To raise fund of this scale, an state level event ( like Live Aid) should be organized.
4. A website should list out all the location of broken infrastructure. Each item should have a bar which should show the progress ( work started, progress, work in progress) also picture ( real time) and how the repair is carried out. TRANSPARENCY
Who are the leaders and unsung heros who acted during this Kerala floods
1. Volunteers ( Mostly young Turks)
2. District administration and beurocratcs
3. District Collector ( Vasuki and T.V Anupama
3. Fishermen folks
4. Residents
6. Cine actors ( Tovino) and politicians
7 Donors ( Those who contributed small to big part of their savings to CM’s Fund)
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FREAKY IDEAS to RAISE FUNDS
1. Open more booze retail outlets across the state ( more sales, more tax)
2. Opportunity to donate black money to CM’s fund
3. Make it mandatory or voluntary to donate 1000 to 10000 to CM’s fund. Each citizen. ( Exceptions allowed – those who can’t donate)
3. Appeal to NRI’s in Each region ( North America – Rs 5000 crores, Europe Rs 3,000 crores and South East Asia Rs 2,000 crores). Let these people raise funds through events, etc.
4. Start a FREE ZONE!
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I’ve shared a little of what I heard from the news sites. Moreover, there are many other unsung heros who had worked and recused many.
So, if you come across such heroes, make sure you give a pat on their back and also give them due credit.
Feel free to leave a comment if you like this post or feel free to join me for tea if you’re in Trivandrum or Bangalore. 🙂
What do you think about this? Do you react easily or are you the kind who are just spectators?
Let us know in the comments.
Just wondering if any flood Donation kit is currently sold at shops or department stores like Margin Free or Pothy’s? If not, now is the time to make a handy kit, which makes for easy contribution.
Such a kit can be packaged like this ( Rs 501 kit, or Rs 1000 kit) with essential items ( bed sheet, towel, T Shirt, torch, toothpaste, biscuits, etc.)
Probably, online stores like Flipkart or Amazon or Jabong, Kada.in should spring to action with a banner ( #Keralafloodkit) on their homepage. Same Day Delivery option!
What about Uber Eats or Swaap App or similar food delivery apps in Trivandrum? It would be a good thought if they can take delivery of Pothi Choru from selected shops to relief camps. (A special menu option on the App to donate)
Just sharing this thought.
1. On the same lines when a natural catastrophe of this nature happens in this country, a lot could be done by Online Stores. What they could do immediately is to create hashtag for instance in this case, it could be #keralafloodkitamazon or #keralafloodclothkitjabong, etc and share it on their social platform.
2. Second, create a banner which will take to a landing page which will have two or three specific kit.
( food kit, food plus medicine kit, food, medicine and cloth kit).
3. Share the pictures of beneficiaries who have received the kit. Also mail the copy of picture to the person who sponsored it.
4. Eventually estore will earn the goodwill for facilitating it and also they can earn some brownie points.
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Role for Kudambashree in Kerala Floods
I bet this NGO is doing their best in helping people through their work or contribution. Here’s something more they can do:
1. Create a banner on their homepage
2. Make a make-shift food stall which makes pothichoru
3. Tie up with food delivery apps to take orders
4. Also make booth or collection centers to take old clothes and materials
Here’s the 100 little things to do or see in Trivandrum.
1. Coffee Powder at Vinayaka
Do you like the smell of freshly grounded coffee beans? Or do you have a friend or a family member who adores coffee? If yes, then here’s an experience waiting for coffee bean lovers.
Trivandrum have few shops which grids coffee beans and packs it in front of you. One of the shops which my mom prefers to buy is Vinayaka Coffee at Chalai. My mom usually insists on Pea berry coffee. When you order coffee, you can watch how they grind the coffee bean and see the process.
2. Post a Postcard at General Post Office
Postcards are still a cool way to let your friends and dear ones know that you remember them. Trivandrum has many post offices dotted at various parts of the town. Kerala themed postcards are available at book stores like Current Books at Statue or at SMS Institute near to Press Club, Trivandrum. If you are the type who like to photograph old buildings or visit them, then Post Master General Office at PMG will be an ideal place. Though I have been, the colonial style building has always fascinated me.
3. Visit Angadi Kada at Chalai and buy incense Powder
Ayurveda is an alternative treatment methodology which is popular in Kerala and elsewhere in India. In ayurveda treatment, especially for making kashayam ( concoction for medicines), the vaidyar ( learned and experienced teacher) uses many herbs, plant leaves, barks, seeds, etc. Theses are sold in few shops which are spread across the city. There’s one such shop at GPO junction and also one inside the vegetable market road in Chalai.
My mom often insists to buy frankincense ( mani kundirikalm) from a shop in Chalai. If you are curious to know about the herbs or would like to see the store,then it’s worth visiting the shop.
Flossy Ideas, Meetups and Views 
