The Site is Up

I have just finished making my website at http://community.wvu.edu/~jei000/myWeb/

In it you will find example of my writing and editing knowledge gain over the course of my time at WVU. I have included my resume for anyone who wants to see it.

Near the End

I am coming close to the end of my time at Positive Spin and at WVU.

Right now, I am helping write one final grant, designing a tri-fold, and buliding a website before I finish up my time.

The grant is from a Alliance for biking and walking. They are giving $20,000 to the organization with programs they deem worthy.

The tri-fold is going well, but I always feel that it can be better. I don't really know a lot about artist design, but my natural showmanship should make up for any short comings. I have no idea what to expect, which means I will not be surprised. As long as I field questions with accuracy, I should be fine.

I can't wait to get this presentation over with so I can work on the website, study for a final, and put together a final portfolio for another class all before the week is up.

ABW Grant

The ABW grant is going well. I decided to use the form they sent us via e-mail. I made some minor edits by adding color and a letter head, but the questions are next to the answers. This way there is no confusion.

I have been working with Nick to finish the ABW grant and find him a better computer for the office. There is no office computer or phone just yet, but we are working on it.

As for the professional statement, I am braking it up all over the web site to better fit in each link. This way people will read what they want and will not get frustrated reading something they see as unnecessary. I plan on have various picture and other little things like a Charlie Brown comic something like that. I have not decided on anything yet.

Grant

I have just learn that one of the grants Positive Spin has submitted has made it to a qualifying round. They (Alliance for Biking & Walking) will now pick from a group of 100 or so to give $20,000 to. This is an exciting opportunity. I would love to put on a resume that a grant I was part of was awarded.

It was a simple request for the money to start Positive Spin getting more involved with infrastructure of Morgantown. Better road, sidewalks, etc.

The Alliance will be sending more information to us and the other 'contestants' in a few days or so.

Audience

I am working with Nick to get a new and updated version of the Positive Spin volunteer manual and the executive handbook. This is a chance to keep a similar format, but targeted for different audiences.

The volunteer manual is the easiest because I am in that audience. I should be simple, easy to read, have lots of pictures featuring volunteers, and set ground rules and guidelines. Nick had most of what was written, but it wasn't very visually appealing. The history section was two large paragraphs that I broke down into four. I did this so readers would have an easier time with it and eliminate white space. Short paragraphs also translate better as a form of reference. I also used more bullet points, check boxes for the checklist, and checked consistency.

The executive handbook is in a similar format as the volunteer manual, but needs different pictures. The audience is influential members of the community. This includes government, the university, and businesses. Nick has some specific names in mind.

The pictures for executives should show Positive Spin members helping the community and not just fixing bikes. Their is not much writing done yet because Nick wants to put in his 5 year business plan. The challenge is in not sounding desperate (which I will check for). What is the mutual gain?

I will update more as soon as I have Nicks rough draft to develop and edit.

Earn points through polls

Today, Nick and I updated the website (positivespin.org) to include a poll. This poll is about the thoughts for the new logo; designed by WVU students.

The logo information can be found by clicking here.

Please go to the positivespin.org, scroll down to find the polls on the right side, and vote. By commenting that you have voted on my blog post, you can help fulfill Dr. Wible's blog-comment requirement.

portfolio thoughts

This portfolio/professional statement/website needs to display my skills as a writer and editor. It also needs to talk about why I want to go into a PWE related career and my values.

I intend to use this site (and others) to inform and argue myself to future employers and the teacher. I know alot about what a website needs to be visually appealing, however I don't have the technical know-how. To counter-act this, I will have some kind of apology on this site.

It will have the school colors (blue background with white and yellow text). I will include a picture of myself, links to my blog, and a copy of my resume. I will again apology for using my generic resume that can apply to anything. A custom resume is always better when mailing. This site will also need to link to my English 303 and 304 projects. I will just make a simple hyperlink to each. I also will have links to other websites like worth1000.com, lessig.org, positivespin.org, and a number of pdf files from 491a readings.

Joomla!

My latest assignments for Positive Spin are updating and rearranging the website and the "30-minute flyer."

For the website, Nick uses a program called Joomla!. I have never heard of Joomla! before so I'm a little worried about the speed and accuracy I can do this. I tried to insert an image from a file to the "directions" section, but it took me an hour before I gave up. Nothing frustrates me more than confusing technology. There is also the issue the Nick uses 1.0 when many online directions are for 1.5. I have never done anything on the web before, but I trust my computing skills enough to figure out a working process.

Writing for the website has one major question for argument, why is a bike/bus/walking/PRT better than a car? Every reason will have its own section with a paragraph or two, some pictures, and some links to various articles. I found one good one HERE.

The "30-minute flyer" was a flyer for a event called Go for the Groceries. Nick was off to give a safety lecture to a local school and said he would like a few flyers for this event. The trick was is that the lecture was in 50 minutes. That gave us 10-minutes to transfer all the files and information to my computer, 30-minutes to edit the flyer, and 10-minutes to print it out. Lucky for me, Nick had another flyer that I used as a template. I read and picked all the most important information that a school kid may find interesting, changed logo, added pictures, and edited it. It was only OK, if I had more time I could have really focused, but sometimes your just rushed.

The flyer may go in the tri-fold. I think that original/edited text will have a red background, and final drafts will have a green background.

Thinking about the final reflection

This entry is more notes to myself. As a work towards the final few weeks, I have to think about what I will write and talk about for my tri-fold and final reflection.

Things I plan to mention:
1. Positive Spin's first PWE intern. (what it represents)
2. Rules when I write.
3. First grant proposal.
4. What PWE means (to me/Positive Spin)
5. What is Positive Spin?
6. My role/job with Positive Spin.
7. Letters, notes, opinions, concerns, etc.

This list is in no particular order and is subject to change.

For my tri-fold title I was thinking "The Positive Spin of PWE" or something corny/snappy/cleaver like that. I plan to keep the WVU color scheme or something I find on PowerPoint templates. I will have a general info (PS, PWE, Role) in the center and one side for Editing and the other for Writing. Each example will have a paragraph or two introducting it.

After the Break

I was able to finish most the work I needed to over our spring break. I finished entering in all the year's events on the web and drafted a letter to Dave Egger's. Activeliving.org, however, stopped taking story submissions for their website. It's a shame because no stories from WV are currently there.

Now that I am back, Nick has me helping write a proposal to the board members for a company laptop. It has to be under $300. A new Mini netbook with XP is about $280. A place in Morgantown called PCrenewal has refurbished laptops and will surly have something for everyday computing under $300.

To write this proposal, I think about the Pros and Cons of having a laptop. It's surprisingly hard to write about something that I think is a no-brainer. I can't think of any Cons. So I talked about the importance of having modern technology for a growing business and it's travel convenience. Nick suspects this will not be a problem, more a formality.

As a side note, today I helped move old bikes out the warehouse by the wharf to be recycled.

Before the Break

Spring Break is almost here and I will make sure that I have work to do for Positive Spin.

Over the break I will update the calender on the web (positivespin.org), write to health websites about what Positive Spin is all about, and write to David Eggers about the program he helped inspire. It is not that much work really. I plan to take only an hour or two a day to finish it all.

As for the grants I blogged about last time, I have been working with John Loizer. John is another a friend of Nicks who will help submit the letters of recommendation and proposals on time to the B&E.

Over these last few days, I have been working on finalizing the proposals to the best of my knowledge. "If Wheels Could Talk..." (IWCT) stands a pretty good chance, I feel. I have refined the budget and edited for minor copyedit mistakes. I would love if we even got have the $4000 dollars proposed. I would be a real boost to my ego and something to mention to future empoliers.

I am a little worried about the "Helmets for Morgantown" (H4M) proposal though.

In case I didn't blog about it earlier, H4M will provide free helmets to Morgantown citizens when they buy, loan, or repair bikes. We are asking for $500 for 73 helmets in various sizes and colors. I filled out the order form and they are really high case helmets. Did you know 50% of America's children (14 and under) suffer serious head trama from falling off of bikes, in-line skates, and skateboards without a helmet?

I feel I didn't know enough about the program to make a solid enough argument. Nick also explained about why these helmets are special, but I forgot the proper names he used. Also, I didn't even know the real project name. I just called it H4M out of the blue and no one seemed to correct me. However, I am sure John can fix anything that I may be mistaken on.

Starting off

I have been working at Positive Spin for about five days now and am starting to see what Nick Hein wants to do with the place. Nick's idea of Positive Spin was inspired by Dave Egger's 826 Valencia in San Fransisco. Nick showed me a video you can find by clicking here.

The idea is to kids with their writing in a fun environment with a project called If Wheels Could Talk. The project would start over the Summer and have 3 kids with 3 volunteers in hour long sessions, five days a week. However, Nick wants to replace Egger's idea of a pirate store with a bike shop. I think the bike shop is a great evolution of Egger's. We can get kids being hands on with bikes and teach them about cycling benefits. We also want kids to write about their adventures on a bike so we can publish them in a book and have those profits go towards additional funding.

If Wheels Could Talk solves two growing problems in one, non-profit set up. According to a survey by the National Center for Health Statistics, in 2006, 29.4 percent of American children are considered obese. That is over nineteen million children. There has also been a decline of writing skills in schools. Poor writing in elementary schools develop into low grades in high school's, which result in children being less interest in seeking higher education. Without college education, a person's chances of finding a good paying job are greatly diminished.

Without a healthy body, kid's shall be in and out of hospitals constantly and die younger. Without a well paying job, children will not be able to afford the rising costs of health care when they grow older. This could lead to a Morgantown where citizens are fat and poor because they are fat.

To help fund his idea, Nick has me writing a grant proposal to WVU's B&E. They award grants to companies that can benefit Mon County and Morgantown.

I have been writing as much as I can, but Nick has left for Guatemala for two weeks and the proposal is due before he gets back. There also required letters of recommendation and that's something I really need Nick here to help with. I will due want I can, but I don't know anyone to contact to get the letters in time.

My First Day

Today was my first day working as a intern with Positive Spin. I started the day by helping Nick Hein install some wrenches and various tools on the wall for the public work benches. The office itself doubles up as a shop for people to repair, recycle, and pick up bikes. There is a small room where Nick and I have set up our laptops to get some minor work done. The office itself is very (VERY!) cold.

I started by updating the list of volunteers with their name, phone, address, email, and major information. I have not finished it yet, because Mr. Hein asked that I include a picture of everyone as well. This will take some time, because I am the only volunteer here this early in the day. Nick said he would help out by getting everyone's picture for me. Its a short list so it shouldn't take long.

Nick also got me working on editing and combining the minutes and the narrative of a board meeting held on March 3rd. This way it comes in one easy to read, 7-page file. It involved organizing the charts with the narrative so they flowed together and could also be used for quick reference. It was a word document that needed proper formatting.

I also made some suggestions about posting the Positive Spin name on other websites like Activeliving.org and pot holes I found in the company website. There are just a few dead links and sentences saying "click pic below," but there was no picture. I was hoping to work will the company webmaster, but he quit yesterday. So, I will work with Nick to fix these problems and update the website. I have very little experience with open source FTP code, but Nick seem to know a little bit more then me.

I am looking forward for tomorrow where I will bring up the ways Nick sees Positive Spin growing.

Positive Spin

Today I had a meeting with Nickolas Hein, CEO of Positive Spin. Positive Spin is a community partner of WVU's Center for Civic Engagement. Mr. Hein was very enthusiastic about bringing me on as a professional writing and editing intern to help around the office. He has never worked with a PWE intern before and hopes I can turn Positive Spin into a bigger company. This gives me a chance to define my own position and importance within Positive Spin.

Positive Spin focuses on loaning, repairing, and recycling bikes for people who choose to remain active, don't have a car, and/or rely on public transportation to get from place to place. Their most ambitious goal is to eliminate 80% of the vehicle miles traveled by 2040.

As an intern, I will help write grant proposals to encourage sidewalk building and repair projects, updating information to the webpage (positivespin.org), and edit executive and volunteer manuals. Mr. Hein is also part of program to get kids riding bicycles and writing about their experiences. I will enjoy helping on this project the most because kids are only getting fatter and aren’t excited about education. This program will help kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.

I will work for around 28 hours a week, starting at 9am, and be doubling up a receptionist. This way, the company can keep steadier hours and keep organized. I am hoping to do a little design work by creating a new logo, t-shirts, hats/helmets, any number of flyers, and promotional material.

I will be updating this blog bi-weekly to track my progress with Positive Spin.

WVU's CCE

I have been to the Career Service Center, e-mailed all the WVU's Business Incubator companies, and contacted Populore Publishing, but still have not found anyone willing to take me on as an intern.

On Monday I stopped by the University's Center for Civic Engagement to inquire about internship opportunities for the Spring 2009 semester. I spoke to a GA named Sarah and gave her a copy of my resume to give to the center's director. I would have spoken to the director myself, but he was not available to talk.

Sarah informed me that my resume would be given to the various community partners of the CCE.

Today, I made some follow up calls to different partners including Positive Spin, The United Way, and Amizade.

I was not able to get a yes or no answer from anyone, but I was promised a call back by those three. I am hoping the Positive Spin will take me on because they are dedicated to people who choose to walk and use public transportation to get around Morgantown. I saw they are trying to get more and better sidewalks around town. As someone who relies entirely on walking and the bus, I fell very enthusiastic about encouraging safer ways.

I see that some of Barrack Obama's Stimulus Plan is going towards improving America's infrastructure. As their intern I can help petition the Government to spend some of this money on Morgantown. I myself was struck by a car in a crosswalk last year.

Amizade is part of the University's study abroad program. If I intern with them, I can make newsletters, promotions, and any number of promotional material to encourage student participation. I have traveled to Costa Rica, Iceland, and New Zealand. I know the importance of representing your country while feeling like a global citizen.

If none of this companies contact me by Thursday, then I will continue calling the various parent companies I found on the CCE website. Time is running out and I have stepped up my efforts from e-mails to straight calling. Hopefully, everything will work out.

Current Progress

I have been searching for an internship for about six weeks now, and still have not found anything. Yesterday, I went back to WVU's Career Service Center to see they knew of anything available. I met with Toni Jones and she was much more helpful then the last person I spoke to.

She gave me the names of people at the Dominion Post and the Jeffersonian that may need help. I called up Isiah Richie, who is an accounting student currently writing for the Jeffersonian. He gave me the e-mail address of Krista Streisel, who is apparently in charge of their hiring. I sent an e-mail inquiring about interning for them.

After I composed that e-mail, I got a message from Dale Weaver. Mr. Weaver is head of Sports Weave and works out of WVU's Business Incubator. I had e-mailed him a week or two ago asking about internship opportunities. He wanted a copy of my resume and what my interest is in Sports Weave. I sent a cover letter explaining my situation that informed him of the internship program, my desire to work with student-athletes, and my experience in athletics.

I hope to hear back from both of them as soon as possible. If they say "No," I also have other names and places like the Center for Civic Engagement and Ron Jusice informed me of Chris Flecker who is Director of Planning in Morgantown. If I do not hear back from Streisel or Weaver in a day, I will try these other places.

Calling Back

Today I sent a few minutes doing follow up calls to places that I sent a cover letter and a copy of my resume to. The one place that e-mailed me back was Datacaster (a stealth mode company). However when I called the number from the website, I received your standard "I'm sorry the number you are trying to reach..." I had no idea that Datacaster took its 'stealth' so seriously that you couldn't even call the office.

I decided to send an e-mail off to Populore Publishing in Westover. I have interviewed the head editor, Mrs. Sielen, for my 301 project and hope she will bring me on as an intern.

The Business Incubator

Over the last week I have been trying to find a internship, which I can use my skill effectively while gaining valuable experience. It has been hard to send out e-mails, cover letters, and resumes and not get a "yes" or "no." My roommate is telling me that they wait to give a response, but I can't afford to wait much longer.

This week I attended a meeting with WVU Career Service Center to get some help. After meeting with their representative and gains some names and number, I preceded to try and contact some of the people they gave me. I have not had any luck reaching these people. The one internship I really want is with WV Writers Inc. We both share the goal of helping develop creative writing skills within the community. I know this will be a good opportunity, but can't reach their intern coordinator.

Running out of options, I decided to try the WVU Business Incubator. I have tried once already and was met with cold silence. This time though I decided to e-mail the individual heads of each business in the Incubator. I sent an e-mail to any name I can find asking about a possible internship. I am hoping for either Datacasters Inc. (http://www.datacaster.com/) or SportsWeave (http://www.sportsweave.com/) to respond in favor of my request.

Many of my fellow classmates have found their internship and are working diligently for success. I have been tracking the blogs and been gaining an understanding of how to write my own once I gain and internship. I am a little worried that I may be too late to produce enough material for a A+ final portfolio, but that only means I'll have to work twice as hard in half the time.

Getting the name out there

Over the last week I have been customizing cover letters and resumes in order to find a internship here at the University. I have written letters to The Alumni Magazine, The Career Service Center, and have inquired with a friend if they need a PWE intern with the U92.

I have doubts that the Alumni Magazine will get back to me, but so far I have not been contacted by anyone. I hope at least for a formal rejection so I know were I stand. My only option I see keep sending my literature to as many people I can research.

I am still hoping to find an internship within WVU. I know that someone will be able to utilize my skills and I plan to live up to everything I say I am.

Taking the next step

With my deadline of three weeks coming to a close, I have wrote a business letter. This letter will be sent to various people in hopes of gaining an internship.

This is an example of the letter I was talking about. I have cut out most of the address information for privacy sake.

My name is Jesse Irons and I am an undergraduate student in the English department here at West Virginia University. I am inquiring about a chance to intern at the Alumni Magazine for my English 491a class. I hope to start a career as an editor in publishing and have dedicated my four years in the Professional Writing and Editing program at WVU to reach my goal. If you accept me as an intern, this will be my first major step towards that goal.

Outside of formal education, I have experience helping friends and family edit and write various assignments in both MLA and APA style format. I have detailed knowledge of Microsoft Office and I am currently learning webpage design. I have worked hard learned what it will take to be a professional editor. All I need is more experience, which I hope to gain as an intern.

This internship will be given my upmost care and respect, with my schedule revolving around yours. My professor, Dr. @#$!@, is requiring that I complete 140 hours as an intern before the semesters up. I am more than happy to provide any information about myself or the class that may be a concern for you. I will organize the information into a web portfolio with my work and experience with the Alumni Magazine, which I will gladly share with you.

I hope that we can meet as so as possible. I do ask that you respond within one to two week after receiving this letter. I have learned so much at WVU, but nothing can compare to knowledge from experience. By working as an intern with the Alumni Magazine, I can learn how to truly be a professional editor. I hope you will respond favorably to my request, and please feel free to ask any questions or concerns you may have.

Sincerely,

Jesse Irons

The search is on

Today I took my first steps to find a internship that would interest me. I am looking for something along the lines of editing, to be within the University, and paid. I really don't think I can find a paid internship, but that's not a big deal. It is important that it be in Morgantown because I do not have a car and bus schedules are unreliable.

Internships for English majors at WVU include working with: the Center for Literary Computing, the WVU Alumni Magazine, the WVU Press, and the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences College Relations Director.

The Center for Literary Computing sounds like it could be fun. I have experience with both iMac and PC, detailed knowledge of Mircosoft Office and Photoshop, have volunteered time teacher computers to elderly people, and I am currently learning how to build webpages in my 303 and 304 English classes. I can see myself editing things like manuals and webpages. The only thing I can't edit are lines of complex codes.

When I took English 302, one of the projects I did was to edit a newsletter for the WVU Alumni Magazine. The project taught me to check for consistency in both visual and within the text. I can continue to do that as well as edit anything else.

Its my understanding that the WVU Press isn't looking for anymore interns right now. I'm not sure I can see myself there anyway.

I couldn't find anything to specific about an internship at Eberly College of Arts and Sciences College Relations Director. I'm sure it's their but I could only find news about internships in Europe. I'd be all about going to Europe for an internship if I wasn't already taking other classes. I'm not too sure about what I would do their.

There is one other place; Populore Publishing. I interviewed the head editor of Populore for my English 301 class. Populore would allow me to edit in fiction and non-fiction, which I hope to do in the future. Im sure I can find an internship their if I ask, but I would like to branch out a little if I could.

The key to being good at an internship is to be practical and inovative. I know I have the skills to anything thats asked of me as an intern while still domonstrating my strenght as an editor.

First Day in 491a

This is the end of the of 301 and start of 491a

Today was the first day of my English 491a class. This class is my capstone and needed in order for me to graduate this semester. Basically, I have to complete 140 hours as an intern in an area that interests me. I'm a little nervous because many of my fellow classmates have already know where they are interning. However, I am confident that I can find an internship within the first three weeks of this semester.

The teacher requires me to keep up with the reading and careful keep track of what I learn. Pretty cut and dry, just like 301. I must keep track of everything I do and learn, then present my learning experience towards the end of the semester. As long as I keep track of everything I do, learned, and applied in the class. I should have plenty of meaningful content to present.