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Attention Dayton Area Golfers!
If you are looking for a great excuse to get out and hit the links, consider playing in the 2008 Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio Golf Scramble.

The event will be held on Monday September 29th, 2008 at Heatherwoode Golf Club in Springboro, Ohio.  Things get started at 11:30 and the fun lasts all day long.

Not a golfer, but still want to get involved?  The EFWO is also seeking volunteers to help run the event and there are still opportunities available for business sponsorships.  If you are interested, please contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio.

Here is a quick run-down of the day’s events:

Schedule of events
11:30 Registration and Practice
1:00 Shotgun Start to Scramble
6:00 Dinner & Speaker
6:30 Awards Ceremony
First, Second & Third Place

The Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio was founded in 1974 as a not-for-profit voluntary health organization that provides education, support, and advocacy for people with seizure disorders and their families. The Foundation also promotes understanding of epilepsy through educational programs offered in the community to schools, organizations, professional audiences, first responders, businesses, government, and the general public.

By supporting the Golf Scramble for Epilepsy, you will assist the Foundation in providing vital services and programs for residents from 11 western Ohio counties, which include Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby. With your sponsorship and participation, the Foundations can continue to offer its services to persons with epilepsy free of charge.

For more information, email the Epilepsy Foundation or download the event flyer.

Living With Epilepsy

The September 2008 issue of Parents Magazine has a great article about a Massachusetts family and how they dealt with their son’s epilepsy.  (Unfortunately it was not posted on their web site, and did not turn up in numerous web searches.  Should you find a link please let me know)

The story centers around a young boy named Michael, who suffered from 2 types of seizures that sound very similar to those that my son experiences.  The similarities between the descriptions their lives to our day to day reality was striking.  Michael’s parents spoke about how their child suffered through hundreds of seuzures a day, and how they “got used to living in crisis mode.”

I don’t want to paint this as a negative story, as it was actually quite informative and inspiring.  As parents of a child with epilepsy, we are often asked what our family life is like.  This article really sheds light into much of what life is like for us, and I imagine what life must be like for many other families who have a child suffering through epilepsy.

Their story has a happy ending, as their son Michael has now been seizure free for some time thanks to the right medications, early detection, and a lot of luck.  I am thrilled for Michael and his family.  I imagine that having Michael seizure free must be a wonderful feeling - one I hope we might experience someday.  Reading this article helped to further that hope.

One thing that we definately share with Michael’s family is this.  Our experience, like theirs, has taught us not to sweat the small stuff in life any more.

The article also features the following facts about Epilepsy: (Taken from the Parents article)

• The Brain is made up of 100 Billion nerve cells, which communicate with each other and the rest of the body.
• A seizure is triggered by abnormal electrical activity that causes a change in sensation, movement, behavior or consciousness.
• Doctors diagnose epilepsy after a child has two or more unprovoked seizures, which means that they aren’t caused by something external, such as a fever.
• Epilepsy is actually an umbrella term covering many diseases and syndromes.
• Epilepsy affects about 3 million people in the United States, and 45,000 children are diagnosed with epilepsy each year.
• There are 30 types of seizures, which can last from a few seconds to two minutes or longer.  In rare cases, they can be fatal.
• Drugs, surgery, or a special high fat / low-carb diet are effective in about 80% of cases.  Kids may be good candidates for surgery if their seuzures - unlike Michael’s - can’t be controlled with medication and are caused in a specific area of the brain.

If you would like to learn more about epilepsy or need help dealing with epilepsy, please visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio at www.ohioepilepsy.org

The Epilepsy Foundation is always looking for volunteers.   If you would like to join in the fight against epilepsy, please visit the volunteer page of the EFWO site.

From Dayton to Hog Heaven…

One of the coolest stores in Dayton, Ohio is F&S Harley Davidson.  Located on North Dixie Drive, the store is family owned; run by Jeff Stolzenburg, his sister Jenny, and his parents.  F&S is a massive complex, filled with beautiful Harley Davidson motorcycles, Harley merchandise, a conference center, storage facility, repair garage, parts warehouse, and more.  They even have free coffee for guests, and I love free coffee.  One step through the front door, and you immediately begin to picture yourself out on the open road riding one of these beautiful machines.

When I worked in Dayton as an Account Executive, F&S was one of my favorite clients.  They were always fun to work with. They were not afraid to push the boundaries, and they sell an unbelievable product to a very loyal customer base.  Truly a dream account.  I still keep in touch with Jeff and the F&S crew, and they even hosted a fundraiser for the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio for free last March.  Great people, and a great place to visit if you have never done so.

With that said, this year is Harley Davidson’s 105th anniversary.  The company is pulling out all the stops to celebrate the anniversary, and Dayton will be included in the mix as several corporate executives from HD will be leading a cross country ride right through Dayton.  The group, which should be sizable, will be stopping at F&S in the afternoon on Monday, August 25th, and staying into the evening to answer questions, press the flesh, and greet the Harley faithful from the Miami Valley.  This should be a really cool event, and something that you Harley enthusiasts out there will not want to miss. When the ride leaves Dayton, the group will be headed to Wisconsin, where the company is based, to continue the celebration. Word on the street is that it is going to be legendary, with big name acts playing private shows over several days!

Part of the fun in Wisconsin will be the newly opened Harley- Davidson museum, featured in this month’s issue of Wired.  Harley fan or not, this is a great example of pulling people into the experience of the company and its devoted followers.  There are very few companies that could open a museum people would actually want to visit.  I stand in awe at the way in which Harley-Davidson has managed to cultivate such fierce loyalty amongst its customers.  If I ever find myself in that part of the county, I am going to make it a point to visit. Clearly there is a lot to learn about motorcycles and even more to learn about marketing.

New Harley-Davidson Museum Is Heaven for Hells Angels

Thanks to Our Dirty Friends

As a member of the board of the EFWO and a parent of a child who has epilepsy, I want to say thanks to the record number of people who turned out Saturday for MUDSTOCK 08, the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio’s annual charity fundraiser event.  It was a huge success, drawing in roughly 2,400 people from the Miami Valley and beyond, and raising over $80,000 in the process.   Here are some pictures courtesy of the Dayton Daily News.

Thanks also to the long list of corporate sponsors, the hundreds of volunteers, and to everyone who was involved in making MUDSTOCK 08 successful.  Special thanks to Jim Hausfeld from ClearChannel, who served as the ringmaster for the event, and to EFWO Executive Director Janine Poppa.

The money raised will represent nearly 1/3 of the operating budget for the organization, which serves residents of Auglaize, Champaign, Clark, Darke, Greene, Logan, Mercer, Miami, Montgomery, Preble, and Shelby counties in Western Ohio.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, contact me or visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio home page for more information.  We are always in need of volunteers.

Volleyball players get muddy for a good cause

David E. Bowman - Squidoo Lens Returns

I gave a speech earlier this week to the Dayton LinkedIn Group.  In the speech, I spoke about some easy ways that individuals can use the web to build their personal brand.  One tool I referenced was Squidoo - one of the most useful sites (or grouping of sites) on the web.

Squidoo is a powerful tool for sharing ideas, finding information, and building your personal brand. It is the brainchild of Seth Godin, one of the foremost thinkers in the areas of technology, business, and marketing.  The idea is that everyone is an expert at something, and thus should be able to use the web to help others by sharing that expertise.  Squidoo enables users to easily create a one page web site, called a lens, full of rich content, links, video, notes, polls, rss feeds, and other interesting items.  The beauty of Squidoo is that you don’t have to know anything about writing code to use it, and Google loves it.  It is easy to use, and provides in-depth information on hundreds of thousands of topics, and continues to evolve into a powerful research tool.

Well, many moons ago I built a Squidoo lens about me.  After all, I fugured that if everyone is supposed to be an expert at something, I should be the foremost expert on the subject of me.  It was up on the web for a while, but then I became dissatisfied with it.  As a result I took the site down for a makeover. Then, as happens, I got side tracked with other things, and the lens sat dormant.

Well, after giving my speech, there was a huge interest amongst those who attended in Squidoo.  Most had never heard of it, and many curious people have since emailed me for more information.  All of this reminded me that I still need to bring back the lens about me - and so I did.   View it here or by visiting http://www.squidoo.com/davidebowman.  The lens was very easy to put together, and offers the world a different look at me and some of my work.

They recently rebranded the “people” section of Squidoo - giving it the clever moniker of SquidWho.  Check it out, and let me know what you think.  Then, start building your own lenses.  Share your expertise with the world.

Some other lenses I have built include:

Dayton Marketing Community

Dayton Weblogs - which I need to update

The Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio - a work in progress

David E. Bowman

Voices: Episode 5 - Kate Early

In this episode I sit down for a chat with fellow board member and chair of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, Kate Early. Kate is a dynamic leader, an active member of the Dayton community, and oh… by the way… she is also a practicing attorney with Dayton based law firm Sebaly, Shillito and Dyer.  Kate is a native of Beavercreek, and a member of the Dayton Creative Class initiative.

Listen in as we discuss some of the legal implications of emerging technology, especially as it pertains to marketing.  We also talk at length about the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, the upcoming mud volleyball event, the need for volunteers, committee, and board members, and other topics.

Thanks to Kate for taking the time to chat.

Podcast: VOICES

Mud

Thanks to the Dayton Business Journal for the wonderful article they wrote about the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio’s Mudstock 08 Mud Volleyball Tournament.  Like every non profit, we don’t have much budget for advertising - so free publicity is really appreciated.  So again… THANK YOU!  

As is stated in the article, we are anticipating a record turnout this year, and spots are going fast.  If you plan on playing, make sure to get your team together now.  The event is an all day party, filled with fun beyond muddy volleyball players.  There are bands and spectators, food and fun for all.  Even if you don’t want to play, consider coming out to watch and enjoy the experience of it all.  We also need volunteers to help with parking, making mud, and keeping the day on track.  

If you are interested in playing, attending, or volunteering check out www.daytonmud.com - which was put together by Jon Brooks and the crew at Hafenbrack Marketing. (Thanks guys)  I hope you will be able to attend.

This event funds many of the programs put on by the EFWO throughout the year, so know that just by showing up you are helping thousands of people across the Miami Valley who need help dealing with Epilepsy.  Mudstock is the perfect way to have fun and help the community all at once.  Join the fun, and get involved today.

For more information on the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, visit www.ohioepilepsy.org

http://dayton.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2008/06/02/daily18.html?surround=lfn

Help! I Need Somebody…

Do you live in or around Dayton, Ohio?  Are you interested in spending an hour or two per month making new connections and sharpening your professional skills - all while making a huge difference in the lives of people in need of help? If so, please consider volunteering to help the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio.

How can you help? The EFWO has numerous functional committees such as Marketing, Finance and Fundraising, Volunteerism, and Programming, which can serve to connect you with other talented professionals in your chosen field. This is a great way for young professionals to build connections and credentials, and for more seasoned practitioners to stay fresh. And, the time you spend, which is probably only about an hour or two a month, goes to help people with Epilepsy right here in the Miami Valley.

There are also numerous event committees in need of help within the EFWO. Currently, we are gearing up for the annual Mud Volleyball Tournament, July 12. This is an event that always needs helping hands because it is so much fun.  We are always in need of helping hands and creative thinkers, so if you are interested in lending a hand, contact the EFWO.  In addition to MUD, there is Wine and Jazz in November, Mardi Gras in February, and numerous other fundraising events - all of which need people.

If you are a seasoned professional looking to get even more involved in the community, consider applying to join the board.  We currently have a few open seats, and would welcome experienced leaders who are looking to contribute their skills to a great cause.  The process for this is understandably more rigorous than for joining committees, as the commitment and responsibility associated with being a board member is substantial.

Finally, if you just want to help out here and there - without being committed to anything - please volunteer to help our staff.  Like any good non-profit we run a lean operation, relying heavily on the kindness and generosity of others to get everything done.  There is an endless to do list, and a limited number of hands, so any time you can donate, even 30 minutes here and there, would be appreciated.

For more information on how you can get involved with the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio, call (937) 233-2500 or (800) 360-3296 or visit us on the web at www.ohioepilepsy.org

Dirty Video from Dayton

When is it alright to do something dirty with your friends and co-workers?  When you enter a team in the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio Mud Volleyball Tournament on July 12, 2008.  This year the theme is “Mudstock - Peace, Love, Mud.”  Starting at 9:00am and lasting all day, it will be located at Wegerzyn Gardens Metropark 1301 E. Siebenthaler Avenue in Dayton, Ohio.   This event brings in almost 25% of the annual funding for the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio - so it is just as important as it is fun.  Get a team together, get dirty, and have some mid summer fun.  Registration is easy, and if your team registers in May it is only $275 per team.  Not convinced?  Check out these “dirty pictures” from last year’s event.  Need more proof?  Take a look at this cool video that Mike Kurtz and his team at UD put together.  Still not convinced.  Perhaps you are just not the dirty type.  You can still be a part of the fun.  Help the cause by volunteering to help with running  the event.   There are also opportunities for sponsoring the event, if your company is looking for a great way to give back to the community.  All we are saying is give mud a chance.  Seriously, there are very few events that allow you to have this much fun while doing something meaningful for others.  For more information contact the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Thanks to all of the sponsors and volunteers who have already worked so hard to make this event successful.

Mud Volleyball 2008

I Saw You… Walking In the Rain…

Nope, I am not posting about Oran Juice Jones and his classic hit referenced in the title of this post. I am talking about the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio fund raising event that was held last weekend at Delco park in Kettering, Ohio. It was a very rainy Saturday, and still 75 people turned out to show support and raise money for the Epilepsy Foundation.  The event raised almost $6,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation of Western Ohio.

At the event I got to hear the amazing story of Xander Tipton, a young boy who was diagnosed with seizures in 2005.  With the help of the Epilepsy Foundation he is now seizure free and off of medicine.  His story is amazing and inspiring to anyone touched by epilepsy.  His family spoke about the key role that Janine Poppa and the EFWO played in getting them the resources they needed to help Xander.  Their story is wonderful, and indicative of the great work that this organization does.

My family got the distinct honor of leading the walk which circled the park. Although it was cold, wet, and not a very picturesque day to walk, we were delighted to be out in the elements showing our commitment to the wonderful work of this organization.

I want to thank everyone who turned out for the event, those who made online donations, and those who continue to support the EFWO with their time and financial contributions. You are making a real difference in the lives of people dealing with Epilepsy.

Next up… Mud Volleyball ( more on that later this week.)  If it rains like this for that event, mud will not be a problem.

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