Philadelphia

Celebrate Earth Day with a FREE CARROT!

by tonymont on April 23, 2009

Can’t ya just smell it? No, not the overflowing dumpster on the corner, I’m talking about the wondrous scent of Change, it’s all over. Each day, I encounter an increasing number of social activists/advertisements, all stretching out their arms and eyes, inching persistently for their own ideal form of change within the structure of which they exist. Besides reflecting some sort of dissatisfaction with certain aspects of daily life and societal habits, this attitude towards different forms of “change” represents the human race’s recognition of responsibility to fix the broken and mend the shattered. This energy towards initiating and executing change is what perpetuates the activism cycle around all of us. Yet, it is rather interesting (and sometimes unsettling) the apathy and indifference one encounters when on the path to launching societal change. Although the best way to avoid naysayers and pessimists is to ignore them, allow me to take the opportunity to say; Your regressive attitude is not only lame, it’s becoming largely outnumbered.

•The Uhuru Flea Market/ Festival was teeming with positive progressivists, all chipping away at the cemented negative aspects of our culture in order to build a unified and equal population of human beings. Lots of businesses as well as personal vendors came out to support unity and equality, as well as to promote the wonderful community of West Philadelphia!

As promised, me and few others wrote, wrapped, and taped 50lbs of carrots (about 400) and handed them out to numerous passerby’s, vendors, and folks sitting around enjoying many of the festivities of the day. A few people had already heard of the Carrotmob in Philadelphia and were excited to see us promoting. Although I was rather fatigued from running around and having explained the Carrotmob “concept” over a hundred times over the course of the day; I had a great time meeting tons of new local friends and learning about different activism going on in my community!

Over the course of the day, my friends and fellow mob volunteers expressed the difficult time they were having trying to put the Carrotmob concept and applications in a shortened yet still effective speech to one unfamiliar with the concept. Although I find myself (for the better, I think) saying something slightly different each time; using different examples and background information, I give the listening ears a fresh and somewhat improvised speech, avoiding the mundane tone that seems to accompany a memorized blurb or paragraph. But, there are still some things that are MUST SAYS:

1. We’re a grassroots consumer movement, aiming to restructure the means and mindset behind why we purchase goods from any given business.

2. The movement started in San Francisco and proved to be extremely successful, it has been adapted Nationwide as well as Internationally and continues to gain headway.

3. This method of mass-consumer power manifestation is suitable for ANY type of store for ANY type of service with competition and with a larger, multi-mob congregation, we can start to target corporations and large companies where 500 customers isn’t a very large amount.

4. The only qualifications needed to participate are: a) Must be a consumer and b) Must live in the local area of the Carrotmob. Unless, of couse, there isn’t a mob, in which case you can set your own up very easily at Carrotmob.org

5. We are non-partisan, and use NO negative tactics. We avoid waste by minimizing paper and flyer output and rely heavily on non-print means of networking and advertising. We represent a movement that needs to threaten none, our influence speaks for itself with our spending/buying potential.

6. We aim to have the consumer habits of the conscious, Eco-friendly, non-wasteful, and communally beneficial be reflected in our economic atmosphere, rather than the chaos and haphazard trends currently characterizing the global economic character.

7. We choose to consume from places not because they are the CHEAPEST, or MOST CONVENIENT, but; BECAUSE THIS BUSINESS IS WILLING TO BE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WITH OUR PROFIT, our earned capital. Each and Every time a purchase is made, a profit is also being made on one end of the transaction, why not know where our money is going? It seems only fair that since we (the consumer) are spending our earned income on goods daily, that we may have some say or partial control on how our money is spent once we supply to a business of our choice.

–I hope these pointers help when yr trying to trim down the length and concise nature of the Carrotmob pitch you’ve been working on…

In other news:

We’re organizing a Carrotmob PARTY.

The purpose of this event is to have a social gathering dedicated to networking those who are willing to get involved with the CM as well as create an opportunity for new people to meet local activists.

Live Music, Food, Drink, and other Carrotmob Themed Activity are Planned!

But there’s a catch: Only the Carrotmob conscious can attend.

If you want to bring somebody, INFORM THEM; DROP SOME KNOWLEDGE.

Someway or another, an Invite will make its way to you (in person), or yr emailbox.

ALL ARE WELCOME; but if you show up expecting to not talk about Carrotmob, we will be sad.

Soon I’ll have up the bands who are playing and the activities planned.

EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO GET INVITED AND YOU KNOW I DON’T HAVE YR INFO. (carrotsofphilly@gmail.com)

There are a lot of new things brewing, and soon I want to get a date for the first Carrotmob! Its almost about time…

I’ll be seein ya,

-tonyFmont.

Category: Update!
Tags:

MEETING POSTPONED!!! Due to excessive homework, I must reschedule.

by tonymont on April 19, 2009

Sorry, rough weekend…Thursday should be GREAT though, I’ll be making it official in my next post…

Category: Uncategorized

KICK OUT THE JAMS!

by tonymont on April 15, 2009
sky1

HEY PHILLY. WHATS UP?

THERE IS A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON SO LISTEN UP!

-First and Foremost; Vance Lehmkuhl at Philly.Com, who I mentioned in my post-Go Green Expo post, writes for a Blog called Earth to Philly and has stirred up some web publicity for the Carrotmob by featuring us in his latest post! Check out the blog as well as the previous posts, for they all carry some significance in terms of Philadelphia’s ongoing crusade towards sustainability.

-THIS SATURDAY at Clark Park (43rd and Baltimore) is the Earth Day Fest and Flea Market! AND WE’RE GOING TO MAKE OUR PRESENCE KNOWN. I’m going to buy a giant sack of carrots, and I mean giant! I’ll also bring the paper and some tape to wrap the site around them as well, DON’T FORGET TO WEAR YR PHILLY.CARROTMOB.ORG WHITE TEE’S!! I wanna get there EARLY, like 9am, but I know not everyone can get there that early, so show up whenever you can, but around 1pm or so I’m probably gonna call it quits. I have work later on in the day, but I bet there is still going to be some carrots left over (hint hint if anyone wants to take over when I leave since it goes until 5pm). I want to hit this fest hard, you know everyone there is going to want to hear what we’ve got to say, so bring your smile and come on out! Bring Camera’s as well, I want our adventures documented for use on future blogs and such. It’s supposed to be super beautiful out as well!

-SUNDAY at 7pm!!!!!! Meeting PART 3! We’re going to plan our next move, as well as make some campaigning materials. THERE ARE LOTS OF THINGS WE GOTTA GET STRAIGHTENED OUT, SO PLEASE TRY AND MAKE IT OUT. My house or the Birdhaus (a block apart anyhow), I haven’t cleared it with everyone yet, but when I know, you’ll know (Literally, cause we have a twitter now!). Whether or not you make it out on Saturday, all are welcome Sunday, just try and RSVP or something!

-AND FINALLY…A few Carrotmobbers (Kelly and Adrian) came up with the idea for our main LOGO, and another fellow mobber (Fiona) helped refine and sketch the logo idea, its a bit rough, but here it is…

Prototype for our LOGO

Prototype for our LOGO

Well, Until Saturday folks, have a good rest of the week!!!!

-Tony Mont.

p.s. If you or anyone you know lives in North Jersey/Hoboken Area, Andy, another Carrotmob Visionary is doing a CM on May 2nd!!! Jersey is gettin’ mobbed, and this place is dedicating 70% of sales profit!! So spread the word! Check his blog or facebook event.

CARROT THE PLANET!

by tonymont on April 7, 2009

We took to the streets on Sunday and handed out some 50+ carrots with small strips of paper labeled www.philly.carrotmob.org on them. We started our walk at Whole Foods: South Street and made a trek to Rittenhouse Park; passing some stoop sales and generously giving out our edible messages along the way. Some just took the carrot with a blank stare as we promptly told them to “Check out the site and Video!”, while others were immediately curious about this strange marketing gesture and inquired with the one handing out the carrots. I ended up (on a few occasions) breaking down the Carrotmob to groups of 10 or more folks gathered around me, oh the exhilaration! Overall, we were met well by some of Philadelphia’s Public and are looking to do much more to spread our word; as many of you already know by the recent Facebook message and Email I’ve sent out in the past day or two. If you haven’t heard anything of our recent planning, it’ll be featured in my next post and if you don’t want to wait, email me and I’ll forward you the message. More and more to come!

Straight From the Rutgers Classroom,

-TonyMont.

Category: Update!

Painting A Canvas.

by tonymont on April 4, 2009

WE’RE GOING TO START CANVASSING.

We’ve got to get a couple of things down, but this’ll be easy to get out and do.

-Prepare What We Say to Passerby’s

-Get some “literature” aka Business Cards aka Recycled Whatever with the Site On it.

-Make a banner or big sign to take places with us, just to help us stand out.

    Sunday (TOMOROW!) Nicky, I and whoever wants to come help are getting some materials ready and going to Rittenhouse to start our Canvassing campaign. WANT TO JOIN? Come get some stuff ready with us at my house (1208 S. 46th Street) around 10am; we’re heading to Rittenhouse at 1pm. (856)316-2901 if you want to come. SEE YA.

    Love,

    TNYMNT.

    Category: Uncategorized