This is my brother, pictured with my son, who adores police officers, because of my brother. He is a husband, a son, a grandson, a brother, the BEST uncle, a nephew, a cousin, and a soon to be (within days) daddy. He is also a police officer. He signs up his days and nights to care for the citizens he has sworn to protect and serve. He answers calls that could cause him harm. He answers calls that save others from harm. He investigates accidents. He protects motorists and protestors from traffic accidents. He is a good police officer. His intentions and morals are good and without regard of race, as are most police officers.

His life matters to his wife, to his son, to our parents, to me as his sister, to our Mimi, and to my children who look up to him with the greatest love and admiration.

He is the best of the best and is a police officer.

He is one who will teach the next generation how to love one another despite our differences.

Through his actions he will continue to teach my children, and his, what it means to serve others – even those who hate him only because of the uniform he wears. Without him, many lives could be lost, all while he risks his own.

He serves as a personal and living reminder that each of the people who choose to risk their safety for others is a loved one, as are those whose lives have been lost at the hands of a police officer, with or without cause.

We have to love one another. We have to serve one another. We have to learn to respect and honor one another. We have to forgive one another. We have to protect one another – for He holds ALL in the palm of His hands.

Melissa Tyra is a wife, mom, lover of animals, food, wine, reading and travel. She is also someone we love very much and deeply respect.

On January 1, 2015, the Carryout Bag Ordinance went into effect in Dallas ~ hello baby step on the road to sustainability in our great city. The ordinance mandates that retailers charge consumers five cents for every single-use plastic bag they are given. This legislation may have dealt Dallas shoppers a jolt, but it’s nothing new.

Some Canadian cities have been adhering to these regulations since 2007, and Dallas is joining an ever-growing list of American cities who have been on board including San Francisco, Chicago, Portland, Austin and all the islands in Hawaii.

The reason for doing this is simple: WE HAVE TO.

Consider this:

• More than trillion plastic bags are used every year worldwide.
• Only somewhere between .5% to 3% of all bags is recycled.
• A single plastic bag can take up to 1,000 years to degrade.
• Plastic bags remain toxic even after they break down. When plastics break down, they don’t biodegrade; they photodegrade. This means the materials break down to smaller fragments which readily soak up toxins. They then contaminate soil, waterways and animals upon digestion.
• Ten percent of the plastic produced every year worldwide winds up in the ocean, 70% of which finds its way to the ocean floor, where it will likely never degrade.

As consumers, the decision is easy. Plastic bags are superfluous and avoidable, so take reusable bags shopping with you. Throw them in your car and use them. End of story.

But as a business-owner, there is a bigger issue at play – sustainability.

The most widely agreed upon definition of sustainability requires we meet the needs of today without negatively impacting future generations. All companies have the opportunity to formulate and then execute a strategy that will take into account all aspects of sustainability but that is useful enough to be implemented today.

True sustainability has four coequal components:

1. Social (act as if other people matter)
2. Economic (operate profitably)
3. Environmental (protect and restore the ecosystem)
4. Cultural (protect and value cultural diversity)

Now, more than ever before, consumers, employees and investors share a common purpose and a passion for companies that do well by doing good. So any strategy without sustainability at its core is just plain irresponsible – bad for business, bad for shareholders, bad for the environment.

Side note: It was our fine city’s birthday yesterday! Happy 159th Dallas! We built this city on rock and roll baby!

Digital Summit Dallas

This week, our team had the opportunity to attend the Dallas Digital Summit, the region’s largest digital gathering, to re-enforce our digital insight strong hold.

Attendees were from a diverse range of organizations including national brands, agencies, technology, media, B2B providers, associations, nonprofits and start-ups. 

The conference was two days of jammed pack information all things digital insight ~ from SEO, email, mobile, social, analytics to cross-channel campaigns, trends and overall digital strategies.

Here’s the top 10 take-ways the team will be rockin’ on the porch in 2015:
1)   It is Search Everything Optimization not Search Engine Optimization
2)   Local SEO is absolutely vital for any business with a physical location
3)   Everyone wants their emails to be meaningful! Change your email strategy and get it opened
4)   Social media is not elective any more
5)   Employees can be the biggest brand ambassadors
6)   Create a behavioral statement to compliment your mission and vision
7)   Watch your inauthentic dislikers ~ it’s ok to ask why they don’t love you anymore
8)   2015 trend watch: more video, more spend on social
9)   Make it pervasive, participatory, personalized and prescriptive
10) Wheel and Spoke – Cross Channel is essential

Need to get started on your 2015 digital plan? Let’s get together on the porch and rock it out.