Fresh New Approach For AONB Management Plan

Taking a fresh approach the Mendip Hills AONB Service asked Viper to produce an on-line Management Plan. No more boxes of plans propping open doors. Partnership members and stakeholders can now simply and quickly access the plan whenever they want. The plan will soon be supported by a State of the AONB interactive brochure

Local Authority Could Do Better... a lot better

Viper's registered office is in North Somerset, a place controlled, or so it would seem, by North Somerset Council. However when it snows it appears that the Community has more desire to keep communications flowing than the Council itself who missed the point of the power of web communication.

Picture the scene. Snow fall and closed schools. Many, many closed schools. Visit, as many of us would, www.n-somerset.gov.uk for an update on which schools are open and which are closed to be met with a page containing no information at all but advice to listen to a local radio station to get this information. Directly underneath this single paragraph is a statement that claims over half of the Council's entire budget is spent in providing education services!!

Now, without even starting to get political it is evident that the Community itself has been sharing information about snow conditions and the effects this is having right across the UK far more effectively and in almost realtime. Online social networking site http://twitter.com/ allows users to post geographic information about themselves. Pictures, comments and replies are all possible and there are literally millions of users of this service (amongst other similar services) around the world.

The snow falls and through a Twitter regular you can log into http://www.benmarsh.co.uk/snow/ where users have had the opportunity to post up to date snow reports, images and comments.

So as a Local Authority, perhaps it's time to develop a responsive and helpful online strategy for the Community using tools that are readily available and already being used by the people they are trying to serve. Could do better online... a lot better

Zambia; Jabs and Carbs

Back from the first set of vaccinations; Hep A and Typhoid. Tom and Anna had one in each arm, us oldies got away with a combined jab in one arm. Anna was worried and got a little upset at the sight of the needle but soon realised it didn't really hurt. Now booked in for 3 sets of Hep B and a course of anti-malaria tabs. Lucky us. 

Too cold for my 'last training ride' tonight, didn't want to slide on the ice. Well that's my excuse. Opted for the carb loading side of my training regime. More pasta please, washed down with some flapjack.   

Zambia; Tapering and Vaccinations

I'm tapering now. I think that's the official term for easing off the training in the build up for a race. So I'm tapering and carb loading - resting and eating loads of pasta. The duathlon is this Sunday, gulp. Tried it last year but only got half way round as I ripped my rear mech off! Hope the snow will have cleared by this Sunday but I bet the ground will be frozen.

Thanks to all the individuals who have sponsored me to do this. Even Jo the Bookbus coordinator and our friend Carolyn have entered to help raise money for our volunteering experience in Zambia. Huge thanks also to the Axentis Michael Charitable Trust who have sponsored us for a day over there.

We've got our first vaccinations tonight. Anna is worried about this but the snow has taken her mind off it I hope. I'll let you know how we get on.

Viper Zambian Diversion

From time to time, starting now, you'll see Blog posts here about Viper's Jim Hardcastle and his family's trip to Zambia to volunteer on the Bookbus. The Bookbus is like a mobile library that visits schools in Zambia and helps to inspire the children to read. Family Hardcastle will be the first family of volunteers to help this charity. You can find out more about the Bookbus and its work at www.bookbus.org.uk

Family Hardcastle is, in ascending order; Anna (8) who is really excited about reading with the children over there but not best pleased with the vaccinations; Tom (9) really excited about playing football with the children and desperately wants to see a snake; Helen (?) tasked with helping the teachers in the schools as she's a teacher but not looking forward to camping every night and Jim (39, but only just) general dog's body.

We're off on May 8th and we've got a shed-load to sort out before we go. This Blog will keep everyone up-to-date with how things are going and we'll post Blogs when we're over there as well.

Most importantly this is a place for us to publicly thank people who have helped us. We're having to fundraise to cover all the costs of our volunteering experience. So far key people to thank are Neil at Viper for letting me take the time off and for access to the Blog, Jo at Bookbus who has been a star helping to organise things and patiently answer all our questions, Tony Doyle Associates www.tonydoyleassociates.co.uk for the sponsorship, Uncle Peter, Auntie Ann, Maggie Bates, the Reggles and the lovely-lady-who-doesn't-want-to-be-named for financially helping us.  

More soon on duathlons, injections, therma-rests and pies!

Why so quiet for so long at Viper Marketing?

It may look as though Viper has been sleeping since the last post way back in September. Nothing could be further from the truth and it's just that it's been the most hectic, traumatic, buoyant, positive, dynamic, progressive, tiring but amazing period since the business started!
So how come with all the great news and developments the idea of a Blog posting has not reached high enough up the virtual intray to actually make it onto the screen?
The answer is that we've been planning the next phase of the business.
Yes we now have a clearly defined 8 year business plan that will take Viper to some incredible places and build a team of amazing people who will provide clients with new levels of service, support, strategy and campaigns.
This all sounds full of hype and little substance because of course the proof is in the pudding but rest assured that in the coming months (and as we read back in the archives at this late night blogging) and years all will become clear... do keep watching and bookmark us because we'll shortly be giving away some of our expertise and knowledge in the form of free taster sessions. Watch this space!

Viper Launches 2009 Website

Viper's 2009 website has launched today promising a wide range of informative and useful marketing and communications services. Whilst the new site is an evolution and not yet full loaded with Viper Training TV, it already includes two new business streams: Viper Rural and Viper Music. Visit the main site for more information at www.vmcg.co.uk