Not Quite the Kind of PR One Desires

Or is it?

Bob Braun of the Star-Ledger newspaper in New Jersey had a lede yesterday in a crime story that made us chuckle:

The Blue Bird. The All-American Blue Bird. That was the name written on the bus that today brought to court scores of shackled defendants in what federal prosecutors are calling the "most significant" corruption case in recent New Jersey history.

I'm sure the paragraph, albeit clever, ruffled some feathers at Blue Bird's corporate headquarters in Fort Valley, Ga. But it might also make the company happy as it can revel in seeing its logo fly all across the country serving a variety of people, not just school students. Blue Bird buses are regularly used to transport U.S. troops both domestically and abroad. And, the 'Bird hauls prisoners, like the 44 defendants arrested in an FBI sting and charged with participating in a complex, multi-country money laundering scheme.

Who said school busing wasn't recession proof?

Emergency Preparedness Takes Center Stage

President Obama proclaimed May 24-May 30 as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. He called upon government agencies, private organizations, media, community groups, schools, and residents of hurricane-prone areas to share information about hurricane preparedness and response to help protect communities and save lives. Hurricane Katrina taught lessons to all of these entities on the importance of disaster plans and collaboration and communication.

“Awareness and preparation are critical to surviving and recovering from hurricanes. During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, I call on all Americans -- including private citizens and those working in government, business, and the nonprofit sector -- to plan ahead and help secure the safety and property of those who face advancing storms,” said President Obama in a written proclamation.

Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honoré (Ret.) is scheduled to address STN EXPO attendees on this very topic during a keynote speech on July 27 during a breakfast sponsored by Blue Bird Corporation and Allison Transmission. Read our May 2009 article on him, his experiences with Hurricane Katrina and his keynote speech this summer.