Cells for Cells

Recycle Cell Phones to Help Families Battling Cancer

jclements

Cells for Cells partners with Innovative Solutions of Kansas City

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I recently had the pleasure to meet with Gordon Ho of Innovative Solutions Consulting Group – ISCG. I’ve known of Gordon in the wireless space in Kansas City for about 8 years; but I never sat down with him. I know that he is an innovator (see: his company name) and a forward-thinking entrepreneur. So I finally called him to discuss business, the wireless industry and a strategic relationship between ISCG and Cells for Cells.

ICSG is a Nextel Sprint partner that offers new service, upgrades, and repair services. The BIG DIFFERENTIATOR with ISCG is their knowledge of SERVING THE CUSTOMER. In Kansas City, they have one of the few mobile/on-site services, where they come out to your office to service your cell phones. I would call that innovative!

Gordon and I spoke further about about working together to get more exposure for Cells for Cells and ICSG.

Here’s the quick-hit Q & A from Gordon Ho of ISCG:

Jason: Why is ISCG part of Cells for Cells?

Gordon: It’s a great cause for one. Secondly it’s important to our environment to recycle old devices and parts safely.

Jason: Was it an easy decision or Why was it an easy decision to participate?

Gordon: Very easy! Both ISCG and Cells for Cells share the same goals. That’s what makes participating an easy decision.

Jason: Do you have a one sentence statement of why customers/businesses should do business with ISCG?

Gordon: ISCG-How business get’s done! It’s pretty simple, but that how our clients rely on us. We handle their wireless and we simply get business done.

Jason: Do you have any quick recycling tips/cell phone tips for customers?

Gordon: Batteries have born on dates on the battery. If nearing the expiration date we can swap out that battery for a fresh battery with a newer date and we can recycle the old battery.

Jason: Any upcoming events that we can promote for you?

Gordon: We are sponsoring a tent at Country in the Woods on Sunday, June 22 from 4pm to 10 pm. Lonestar headlines the event at Corporate Woods in Overland Park, Kansas.

Innovative does have a wireless “how-to” blog; but it looks like the last update was in 2007. I wish they would update that because it has some really great tips. I am going to copy one of their tips right here because it is so useful for many Cells for Cells partners.

From Innovative Solutions Blog “How To Erase all contact information on a Blackberry.”

>Options>Security>General Settings>Wipe Handheld Sets the phone back to factory defaults but some information may still remain. To completely wipe the handheld, here are a couple tips.

1) Assign a password to the device and then input the password wrong 10 times !
* To assign a password to a BB device: Go to home screen and select “Options” (this is an icon that looks like a wrench). Select “Security” from the Options list. Go to the line item that says Password. Use the trackwheel to enable the password. When you save the settings, the device will ask you to enter a new password. Assign a alphanumeric password to the device.
* Input the password wrong 10 times: Power cycle the device (power if off and then back on). The device will ask you for your password. Input a wrong password 10 times. The device will give you a few warning messages. After the 10th attempt, the device will erase all user data and do a power cycle.

1) Erase all data using the “desktop manager” software
* Launch the Blackberry “desktop manager” software utility on your PC and make sure that it is connected to the BB device in the cradle.
* Launch “Backup and Restore” utility from the desktop manager menu.
* Click on the button that says “Advanced..”.
* The application will read all the data from the device, organize them, and then display on the screen (on the right column). Select all the data (email, calendar, phone logs, browser bookmarks, etc.) that you want to erase. You can select multiple entries by holding on to the CTRL button while you select them. Click on the button labeled “Clear” to erase all the data from the device.

Thank you, Gordon for your time and partnership.

If you are interested in learning more about Innovative Solutions and their Innovative customer service, you can contact Gordon directly at gho (at) isconline (dot) com or call him directly at (913) – 208 – 1025.

Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone? Part 1

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(Photo: 1000 Mobiles by Gaetan Lee)

The answer is YES! I’ll explain in a moment.

There are many cell phone recycling programs. But, do you ever wonder what happens to your phone after you recycle it? I don’t want you to think in the sense of “does it really get recycled or does it end up in a landfill in China instead of the landfill in Wichita, Kansas?” But I do want you to think in the sense of what happens with the “recycling” MONEY that the “Cell Phone Recycling Program” raises for it’s charity?

Ponder that for a moment. . .(Really, think about it for a minute.)

Well, for those of you that donate your old cell phones to Cells for Cells YOU are battling cancer. For absolutely for REAL! Real money is going to real people that REALLY need help. SO the answer is yes! WE are battling cancer by recycling cell phones.

Cells for Cells, in our second year, is now approaching $15,000.00 raised for families battling cancer! THANK YOU to all of our partners and everyone that has ever donated to Cells for Cells! YOU!, you that donated phones, are directly helping moms and dads and brothers and sisters and husbands and wives – real people…

…real people like James and Sharon Bratcher from Joplin, Missouri. They have an encouraging story of how The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society delivered financial assistance in a big way to help overcome a desperate financial situation. James has some very valuable tips for families and I will be interviewing James in Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone? Part 2.

Many companies donate their cell phones without fully understanding what happens afterwards – do they follow the money? Do YOU follow the money? How can you even be sure that your Cell Phone Recycling Program is making a donation to their charity? What does the phrase “100 percent of NET PROCEEDS” mean? Is it an accounting trick or is it a real way to raise money? I’ll uncover that in Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone? Part 3.

Do you want to battle cancer? Do you want to be part of a program that helps real people. YES! It really is as simple as getting your fellow employees together and boxing up your old cell phones and recycling them with Cells for Cells.

And finally, here is the artwork to our new campaign. I would love to hear your comments and ideas. You can email me directly at jason dot cellsforcells (at) gmail dot com.

Read this doc on Scribd: Battle Cancer with a Cell Phone?

Paycor embraces recycling: Honored as Cells for Cells Hero

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(Photo: Dan Christians receiving Cells for Cells Hero Award on behalf of Paycor, Inc.)

This month we honor Paycor as the Cells for Cells Hero for April 2008. Thank you to Dan Christians, Charles Tarantino, Derrick Bates in the Lenexa, Kansas offices of Paycor; and a very big thank you to Tracy Donohue at Paycor’s corporate offices in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Wow! Talk about a company that embraces recycling! And now they expand their support of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society by recycling their cell phones in the Cells for Cells | Recycle Because You Care program.

Well, if you happen to be searching a green payroll services company, it looks like Paycor is your obvious green choice.

First, lets talk about how green Paycor really is. Did you know that Paycor offers discounts to clients that are paperless? It is a program called Paperless Payroll. With Paperless Payroll, you can reduce clutter, get organized, and help the environment with strategies that reduce paper consumption.

Additionally, Paycor greens it up at work by encouraging employees to bring reusable water bottles to work, use reusable shopping bags, and explore alternative transportation such as trying the bus or carpooling to work.

How about letting employees visit green websites? They do that, too. The Daily Green . com is “the consumer’s guide to the green revolution.” There are many, many great tips there – you should check it out.

Now let’s talk about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Paycor’s passion for supporting them.

I have three words for you: FLYING PIG MARATHON

From the Paycor website: “A Cincinnati institution, the Flying Pig Marathon was founded by Paycor CEO Bob Coughlin in 1998 and was quickly recognized as one of the most successful new events in running. It has been hugely successful in raising millions of dollars in charitable contributions. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training Program is our main beneficiary. Although the Flying Pig is now an independent non-profit, Paycor still provides integral support through participation on the board, corporate sponsorship, individual and team race participants, and a host of Paycor volunteers who arrive on race day at 4:30a.m. to support the runners!”

Thank you to all Paycor employees that donated cell phones. You are all HEROES as you help us provide financial relief to families that are battling cancer.

I lost my cell phone at the Sprint Center: What to do if. . .

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(Photo: insert screen name here)


So, you lost your phone at the Sprint Center in Kansas City? Well, there is good news for you! According to the Sprint Center Security Department, you have about a 90% chance of getting your cell phone back. First of all, you have to remember at what event you last had your cell phone. Was it after a Kansas City Brigade game? Was it after a concert?

After you take a deep breath, realize that 90% is a really great number. Here are the steps to take:

  1. Call the Sprint Center 816-949-7100
  2. Ask for the security office – they run the lost-and-found
  3. Provide a description of your phone
  4. If they have your lost cell phone, you’ll be able to stop in the VIP entrance off of Grand during their business hours 9 am – 4 pm M-F. [Sprint Center Directions and Parking]
  5. Be prepared to show your driver’s license or photo id
  6. You’ll fill out a simple “property claim” card
  7. You’ve got your cell phone back


Additionally, if you’ve lost other items like your jacket, shirt, wallet or camera, you can follow these same steps. Chances are in your favor that you will get your lost item back.

One more thing that will help keep you cool and calm – the Sprint Center security personnel are great on the phone. I spoke to the security offices twice and they have been helpful, polite, thorough, and professional. Put all of that together and you have a wonderful lost-and-found policy at the Sprint Center.

To everyone that I have spoken to at the Sprint Center: “Great Job!” You are impressive and commendable.

Now, check out these great shows coming up at the Sprint Center. And if your cell phone pops out of your pocket while you are enjoying your event, you will know what to do.