I’m back!
Sorry it has been so long since you’ve heard from me, but MOVE had me busy planning our summer BBQ. Now that it is over, I have some time to recap the big day—or, as I refer to it- D-day.                

Last year, we encouraged neighborhood
The theme of last year’s BBQ was “Encouraging Neighborhood.” It was about getting more involved in the community and encouraging neighboring companies to break away from their busy routine and take time to get to know each other. 

This year, we were #inthemoment
Being a new year, and having some new faces at MOVE, it was my job to refresh the theme—a lofty task! However, it turned out it wasn’t something I had to really think up, it just sort of happened. One Friday morning, we all had our iPhones out and I was giving a Twitter tutorial, no big deal, so everyone could easily tweet from their iPhones whether they were in the office, meeting with a client or on a video shoot and I commented that MOVE is really #inthemoment. Don, MOVE Communications President, liked this saying (although it wasn’t a Facebook official “like”) and we thought it would be an appropriate BBQ theme since we would be promoting and chronicling the BBQ on Facebook and Twitter. That’s why from the planning process to the actual event, we were a lean, mean, tweeting (and status updating) machine.

The BBQ was planned for Thursday, July 14, so that Jamie, MOVE's Creative Design Manager, could make it from North Carolina. We were glad to have Jamie here because it was a team event and we joined forces to make it just as successful as last year. Kim, MOVE Associate Writer and Project Coordinator, was my wingman…er woman, helping me with everything from invitations to keeping balloons from flying away. Nikki, MOVE's Art Director, helped with the design aspects, and since Don is one of the few males in the office, he coordinated picking up the tables and chairs.  And last but not least, Carol, MOVE CEO, acted as hostess greeting guests.  

#Success

Between 4 and 7 p.m., we had more than 50 people attend, representing more than 20 different companies. We grilled brats and had hot dogs and pulled pork while talking with some local neighborhood companies and other business professionals reaching as far as Grand Rapids. We also got to try a number of potluck items that our guests brought, like seven--layer dip, sausage bread—thanks Sandy at Eiler PR— and the kid’s favorite: Jell-O jigglers! #nom.  Plus, the caramel apple salad was so good it came up during our Monday morning Basecamp meeting—thanks to the Photo Studio Group.                  

Last year’s theme was not all lost as we saw neighbors from last year and got involved with the community by asking guests to donate to Food Gatherers, a local food bank that collects food for the homeless in Washtenaw County.

Thank You

We would like to thank everyone who attended and helped make the BBQ possible. For those of  you who couldn’t make it, we hope you felt like you were "in the moment" with us by visiting our  Twitter and Facebook page.