Where Were You on September 11, 2001?

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

On September 11, 2001 America was changed forever. Most of you will recall where you were when the shocking news of these terrorist attacks occurred.

2007 PPAI Chairman, Paul Kiewiet, MAS was preparing to start his annual Golf Odyssey Conference and End User Show. Paul was presenting to a group of about 100 clients and some suppliers during a "Power Breakfast." As he was nearing his conclusion, Paul received the tragic news of what had happened that morning. Paul turned on the big screen TV at the back of the auditorium as the group witnessed the first tower burning and moments later the second attack.

What would you do? Years ago, Paul shared this story and the comments below that he received in response to the decision made to continue on with the day. This letter was from one of Paul's end user clients in attendance , who apparently felt quite strongly about the use of branded corporate gifts and recognition awards. This person greatly appreciated that Paul chose to continue on with the days events.

"Promotional motivation and incentives do indeed serve in a tremendously important capacity in our society, simply because you all deal daily with matters that place value on individual human effort and commitment."

"We can only guess how many of the poor souls in the World Trade Center Towers had reminders of their value on their desks and walls, given to them by those that cared about their business and personal relationships."

"In no other business that I can think of, is that idea more important than in yours. For that reason alone, you and your staff served a greater good by continuing on with your program and its goals."

*******************************************

I've shared this story in many seminars through the years and there is really nothing I can add to it. We are in an awesome business and what we do has value. Many refer to what we sell as "trash and trinkets". Obviously, that's not the case.

Contributed by:
Paul A. Kiewiet MAS CIP
www.paulkiewiet.com
BrandKiwi, LLC

Comments

0 #29 Mavis Watson Fulton 2010-09-10 15:41

This is a day that I will never forget - my now husband, our 1st anniversary was 9-9-10 - my husband was to inspect the tower on top of the building at the World Trade Center that Tuesday morning at 8:30. Due to technical difficulties the local engineer had worked all night Sunday and all day Monday, consequently, the Regional Engineer ask them to reschedule their inspection for Wednesday. It saved my close friend at the time, now my husband and the engineer, their tower is now located at the top of the Empire State Building. I did not know whether my husband was dead or alive for a day and a half. I Praise God that they were both spared in the horrific event. God Bless the families and friends of the ones we lost. I was not in this business at the time but was employed by Clear Channel Worldwide working in Radio. As many of you did, we all bonded together and prayed for our Nation and each other!

0 #28 Curt Difurio 2010-09-10 15:37

I was at our regional's end user show at a continuing education seminar. I heard about the first plane going in, then we were updated about the second plane. The weather in PA was clear - I could not understand at first why a plane would hit a building. It was evident there was some type of attack as the day went on.
My mind was on a friend of mine who did IT work for one of the financial institutions in the tower. I knew that he worked overnight and I called him to check how he was. I must have called him 10 times throughout the day. I was concerned that he was killed in the attack. He finally called me around 1 pm that day. He spoke of seeing the people jumping to escape the flames. The trauma of seeing the people hit the ground still haunts him to this day. We must remember that in addition to the dead, there were several injured, mentally and physically. The workers that suffer from the hazardous materials, the folks that saw others die before their eyes, the police officers and firefighters that faced the ultimate tragedy that day. We must remember them all.

0 #27 Donna Mentry 2010-09-10 13:41

I commend you for presenting this story. We need to always remember. Thanks.

0 #26 Dana Brown 2010-09-10 13:16

Jeff, I met you one time at a trade show and was impressed by your passion for life and our industry. You should be commended for thinking outside the box and doing a non-commercial e-mail like this. It's a great story.

0 #25 Richard Murphy 2010-09-10 13:13

Thank you so much for this. We shouldn't forget what happened that day. Paul's story and the comments from his client should be an encouragement to us during these horrible economic times. We are in a great business and can do so much to help our clients. Let's not forget that.

0 #24 Steve Ireland 2009-09-14 12:43

How can such a simple and sincere question cause such a mix of posts which makes me think that most people were safe in their homes when IT happened. I for one was 1800 miles away from home waiting at the airport in Seattle WA. for my flight when the TV showed the report.
I was finishing the 4 day trip for the \"spreading of my brothers ashes\" and looking forward to getting home and have my birthday cake - yes, Sept. 11th is my birthday so i have a lot of emotions envloved.
The decisions that some of us were forced to make that day were just instinct and shows what we are made of. I saw a lot of people in the airport sit down and just shut down.
The question is did you just \"shut down\" or continue to do what was needed for your life when the buildings collapsed??? I would not critize anyone\'s actions on that day. At least they took action, i know i lived it.

P.S. it took 4 days to get home to Las Vegas. How many would if of taken you?

0 #23 Dana 2009-09-11 12:40

I work indirectly with the pp business but always enjoy this newsletter for its content. This is appropriate today and for this context. This is the business of recognition. The people who died were many things to many people. They might have looked around their offices that day when they knew they were not going to make it out and felt appreciated by those who would miss them. Someone took the time to recognize them while they were alive so they felt appreciated. Something we should all do.

0 #22 Allan 2009-09-11 11:05

Jeff, remembering is definitely positive. Having to be reminded is sad. This should be a day that is seared in the mind of every American.

And I do know that it is an end user. I object to the wording and connection made between promotional products and 9/11. \"reminders of value\" and \"poor souls\". I find the connection abhorrent. But as they say on the internet, IMHO. Maybe I\'m the only one, but so be it.

0 #21 allan 2009-09-11 10:44

Nobody should have to be reminded of that day. Reminding means we have a tendency to forget. The murder of 3000 people in one place at one time is not something one should have to be reminded of.

0 #20 Jeff Solomon 2009-09-11 10:37

Alan: Keep in mind that the quote featured was from an end user client:
\"We can only guess how many of the poor souls in the World Trade Center Towers had reminders of their value on their desks and walls, given to them by those that cared about their business and personal relationships.\"

The wording may not be to your liking, but the point is their is a value the recognition and gifts we are able to bestow on others.

Regarding the need to be reminded,I don\'t think most of us reflect on 911 daily. This date has become a day to be reminded about that tragic day when America was changed forever. I don\'t see that as sad...remembering on this particular day is positive.

0 #19 carrie 2009-09-11 09:56

My husband was on the last PATH train into the World Trade Center on that day. He walked up the stairs and smelled diesel fuel and began to feel the panic and run out of the building to horrors that I will not post. Luckily he made it out alive. I worked downtown for years, passed through those buildings 1,000\'s of times, lost a dozen friends on that day and no matter where I am forever I will remember my friends who worked hard and played hard and cared about others more than they cared about themselves at times. I will never forget the panic, the fear and the intensity of that moment. So on this day, through the tears that always fall and the flag that I always raise, I think of how all of us should strive to be better people. I think of how my friends that died on 9/11 would want me to act and I put myself into my work with the integrity I always had remembering....always remembering....my dear friends that are no longer here. They would want me to be strong through kindness and have the courage to make sure that people always remember. Hug your family tonight....be thankful and remember.

0 #18 ADSPEC 2009-09-11 09:55

PAUL,
PLEASE KEEP REMINDING AMERICA ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL OF US ON THIS TERRIBLE DAY. GOD BLESS AMERICA NOW AND IN THE DAYS TO COME.

0 #17 Allan Clair 2009-09-11 08:39

\"We can only guess how many of the poor souls in the World Trade Center Towers had reminders of their value on their desks and walls, given to them by those that cared about their business and personal relationships.\"

I remember this comment and always thought it was kind of stupid. The other thing I find hard to believe is that there are those who have commented that they had to be \'reminded\'. Sad, sad indeed.

0 #16 Bonnie P. Sciuk 2009-09-11 08:12

Thank you for being such a great American for this wonderful tribute.. Our office building house which was built in 1823, flys the American Flag proudly in the center of our town. We must not ever forget, and must remember our boys and girls who are keeping us safe daily..they are the ones we must also remember everyday As A first generation I am a proud American.

0 #15 Doug Cox 2009-09-11 07:46

I was exercising in my den that morning and I became enraged as I watched and heard the sickening coverage. At 67 years old, I was ready to re-enlist in the military ! Since that day, I have tried to educate my grand children how important our freedom is and that it has to be protected and fought for. We are fast becoming a nation that does not teach war history and we have truly become quite complacent regarding being willing to fight for our rights and freedoms. We all need to press the liberal media into showing the horror that happened that day, and keep showing it until the message is clear:
other people in the world want to attack and hurt us, and we must always be ready to fight them ! We have no room for soft government when it comes to protecting our nation...
God Bless America ! !

0 #14 To All American\'s 2009-09-11 07:28

:!: We as Ameriacn\'s should Fly Our America Flag every day.Not just on one day out of the year,we should always have 9/11 in our hearts and all the other tragic events that happen that day. Our Flag Flies 365 days and a New One is prowdly put up in it\'s place when needed.
Thank You and your company for the many years of remembrances on this 8th year of 9/11.
Debbie Turvin
Florida USA

0 #13 Ted 2009-09-11 07:15

I just want to say \"Thank You\" for reminding me of this day. I was checking my email and opened PromTips as I always do, and seen it was about 9-11. I\'m sure that I would heard about it sometime through out the day, to remind me but, I\'m so glad that we can take time out of our \"norm\" to remember the lives that were lost and the families that were changed forever. When I opened your email and saw that Today is September 11TH, I went out and put up my United States Flag that I am so proud to watch her wave in the wind and to remember all the lives that were lost just to keep her flying. I have two Sons in Iraq right now because of 9-11 and their pride they have to be Americans. Again, Thank You for the reminder. MAY GOD ALWAYS, BLESS AMERICA.

0 #12 Janice Scheppele 2009-09-11 06:39

A number of major churches have suggested we unite again today by going to your town\'s courthouse lawn and gathering in corporate prayer for our nation. Definitely needed in these days... I will go to my courthouse at Noon today to see how many, if any, other Christians received the call to prayer. May I suggest you out there do the same. Even if you are alone, prayer counts. God Bless to all and God Bless America.

0 #11 Dale Sargent 2009-09-11 06:23

I remember reading this e-mail last year and being moved by Paul\'s story. This date changed things forever and we do need to reflect and remember how shocking that day was. You should be commended for seeing the importance of honoring the day. Thanks for this reminder. When I have the time to read them, I find your promo e-mail to have a good message. Today\'s mail has a very good message.

0 #10 Tom Guyton 2009-09-11 05:40

:idea: Thanks for this news letter on this day Paul. What if each and every one of us in the industry did some little thing to let our clients and friends know just how Great this Country is today. Dispite our differing political views when adversity such as 9-11 is remembered, also remember that America comes together in times like these. The world is a better place because we do. The United States is a great and strong nation that came together that day and filled our churches and synagogues to pray for those victims and our nation. Let us coutinue to do so especially today.

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