Hot Dates Calendar For April 2009

Celebrate Diversity Month. Think a homogenous group is best for bringing out creativity? We beg to differ! Variety is the spice of life and the spark of creativity. Work with employers, schools and community groups to hold a multicultural fair, stage an educational program or put together an ethnic cookbook. Look for other ideas at www.celebratediversitymonth.org.

International Customer-Loyalty Month. With budgets tightening up due to the faltering economy, fostering customer loyalty is more important than ever. Present your faithful clients with a special thank-you gift this month, set up a rewards program for them, or work with them to develop their own customer-loyalty programs.

National Decorating Month. Now that last month’s Advantages feature on getting organized helped you get your office clutter under control, are you ready to start redecorating? Even if you aren’t, promote this month with interior decorators, furniture retailers, paint stores, art galleries and home-improvement centers.

National Lawn-Care Month. The grass is always greener in a healthy lawn – and it has environmental benefits, too. Grass cools the atmosphere, converts carbon dioxide to oxygen and slows water runoff, returning rainwater to the ground. Search for environmentally friendly lawn-care industry providers by location at www.landcarenetwork.org.

April 3-5 Medieval Fair of Norman. If you’ve ever wanted to get medieval with a promotion, here’s your chance. The Middle Ages will come alive this weekend at Reaves Park in Norman, OK. Guests will check out dancers, music, theater, jousting, knights in combat, and a human chess match. There will also be food “fit for a king.” Learn more at www.medievalfair.org.

April 5-12 Dr Pepper Dallas Cup XXX. Do any of your clients get a kick out of soccer? This invitation-only boys’ competition, sanctioned by the USSF and FIFA, will be held at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX. Some 120,000 will watch as kids from six continents and almost 100 countries compete. Held annually from Palm Sunday to Easter. Details at www.dallascup.com.

April 11-19 40th Annual World Cow-Chip-Throwing Championship. Self-styled as “a highly specialized organic sporting event,” this annual dung-flinging contest is held along with a craft fair, carnival, poker run and a parade. Attendance is expected to reach 2,000. Get your foot in it at www.beavercountychamberofcommerce.com.

April 18 Record Store Day. “It’s easier to download music and probably cheaper,” says Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity, “but what’s playing on your favorite download store when you walk into it? Nothing, that’s what. Who are you going to meet in there? Nobody.” Find other quotes, logos and participating record stores by state at www.recordstoreday.com.

April 22 Administrative Professionals’ Day. If the administrative professionals in your company are as busy – and helpful – as the ones in ours are, then you know why they deserve their own day. In fact, this whole work week is dedicated to the 4.1 million admin pros in the U.S. Your challenge is to come up with more meaningful gift ideas than the typical flowers and lunch.

April 27 Mary Wollstonecraft: 250th Birth Anniversary. Mary Wollstonecraft rebelled against her violent father, leaving home at 18. A pioneer feminist author, she advocated girls’ education as a path to independence. She died from complications after giving birth to her daughter Mary (who grew up to write Frankenstein). Celebrate her work with schools, libraries and girls’ groups.