How the bus builds buzz (Chicago - Day 2)

One of the main functions of the NOLS bus is to re-ignite conversations. It reminds NOLS alumni of experiences they may have forgotten. Even more important, the bus gives them an opportunity to talk about the school once again.

Whenever possible, I walk with students to the bus after my lectures. They love to talk to the bus crew. Some want to hear about the engine, the filtering system, and the millage per gallon. Others are attracted to the challenge of the bouldering wall (it's not as easy as it looks). There are those who get fascinated by the collage of alumni pictures on the bus walls. The bottom line: The bus gives you a lot to talk about, even if you've never heard about NOLS before.

Today was an intense day with four lectures in two schools: Loyola University and Illinois Institute of Technology. This was fun!! Tomorrow, another talk in Chicago, and then we hit the road to Notre Dame.

Chicago Day 1

I spoke today to two very different groups. In the morning I talked at UIC to mostly nonprofits and public sector organizations. I have to say it's inspiring to hear from people who use word-of-mouth marketing to promote good stuff. I spoke for example to several folks from ISAC (Illinois Student Assistance Commission), a state agency that gets kids to go to college. Grassroots marketing in action! I hope to write about them more one day. In the meantime, you can read about the event here.

In the evening I spoke at Northwestern university to the Kellogg Marketing Club. I love marketing, and it was clear that these business students love the topic too. It was a terrific crowd and we had lots of fun together.

A word about Chicago weather in April. Let's just say that our solar panels didn't collect too much energy today. I'm hoping for some sun tomorrow!

We met in Chicago

So finally, after three weeks of planning, we met tonight in Chicago. It was easy for me to get there--just a four hour flight from San Francisco. But for Brian, Christi and Matthew, this was a 1,200 mile drive from Lander WY. It was snowing, it was raining, but they kept going!

That's it! The bus tour is actually happening. When the NOLS folks first suggested it, I had some doubts, but with the help of some incredible people (you know who you are), it became a reality. We have more than a dozen events planned until 4/16 when we say goodbye in St. Louis.

We have a busy day tomorrow. The bus will be at UIC and I'm giving talks both at UIC and at Northwestern at the Kellogg Marketing Club.

We're all going to sleep now. Tootsie is outside, covered in snow, waiting for tomorrow morning.

Midwest bus tour - the latest

I can't wait! We start in Chicago on April 6. After a couple of days (and four lectures), we go to Notre Dame, Michigan State and Ann Arbor (no lecture there, just fun). On the weekend, we'll start our drive south and we plan on getting a good rest on Sunday. On Monday April 13 we have a super busy day in Indiana and Tuesday might be even busier in Louisville (I love this place!). Then, on Thursday morning we'll be in St. Louis and I'll have to say goodbye to Tootsie and the team. This is where the bus tour really ends, although I'll continue to Kansas and Colorado to give additional talks. Things still might change but this is the latest map.

The anatomy of a bus: my veggie-oil powered book tour

Those of you who have already read my new book, may remember Tootsie - a bus powered by recycled vegetable oil that is used by NOLS--The National Outdoor Leadership School--to spread the word about their organization and about alternative energy. Well, the good folks at NOLS have invited me to come along, and we'll be visiting some campuses and cities in the next few weeks.

If you'd like us to come to your campus or city, drop me a line at emanuel@emanuel-rosen.com or @EmanuelRosen on Twitter. I can't guarantee that we'll come, but we'll try. The mid April tour will start in Chicago and will focus on the midwest, so we definitely want to hear from you if you're in this area. But feel free to send me a note even if you're somewhere else--maybe I can come for a talk at a later point (with or without Tootsie). In addition to a presentation about my new book (The Anatomy of Buzz Revisited) you'll get to visit the bus that runs on recycled vegetable oil. (We will get the oil from restaurants on our way.) The bus also has a climbing wall, and the bus team can give you a taste of NOLS wilderness training programs. In doing the research for my book, I spent some time with the bus team and I can tell you that they are lots of fun, and know quite a lot about grassroots marketing.

You can learn more about the tour on my web site at http://www.emanuel-rosen.com/book-tour The Nols Bus is at http://www.nols.edu/bus/

More to come