Springing Into Kindness: Q2 116 AOK Review
 

At 116 & West we commit to performing 116 Acts of Kindness (116 AOK) each year, no matter how big or small.  Each month, we participate in at least one event that can impact our community or environment in a positive way.

Here’s a recap of our second quarter Acts of Kindness:

APRIL

For Earth Day, we planned a week full of environmentally-friendly fun:

To support our community, and fight for this lovely planet we live on,  we worked with the Golden Eagle Audubon Society to clear paths and pull invasive weeds from Warm Springs Park. We had a great time in the rain doing our part for Mother Earth.

During the week, we encouraged Westies to bike to work, commute or carpool for the week. We also shared eco-friendly products, such as compostable bags and upcycled dog toys, as well as great locations for thrifting and repurposing. We also made suggestions for alternatives of single-use plastic or styrofoam containers.

One of our favorite Earth Week events was a virtual vegan dinner via Zoom. We shared our sustainable vegan recipes and ate them together.

We also found a great recipe for a sustainable cleaner and made a personal bottle for eachWestie.  It’s super easy to make, and we all love using it!

Recipe here:

• 4 oz- white vinegar

• 3 drops lemon verbena essential oil (please make sure your oil is animal friendly if you have pets)

• 7.5 oz water

• Shake and spray

MAY

In May, we did our best to moooove, baby!

We challenged ourselves to transform a regular May into “May in Motion.” We encouraged Westies to bike to work, and provided information about commuting and carpooling.  We organized a small green-belt bike ride to the Green Acres Food Truck Park for beverages and team building.

We like celebrating May in Motion as an Act of Kindness because it’s good for our bodies, our environment, and our community.

JUNE

During June, we gave our blood away (in the best possible way).

Because June 14 was National Blood Donor Day, and the American Red Cross’ (ARC) crucial need for blood is dire, we enrolled in the ARC “SleevesUp” Campaign. “Sleeves Up” is a way for businesses and individuals to set up virtual campaigns for blood donations.  You decide on the timeframe for your campaign and then set a goal for the number of “pledges” you are shooting to get.

Once we had our campaign set up, we then encouraged co-workers, family, and friends to pledge to donate blood via social media. Once they pledged online, the ARC’s website takes potential donors to a different page with information regarding nearest blood drive locations where they can make an appointment.

We were super excited to get 21 pledges! Did you know one blood donation can save up to three lives? ARC will even let you know where your blood donation was transported and used after you donated. Ours went all over the country — from Las Vegas, to California, even to Puerto Rico!

Stay Kind

We have an entire year of 116 Acts of Kindness events planned! Keep tabs on our progress and learn how you can get involved by following us on all the socials @116andwest, and coming back to our blog.

Have any ideas for future Acts of Kindness? Give us a holler at whatsup@116andwest.com!

 

 

Valentines At Flying M

Showcasing local art

This year is Flying M’s 25th anniversary hosting the Valentine for AIDS Art Auction. From February 10 – 18, Flying M Coffee House transforms into an exhibition displaying close to 300 pieces of fabulous and beautiful eclectic art. All art showcased is available for silent auction, with the proceeds benefitting SNAP (Safety Net for AIDS Program).
Several of our DM family members participated in the Valentine for AIDS Art Auction. Jason Sievers, creative director at DM, gave “Valentine Vortex”—a 360 photography metal print. Jason’s wife, Wendi, contributed “Jungle Love”—a diptych of two parrots. Jason and Wendi’s daughter, Lily, in her first Flying M Valentine Art Auction, donated a rainbow piece titled, “Love is Love.” I have a quilled piece in the auction titled, “LOVE.” If you are wondering what quilling is, it’s an ancient art of coiling thin strips of paper and making shapes from the coils.

Supporting the cause

Last year, Flying M’s Valentine for AIDS Art Auction raised a total of $21,344 for SNAP. SNAP provides emergency services for HIV positive individuals living in Idaho. SNAP helps individuals who need assistance with insurance premiums, medication, dental service, food vouchers and utilities.
If you are interested in a unique valentine for your sweetie, head to Flying M, grab a cup of joe, tour the masterpieces, and bid. It’s for a great cause!


 

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Trademark Symbols: Which One?

I was recently asked to add a trademark symbol to a logo for a client. When looking at the special characters for trademarking ( ™, ®, ℠) I wanted to make sure that I provided the client with the proper legal trademark symbol. As it turns out, there is a big difference between the symbols and their function.

What is a Trademark?
The United States Trademark and Patents Office defines a trademark as “A word, phrase, symbol, or design, or a combination thereof, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.” According to the above definition, a logo’s commercial usage alone makes it a trademark.
What does adding the Trademark symbol (™) do?
When the ™ is visible on a logo, it’s simply to give notice of ownership of rights to that logo. You don’t actually have to apply for federal registration to use the ™ symbol.
Using the ℠ is a service mark, which applies to services as opposed to goods, in which the ™ is used for. But ™ is commonly used for both services.
The ™ symbol offers no legitimate legal protection—no more than what is already offered under Common Law. Common Law rights state that merely using the logo gives a business the rights to it. It may also deter infringement, but common law trademark rights are geographically limited and difficult to enforce.
What is the Registered Trademark (®)?

When the ® is in usage, it means a business has gone through the process of registering their trademark. Typically, a business submits an intent-to-use application before a business/product launches. The trademark isn’t official until the Patent Office completes its review and approval of the application. The application process can be lengthy and expensive, and it can also require legal counsel in some cases.

A couple things to think about in the process of registering a trademark:
-Is it registerable?
-How difficult is to protect your mark based on its strength?
The USPTO examines every application for compliance with federal law and regulations. The most common reason an application may be refused is the likelihood of confusion with another already registered trademarked logo belonging to another business. In addition to selecting a mark that is not likely to be confused with any pre-existing marks, it’s a good practice to select a mark that is considered “strong” or distinctive, in a legal or trademark sense—a mark that will allow you to prevent third-party use of your mark.
In what cases would you avoid registering your trademark?
-Your logo is similar in nature to another logo.
-Your logo may change in a couple years. Only the exact logo is what is trademarked. Any variations make it harder to protect legally.
-You aren’t sure how long your business will be in practice. The application process averages just under one year to complete. Basic filing fees can be expensive (average minimum filing fee of $325 without legal counsel).

Where is the best place to put the Trademark Symbol?
The best practice is to put the symbol in the upper right-hand corner. If you put the symbol in the most likely place for people to find, it will increase the understanding of your intent and claim on the logo, guarding against infringement.
How do I find or make Trademark and/or Registered Trademark Symbols?

• Windows System: Use the keyboard combination of pressing the [Alt] key followed by the keypad number sequence of “0153” to insert the TM symbol or “0174” to insert the registered trademark symbol.

• Mac System:  Hold the [Option] and “2” keys will render the trademark sign, and hold [Option] and “R” at the same time to produce the registered trademark symbol.

• Finding the symbols/characters in your program/language:

  • Adobe Illustrator and InDesign: Select “Type” from the menu > Insert Special Character > Symbols

  • Microsoft Word: Select Insert from the Menu > Advanced Symbol or Special Characters

  • HTML: Trademark is “ &trade”, and the Registered Trademark is  “&reg”

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