Clay Aiken Fans Campaign for Inclusion Project

A Pepsi grant would fund five more Let's ALL Play Camps.

PEPSI REFRESH: This.Is.The.Month!

Inclusion Project Targets Top 10

While Clay Aiken fans are counting down to an exclusive one-night-only concert in Chicago on 10/14 and the 10/16 Champions Gala in Raleigh, they are also determined to make October the month the National Inclusion Project secures a $50,000 grant in the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

The Inclusion Project was co-founded in 2003 by the North Carolina singer and Diane Bubel so that children with disabilities can experience life with their peers.
During the September campaign, supporters learned much about partnerships, alliances, and recruitment and are this month putting into practice a variety of new strategies.

Below are suggestions for enlisting friends, relatives, associates, organizations, etc., to help the Inclusion Project's October cause:

1. Ask everyone who visits, stops by your desk, etc., to text in a phone vote. You can even do it for them. (queenmama247)

2. Having a birthday party, work, school, or family gathering? Group text the NIP number -- 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi) -- together. (queenmama247)

UPDATE: At Saturday's birthday party, queenmama247 had 12 people text together for the NIP, four of whom added the Pepsi Challenge so they can text daily. In addition, she enlisted three people at church and will probably have more after today's doctor and hairdresser visits.

3. Offer to bake a cake for those in your office, circle, etc., if everyone will text votes for the National Inclusion Project. (ncgran4clay)

4. If someone doesn't know how to text, do it for them. (ncgran4clay)

5. On vacation? No problem, according to Beanblossom, currently at a knitting retreat where she has everyone texting daily NIP votes.

6. International fans, send the voting/texting information to eligible friends in the US so they can vote daily for you. If you own a US-based cellphone, you can text votes yourself. (FromClaygary)

7. Learn from September's very successful winner -- RETT Syndrome, #1 in last month's $250k category after failing to achieve the charity's goal in August.

Quite by accident, I discovered these next ideas when I noticed on Carolina's live feed that someone had arrived at this blog via a Google search for 100842 to 73774.

A curious creature anyway, I followed the link and was amazed at the vast number and variety of people/organizations contributing to RETT's September success. Page after page, the Google results reveal many facets of this organization's campaign, some of which NIP supporters might consider adopting:

* Facebook and Twitter: Constant reminders by individuals and organizations for "friends" to vote all three ways: text, Facebook, at the Pepsi site.

* Blog after blog by individuals and celebrities on MySpace, LiveJournal, Blogspot with the request to "take a second and send a text vote to Pepsi for RETT Syndrome." The Carolina blog appears multiple times because voting info for RETT, an NIP alliance in September, was listed in several entries.

* Daily voting reminder on a high school home page. Three girls in the community have the disease.

* Voting reminders from related organizations such as Carobell, a North Carolina-based non-profit providing care for developmentally disabled individuals.

* Celebrity, radio/TV station websites urging fans to vote. See WKRQ-FM in Cincinnati.

* Similar blog posts a voting reminders from a young man whose cousin has RETT Syndrome.

LET'S ALL PLAY - Children with and without disabilities participate
in a variety of activities at Inclusion Project-sponsored camps.

Camps Impact Children Nationwide

In communiques with others, fans need to personalize the National Inclusion Project and sell the impact Let's ALL Play Camps have for children with and without disabilities nationwide.

At camp, my son does not have Down Syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech. He is simply a camper. - A mother

In reality, each person has 30 votes to use daily via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. That's three votes a day for the National Inclusion Project.

By registering at the National Inclusion Project home page, you will receive a daily voting reminder and be eligible for an iPad if the foundation wins the $50k grant this month.

In less than 10 minutes a day, early risers can easily vote through the National Inclusion Project's alliance list, as well as a second or third set of partnerships fans formed in September.

NIP + Alliances

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
1p36 Deletion Syndrome - Text 101439 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Ella's Hope (autism) - Text 100288 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Oakland Children's Hospital (Rett) - Text 103134 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Int'l Foundation for CDKL5 Research - Text 102973 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Center for Courageous Kids - Text 102408 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Lake Reba Playground (handicapped) - Text 102102 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Congenital CMV Foundation (childhood disability) - Text 101692 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

National Inclusion Project just voted for you. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308.

Throughout September, NIP supporters exchanged votes with other charities. Choose Group A, B, or C (extra accounts) for your second/third rounds of voting. Leave a message similar to the one above so a vote for the NIP will be returned.

Group A

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
She Shall Go Free - Text 102913 to 73774 (Pepsi)
UNC Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Text 103835 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Friends - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Girl Scouts of Eastern SC - Text 103373 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Fox Road Elementary School - Text 102179 to 73774 (Pepsi)
McKemy Middle School - Text 100283 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Saving Shelter Pets - Text 102190 to 73774 (Pepsi)
St. Joseph School - Text 100242 to 73774 (Pepsi)
SWOOP - Text 102191 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group B

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Libby Tennis Courts - Text 101307 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Rosie's Ranch - Text 101742 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Bag Ladies - Text 101126 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Marine Science Center - Text 103443 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Cystic Fibrosis - Text 102534 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Blind Cat Rescue - Text 102422 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RATCO Freedom Foundation - Text 100570 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Cedar Fork Elementary - Text 102360 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Earl J. Crowe Purchase SUV - Text 102913 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group C

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Cal Ripken, Sr., Foundation - Text 102661 to 73774 (Pepsi)
National Federation of the Blind - Text 101913 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Wayne Trail Elementary - Text 102269 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Blue Shadows - Text 101370 to 73774 (Pepsi)
ADERS (autism) - Text 101217 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Charlotte Peace - Text 100011 to 73774 (Pepsi)
fitMS - Text 100890 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Eagle Wings - Text 102562 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Children's Rare Disease Network - Text 102614 to 73774 (Pepsi)

INCLUSION: Power of the Dream
Montage by LovesClaysVoice, vocals by Celine Dion
View full screen at YouTube

This.Is.The.Month

What are your suggestions for enlisting new daily voters for the National Inclusion Project? Those shared in the comments will be added to this blog entry.

In a Friday morning post on her Facebook wall, Scarlett included the phrase "This.Is.The.Month." What a perfect slogan for the NIP's October Pepsi Refresh campaign!

Thirty days remain to drum up the necessary votes for the foundation's $50k goal. Off to a great start, the Inclusion Project currently stands at #8.

Have an awesome -- and very productive -- weekend/new week, Clay Nation!

Caro

RELATED BLOGS:

Clay Aiken Journey: National Inclusion Project and the Pepsi Refresh Challenge

Clay Aiken News Network: Make October Count

Ccol14him's Claymania

Clay Aiken's 'Unchained Melody' Showcases DWTS 11

Clay Aiken/DWTS Season 11 - 'Unchained Melody'
View montage by LovesClaysVoice full screen at YouTube.

Final Surge for Pepsi Grant

Montage Pairs Aiken, DWTS 11

The 11th season of Dancing with the Stars is barely a week old; but, thanks to a new montage by LovesClaysVoice, three couples are already dancing the Viennese Waltz to Clay Aiken's signature rendition of "Unchained Melody" on YouTube.

Featured in the magical video are dancers Jennifer Grey and Derek Hough, Rick Fox and Cheryl Burke, and Brandy and Maksim Chmerkovskiy.

"Unchained Melody," a track on the singer's new Tried & True CD, can be downloaded via iTunes and Amazon at YouTube.

Clay Aiken - Suspicious Minds 2005 - 2010
Montage by Wowzers4Clay. View full screen at YouTube.

Montage Traces 5 Years of SM

In her latest montage, Wowzers4Clay intertwines Clay Aiken performances of "Suspicious Minds" from the past five years. Represented are the 2005 GMA Summer Concert Series; the 2005 Jukebox Tour concert in Clio, MI; and this summer's Timeless Tour show at Chautauqua.

Contributing videographers include Scarlett, MnM, Mrs Loki, and Roy Ferrer.

PEPSI REFRESH -- Inclusion Project needs huge final four days!

At camp, my son does not have Down Syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech. He is simply a camper. - A mother

NIP Supporters Plot 4-Day Push

A groundswell of additional daily votes is imperative to move the National Inclusion Project from #18 into the top 10 during the final four days of September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

The pay-off, a $50,000 grant, would help fund Let's ALL Play Camps in which children with disabilities can experience life with their peers.

In a special edition of The Voice newsletter this weekend, Inclusion Project supporters were encouraged to enlist additional daily voters and provided tools with which to help the charity place in the all-important top 10:

We need your help to spread the word so we can bring Let's ALL Play training to more programs across the nation and open doors for ALL children to participate in all that life has to offer!

Here are ways to recruit potential voters:

1. Home Page Splash: Check out all the ways you can vote by visiting the National Inclusion Project home page!

2. Daily Reminders: Sign up to receive a daily email reminder and become eligible to win a free iPad if we finish in the top 10 and win $50,000! Sign up here: Inclusion Project/Pepsi Challenge.

3. Facebook/Twitter Updates: Join us on Facebook and Twitter!

4. Forward the NIP email, and share the information on message boards, Facebook, Twitter, in blogs.

5. Schedule a group text! Have the attendees turn their cell phone sounds on and walk them through sending a text together. When Pepsi texts back, the feedback will be amazing!

The National Inclusion Project was founded in 2003 by singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel, mother of a son with autism.

Originally the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, the charity, which is based in Raleigh, NC, changed its name in 2009 to better describe the organization's mission and programs.

Foundation Forms Voting Alliances

The National Inclusion Project has established voting alliances with other participants in the Pepsi Challenge. Besides offering opportunities to garner more votes, this also helps build awareness of the foundation's mission.

In reality, each person has 30 votes to use daily via text, Facebook, and through the Pepsi site. Below is the current NIP voting alliance list:

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RETT Syndrome - Text 100842 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Safe Places To Play (Cal Ripken) - Text 102661 to 73774 (Pepsi)
BRIDGES - Text 101364 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Blind Cat Rescue - Text 102422 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Children's Rare Disease Network - Text 102614 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Congenital CMV Foundation (childhood disability) - Text 101692 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Kids - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
1p36 Deletion Syndrome - Text 101439 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Lake Reba Playground (handicapped) - Text 102102 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

A vote from the National Inclusion Project! Help us help kids with disabilities experience life with their peers. We're going for $50K. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308. Thank you for your support!

A $50,000 Pepsi Refresh win by the National Inclusion Project would fund the following programs: train staff across the country on best practice inclusion techniques; provide training supplies; give scholarships to children unable to afford programs.

Four days remain to make this happen. Something as simple as recruiting a teen-aged granddaughter with unlimited texting (who has friends with unlimited texting) could make a difference.

I plan to send an email again to my circle of friends, relatives, students/parents, etc., who might want to win an iPad. Just think what would happen if the NIP got a huge influx of four-day voting from new blocks of people.

Just four days to pull out all the stops! Have a productive week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Thank you for for visits and comments in the Carolina blogs. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro

Clay Aiken KUHT 'InnerVIEW' Non-Stop Winner

Clay Aiken on KUHT-TV InnerVIEW: Photo by keepingfaith.

Clay Aiken Comes 'Home'

KUHT 'InnerVIEW' Runs Gamut

Clay Aiken, featured on Thursday's "InnerVIEW" with Ernie Manouse of KUHT-TV, Houston's PBS station, literally spoke non-stop on subjects running the gamut form A to Z.

According to reports by Houston fans, Manouse just let Clay talk. Most CA fans know the basics of the topics covered, but the Houston PBS special resulted in a much more in-depth interview.

The overview below was shared in message board recaps by keepingfaith, merrieeee, JoJobugs, and texwriter. The screen caps were taken with keepingfaith's cellphone camera.

CLAY: There's a song on my first album I've never been comfortable with and never performed. I didn't like it and didn't like the way it was produced.

ERNIE: Your fans are going to want to know which.

CLAY: Oh, they are well aware of which one.

* He has become comfortable with his life now and doesn't mind when he is recognized in public.

* Clay talked about the Idol process and said that he had been cut three times, once in Charlotte, once in Hollywood, and on the final show. At the end, he said, "That's it; I'm not losing anymore."

* Clay thinks that since he had a quick rise, it took him a while to know what he wanted. At the beginning he was content to let people dictate what to record.

He likes to think that after doing what he's been doing for seven years, he has gained the respect of the people who work around him enough that in the areas where he has a grasp on things, he's good at saying, "I want to do it this way."

* He's not a diva, but he's picky and believes he is more involved in the nuts and bolts of his career than any of his peers.

Song Choices Must Meet 'Live' Criteria

* His goal for every song from now on is that it's something he loves to sing "live."

* There was a line somewhere in the past seven years that when he crossed it, things stopped being so "GASP" and became just his life.

* Clay talked about being at the Apple store with a friend waiting in line. He told his friend to watch while he signed into Twitter on his iPhone. Almost immediately, there was a tweet: "I'm standing in line next to Clay Aiken at the Apple store!"

The photos below were taken by keepingfaith with her cellphone. Click to expand:

Clay Always Loved Singing

* Faye Parker, Clay's mother, always said he was singing at 18 months. It didn't seem like a big deal until he had Parker, who is "almost 2" and barely talking. Clay believes he got his musical talent "biologically."

There aren't a lot of four-year-olds who are great talents; there also aren't a lot of four-year-olds who are willing to stand up and sing for people anytime. He always loved it.

* Having a child changes everything. He can't just think about himself. He has to think about how his actions affect his son. It changes most of his decisions in everything he does.

* Most people who are picky in their regular jobs are called "Type A." In Clay's business, they are called "divas." He considers himself Type A because he is a micro-manager and likes to have control. He's picky. He never pretends to know things he doesn't. He's quick to defer to others when it's not his experience.

* He wasn't passionate about Idol until the Wild Card spot, and that's when he decided he really wanted it.

ERNIE: Is there a time when you worry that Clay Aiken is no longer yours?

CLAY: I worry about that; it's something that I'm aware of; and I'm aware that when I go out, I still am me. So I don't know if Clay Aiken has been lost, but I don't get to be "off."

Singer Records T&T Sans Lyrics

* Choosing songs is easy for him. He chuckles when people ask him, "How do you get yourself in that place to ... ?" And he says, "I don't know; I listened to my iPod and picked some songs I liked. Either that cheapens me or makes me brilliant."

* When he recorded Tried & True, Clay went into the studio without the lyrics because he knew the songs so well.

* He thinks he's now the "original me." Everything is shed, he's more comfortable being himself and saying what he wants. He has no pretense, walking to that interview in his pajamas and "cinnamon toast crunch" t-shirt.

* He had little pretense before, and he has none now. Last words: "I am me."

KUHT Membership Nets Interview

The exclusive interview, which will air again in Houston and in select markets after January. Check with your local PBS station for more information.

Fans may purchase a copy of the KUHT-TV interview for a basic membership fee of $40. If you are interested, place your order with the Houston station: (713) 748-8483.

"The interview was 90 percent Clay talking! I didn't want it to end. He came across as very articulate and smart," merrieeee reported.

Ernie asked him questions, and he let Clay answer. Thirty minutes of hearing Clay talk was great. The info was a lot of what "we" already know, but he was allowed to expand on his responses.

If you did not know him before, it was a good introduction to Clay Aiken, not just the star but also a human being.

I think he succeeded in distancing himself from the tabloid stuff and the stars that crave that kind of attention. He seemed to be so real and finally where he wants to be with regards to his life and career.

The last few months it seems to me that Clay Aiken has finally come "home"!

Keepingfaith added, "Where he stays in LA is close to a paparazzi mecca; and every time he goes out, 30 minutes later a picture of him walking down the street appears on a website.

He is constantly amazed that people care. And someone will say, "Well, you know you can't walk out of the house without doing your hair. And I say, "Why not? Everybody else does."

According to texwriter, "Keepingfaith will have quite a challenge in translating everything because Clay talked a mile a minute. Poor Ernie could hardly get a word in edgewise."

At #17, NIP Still Needs Votes!

The National Inclusion Project, stuck on #21 for days, has moved to #17, still seven slots shy of the target top 10 needed to secure a $50,000 grant in September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

Send prospective new supporters to Clay Aiken Fans Campaign for $50k Inclusion Grant for information and handy voting links.

To order a 2011 calendar by the Nov. 22 deadline, see 2011 Clay Aiken Calendars Slated for Gala. This is also an Inclusion Project fundraiser.

Have an awesome weekend, Clay Nation!

Caro

Thank you for your comments in the Carolina blog. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro

Clay Aiken Fans Campaign for $50k Inclusion Grant

They are voting. Are you?

In Pepsi Refresh Challenge

Inclusion Project Moves to #22

At camp, my son does not have Down Syndrome, wear hearing aids, or have difficulty with his speech. He is simply a camper. - A mother

Tweaked voting strategies are beginning to pay off as the National Inclusion Project has inched up to #22 in this month's campaign to secure a $50,000 grant through the Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

In a special edition of The Voice newsletter this weekend, Inclusion Project supporters were encouraged to enlist additional daily voters and provided tools with which to help the charity place in the all-important top 10:

We need your help to spread the word so we can bring Let's ALL Play training to more programs across the nation and open doors for ALL children to participate in all that life has to offer!

Here's where you can point people:

1. Home Page Splash: Check out all the ways you can vote by visiting the National Inclusion Project home page!

2. Daily Reminders: Sign up to receive a daily email reminder and become eligible to win a free iPad if we finish in the top 10 and win $50,000! Sign up here: Inclusion Project/Pepsi Challenge.

3. Facebook/Twitter Updates: Join us on Facebook and Twitter!

If you received The Voice, forward the newsletter to family, friends, associates. Post a link for the newsletter on Facebook and Twitter.

The National Inclusion Project was founded in 2003 by singer Clay Aiken and Diane Bubel, mother of a son with autism.

Originally the Bubel/Aiken Foundation, the charity, which is based in Raleigh, NC, changed its name in 2009 to better describe the organization's mission and programs.

Foundation Forms Voting Alliances

The National Inclusion Project has established a voting alliance with other participants in the Pepsi Challenge. Besides offering opportunities to garner more votes, this also helps build awareness of the foundation's mission.

In reality, each person has 30 votes to use daily via text, Facebook, and email. Below is the current NIP voting alliance list:

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RETT Syndrome - Text 100842 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Safe Places To Play (Cal Ripken) - Text 102661 to 73774 (Pepsi)
BRIDGES - Text 101364 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Blind Cat Rescue - Text 102422 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Children's Rare Disease Network - Text 102614 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Congenital CMV Foundation (childhood disability) - Text 101692 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Kids - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
1p36 Deletion Syndrome - Text 101439 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Lake Reba Playground (handicapped) - Text 102102 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Be sure to copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

A vote from the National Inclusion Project! Help us help kids with disabilities experience life with their peers. We're going for $50K. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308. Thank you for your support!

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap between young people with disabilities and the world around them.

Plan Pepsi Refresh Group Text

Need more ideas? Below are other suggestions for supporters from the Inclusion Project.

Are you doing a live event in the next two weeks? Do a group text! Have the attendees turn their cell phone sounds on and walk them all through sending a text together! When Pepsi texts back, the feedback will be amazing!

We are currently advertising online with NC State University's Technician, Duke University's Chronicle, and UNC-Chapel Hill's Daily Tar Heel. If you have connections with a local university where a free iPad might be an excellent incentive, feel free to put our information up!

A $50,000 Pepsi Refresh win by the National Inclusion Project would fund the following programs: train staff across the country on best practice inclusion techniques; provide training supplies; give scholarships to children unable to afford programs.

September is more than half over. It's time to move into the Top 10!

To order a 2011 Clay Aiken Calendar, also an Inclusion Project fundraiser, scroll down to the 9/15 Carolina entry.

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Thank you for your birthday wishes for grandson Kai in the previous entry and for your comments in all blogs. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro

Clay Aiken UNC-TV Party Goes Global

UNC-TV parties with Clay Aiken and fans. - Graphic by Fountaindawg.

For Clay Aiken Special

UNC-TV Hosts Worldwide Party

The Clay Aiken "LIVE" gathering at UNC-TV was beamed throughout the state's 22-station network Saturday night, but party goers from around the globe attended the shindig via Twitter and Facebook.

From the coast to the mountains, back-to-back airings of the "Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE!" concert were telecast via UNC satellite stations between 8 and 11:30 p.m.

Present for pledge breaks during both telecasts, Clay talked about his passion for the concert songs from his latest Decca release, Tried & True, as well as public television programming and National Inclusion Project, the charity he and Diane Bubel of Charlotte co-founded in 2003.

The station's goal of 200+ contributors Saturday night was easily met with fans from 18 states and four countries donating to UNC-TV. On the final break, the number of contributors stood at 236.

Clickable of opening graphic.

Twitter, Facebook Host Fan Parties

Running concurrently, the global parties hosted by UNC-TV on TwitterFacebook kept the singer's fans grinning all night with updates, photos, and pledge break videos. Here is a sampling of party tweets: (@unctvclay) and

mrbaconclay: Thank so much for a fun night. Loved all the pics, videos & trivia you guys shared.

starfishy2000: Thanks you so much for involving those out of your viewing area tonight! Glad to support those that support Clay!

Martigyrl: Thanks for keeping us all smiling tonight! It was great!

Posted on the station's Facebook wall are several photos and pledge break videos. These are representative of posts on Facebook from "going live" to the closing tally:

UNC-TV:Going LIVE with @unctv "Clay Aiken Tried & True Twitter Party" in 3, 2, 1...#clayaiken #unctvclay @unctvclay

UNC-TV: As promised, UNC-TV's Clay Aiken Tried and True 'Friends Count' Facebook Contest winners Karen Vanselow and Cherie Ezuka meet the man himself during our SeptemberFest pledge event!

Karen V: Cherie and I had a blast tonight! The UNCtv staff was fantastic! Talk about your good ole southern hospitality. We felt like VIPS the entire evening.

UNC-TV: Our Canadian friends are welcome to call 919-485-3319. Thanks so much! We're so excited to be touching the lives of people in other countries!

Carole H: Thanks so much for the fun night. So happy you reached your goal. WTG UNC TV and Clay!

UNCTV: 18 states and 3 countries outside of the US supported @unctv 2nt...#clayaiken's pubtv station. thank-you.amazing. #unctvclay

In addition, there are four videos from the station's night of Clay posted on the UNCTV YouTube Channel. Scroll down to "Recent Activity" in the middle of the page.

Below are expandable photos that also help replay Saturday's festivities accompanying Clay Aiken's Tried & True ~ LIVE! telecasts in the Triangle studio.

Interviewing the singer throughout the evening was Shannon Vickery. Also included are photos of Clay entertaining the staff and posing with fans Vickie and Cherie, the event's Meet & Greet winners.

Inclusion Project Moves to #25

Tweaked voting strategies are beginning to pay off as the National Inclusion Project inched up to #25 in the drive to secure a $50,000 grant during September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge.

The outline below has been shared on several Clay Aiken message boards where members are assigned to vote specific groups.

Eligible voters (legal US citizens at least 13 years old) reading this blog should include the "Everyone" list and choose one of the other groups to best distribute each day's 10 votes. One Internet vote and one text vote are allowed daily.

Below is the plan designed by SueReu to include charities reciprocating votes with the National Inclusion Project. The lists change daily, so check back for updates.

Everyone Vote For:

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
National Federation of the Blind - Text 101913 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Rett Syndrome - Text 100842 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group A

SWOOP (wheelchair ramps/Triangle area) - Text 102191 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Kids - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Foxroad Elementary - Text 102179 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Mckemy Middle School - Text 100283 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Saving Shelter Pets - Text 102190 to 73774 (Pepsi)
St. Joseph's School - Text 100242 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Screamfest Film Festival - Text #100848 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group B

Charlotte Peace (domestic violence) - Text 100011 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Add iPad - Text 100053 to 73774 ( Pepsi)
Ella's Hope for Autism - Text 100288 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Bag Ladies - Text 101126 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Family fun Events - Text 102684 to 73773 (Pepsi)
BRIDGES (special needs/Triangle) - Text 101364 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Little Tree Preschool (autism) - Text 101735 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group C

Tree House for Disabled Kids - Text 102672 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Blind Cat Rescue - Text 102422 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Boise Bicycle Project - Text 102464 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Health Shots Reminder - Text 102084 to Pepsi 73774 (Pepsi)
Wild and Wonderful Pet Pantry - Text 100040 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Mentored Chem-Bio Tech Lab - Text 101997 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RATCO - Text 100570 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Once voting is completed, return to each charity and copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organizations will know the Inclusion Project is supporting their cause:

A vote from the National Inclusion Project! Help us help kids with disabilities experience life with their peers. We're going for $50K. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject. Text 102308. Thank you for your support!

Non-US citizens have discovered ways to help by encouraging Facebook contacts and American friends to cast votes for them. For more details, see subhead Canadian Finds Ways to Help in the 9/6 entry.

INCLUSION: What Are You Waiting For?
View full screen at YouTube.

Have a wonderful week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Thank you for your blog comments and props for contributing artists. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom of that section, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro

Clay Aiken Dazzles Houston PBS Audience

Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! was the featured program during KUHT-TV's pledge drive Wednesday night. Click to enlarge the Houston PBS web page for 9/8.

Clay Joins KUHT Pledge Drive

Fans Share One 'Special' Evening

Clay Aiken was in Houston's KUHT-TV studios Wednesday to help promote the premiere telecast of his PBS Special -- Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! -- and the evening was a huge success and loads of fun.

For weeks, Houston fans have been counting down to Sept. 8, and they were not disappointed. Several were in the studio answering pledge calls, and others were able to speak with the singer on the telephone. Below is the countdown widget Scarlett created for the occasion.

Countdown widget hits target.
Clay's back in town!!!

From all reports, KUHT-TV raised a lot of money to fund the new season's public television programs. Below are highlights from recaps by fans who spent a very special evening with Clay Aiken in Houston Wednesday night.

Desertrose: Clay was amazing. When he walked in, the first thing he did was to come over and chat with us. He wanted to know if we were all from Houston. We were, with the exception of jtgranny, who came in from Dallas.

It was obvious that the PBS staff really liked him. He answered phones, and at one time leaned over keepingfaith to take a pledge call. He was right next to me. He teased merrrieeee about her English accent and spoke with his Spamalot accent. There were a lot of pictures taken.

When we left, we learned that the night was very successful pledge-wise. We got in the car and simultaneously said, "We've had the time of our lives."

jtgranny: Adding my EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE's along with all the other volunteers from the Houston PBS tonight. It was simply amazing! I talked with so many people tonight; and, wow, those M&G's went fast.

One of the most amazing calls I received was from an older gentleman planning a special Valentine evening. When I asked him how much he wanted to pledge, he said "Well, I guess I'm going to have to pledge $300 so I can go see this Clay Aiken and take my wife".

After I took all of his information, I was informed by him and his wife, who had by this time picked up on the other line, that they had followed Clay when he was on American Idol and thought he was great.

They have been married for 54 years, and "Unchained Melody" is their song. When Clay sang it on the TV special, they both sat on the couch and cried because it was so beautiful. She also told me she thought that was the best version she has ever heard.

By this time I was trying not to get all weepy myself, so I just told them I hoped they had a wonderful evening, thanked them for their donation, told them that I would pass along this information to Clay, and then I wished them a Happy Valentine's Day. Made my night even more special!

Clay Aiken chats with Ernie Manouse during the Houston telecast.

texwriter: OMG, tonight had to be in the top 10 of the most fun I've ever had! Clay was at his phenomenal, fabulous, charismatic, snarky best!

Clay mentioned right before the first pledge break that his back was bothering him, so he wanted to stand rather than sit on the high stools. Then, between the last two pledge breaks, he was lying flat on the carpet off to the side and chatting with the host and several other PBS people.

Many of us had never volunteered at PBS before, so they had to train us. They told us that if anything came up that we didn't know the answer to, we should just wave our hands.

That worked really well during the 7:00 show with the young musician; but after Clay's first pledge appearance, there was not a single soul around to respond to our hand waves. They were ALL on the other side of the studio, surrounding Clay.

I told my husband he is like the flame that draws moths. There's something about him that just draws people in.

My husband took several smoke breaks outside with some of the workers, and they all talked about what a great guy Clay is and how much they were enjoying his visit.

Fountaindawg's graphic captures highlights from the PBS Special.

merrieeee: OMG, the best night evah! Clay was snarky, funny, and gorgeous! He helped answer phones, and he is the nicest man. The PBS peeps said they were very pleased with the amount of money raised tonight.

He was joking with us and in fact made the evening so much fun. He asked me how to answer the phones. I told him and he looked at me and said, "Do you always answer the phones in an English accent or just for tonight?" Then he launched into his Spamalot voice!

Clay had his picture taken with us all, and they will email it to us. There were only 15 M&G's, and they went right away. He did an interview that will be aired later; but if you pledged with a CC tonight, you will receive a copy. I am thrilled about the night!

The man just charmed the socks off everyone. He came across as real and genuine to everyone who was there. Not a star but just a nice person who you would like to hang around with and I guess we did!

Cookie0: I called Houston to purchase two tickets to the T&T 2011 Concert at Jones Hall. I wasn't aware that the person answering the phone was merrieeee; so, of course, I started selling Clay to her until I realized she was already a fan.

After she took all of the pertinent information, I thought she said someone wants to talk to you. If she said a name, I couldn't hear it. It really sounded as though they were busy because there was much talking and laughter.

Someone got on the phone and said, "Hello." I also said "hello" but didn't think the other person heard me. He asked who I was. "Cookie; who's this?" And the answer was Clay Aiken!!!

That was my pleasant surprise for the evening. I heard everyone close to him laughing. We started to converse, and he said, "Oh they're pulling me and taking my headphones off, and I have to go."

We didn't talk long, but it was unexpected, fun, and really worth the price of my concert tickets since it included a phone call with Clay.

He thanked me for watching, which was a little tough to do since I am in Arizona and the special was being televised in Texas; but what the heck!

HoustonPBS has uploaded photos from Wednesday's pledge drive to its Facebook site. Below are four clickables from the set and a graphic of the photos by Fountaindawg.

Scarlett, who is bound to be among the world's best multi-taskers, posted a play-by-play on Facebook with her mobile phone while recording pledge call data on her laptop. For Clay Aiken fans, Scarlett's wall was the place to be where there are a total of 73 posts and comments, many of which were transcribed to message boards "live." Here are some of her reports:

OMG, he sat at the empty computer next to me and started typing! I was on a call, so I couldn't talk.

Brown shirt , tie, jeans, hair is spiky in front, converse shoes. He's lying on the cold cement floor because his back's hurting. (Maybe he could use a back rub.)

He's answering phones; just took a call from me -- talked to the customer while I typed. Talking to yet another one; but this person had already pledged, and he informed her that she needed to make a second donation.

As we were leaving, Clay signed CD covers for those who brought theirs. The lady at the PBS station who'd been taking pictures all night said that she would e-mail her entire set with us.

KUHT said the station did very well tonight in $@@s. It was a GOOD night. (I need to learn how to retain spelling and grammar skills while deep in the fog.)

I'm home, but I don't know how I got here. Thank goodness for angels because I really can't recall anything between getting on the freeway and seeing my exit (while in the wrong lane). Thank you all for joining me in this pledge break tonight! We did good!!!

Additional KUHT-TV airings of the Clay Aiken: Tried & True ~ LIVE! special are slated for 2:30 a.m. Friday and 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15.

The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap between young people with disabilities and the world around them. Vote in September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge and help supporters secure a $50,000 grant for the foundation.

Fans Tweak Pepsi Refresh Strategy

National Inclusion Project supporters have tweaked their campaign strategy to secure $50,000 for the foundation during September's Pepsi Refresh Challenge. The outline below has been shared on several Clay Aiken message boards where members are assigned to vote specific groups.

In this blog, eligible voters (legal US citizens at least 13 years old) should include the "Everyone" list and choose one of the other groups to best distribute each day's 10 votes. One Internet vote and one text vote are allowed each organization.

Below is the plan designed by SueReu to include charities reciprocating votes with the National Inclusion Project. The lists change daily, so check back for updates.

Everyone Vote For:

National Inclusion Project - Text 102308 to 73774 (Pepsi)
National Federation of the Blind - Text 101913 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group A

Tree House for Disabled Kids - Text 102672 to 73774 (Pepsi)
SWOOP (wheelchair ramps/Triangle area) - Text 102191 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Courageous Disabled Kids - Text 100058 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Foxroad Elementary - Text 102179 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Mckemy Middle School - Text 100283 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Saving Shelter Pets - Text 102190 to 73774 (Pepsi)
St. Joseph's School - Text 100242 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Screamfest Film Festival - Text #100848 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group B

Charlotte Peace (domestic violence) - Text 100011 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Add iPad - Text 100053 to 73774 ( Pepsi)
Ella's Hope for Autism - Text 100288 to 73774 (Pepsi)
The Bag Ladies - Text 101126 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Family fun Events - Text 102684 to 73773 (Pepsi)
BRIDGES (special needs/Triangle) - Text 101364 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Little Tree Preschool (autism) - Text 101735 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Blind Cat Rescue - Text 102422 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Group C

Boise Bicycle Project - Text 102464 to 73774 (Pepsi)
Health Shots Reminder - Text 102084 to Pepsi 73774 (Pepsi)
Wild and Wonderful Pet Pantry - Text 100040 to 73774 ( Pepsi)
Mentored Chem-Bio Tech Lab - Text 101997 to 73774 (Pepsi)
RATCO - Text 100570 to 73774 (Pepsi)

Once voting is completed, return to each charity and copy/paste a message similar to the one below so the organization will know the Inclusion Project is supporting its cause:

A vote from the National Inclusion Project! Help us help kids with disabilities experience life with their peers. We're going for $50K. http://www.refresheverything.com/nationalinclusionproject Text 102308. Thank you for your support!

Non-US citizens have discovered ways to help by encouraging Facebook contacts and American friends to cast votes for them. For more details, check the previous Carolina entry.

Have an awesome week, Clay Nation!

Caro

Thank you for your blog comments and props for contributing artists. To leave a remark, scroll to the bottom of that section, click on the "Post a Comment" link, and write in the box provided. Many thnx for stopping by today! - Caro