Hope everyone had a good summer and is looking forward to the 2010-2011 Collegiate AMA Year - - - one we like to think of as the Year of Saving Lives!

The Collegiate American Marketing Association seeks to be a catalyst for increasing awareness of the need for organ donation and through social media campaigns, event sponsorship, personal contacts, and other viral communications to inspire others to become registered organ donors and organ donor advocates. With this mission in mind, the 2010-2011 academic year brings exciting changes to the AMASavesLives Project. Last year the AMASavesLives Project was introduced to the Collegiate AMA and several chapters spearheaded successful events, social media and other efforts to raise awareness for organ donation and increase the number of registered organ donors. For 2010-2011 there are even more competitions and an increased focus from the Collegiate AMA on professional development with AMASavesLives worth 0-5 points in the Annual Report judging for Chapter of the Year…making 2010-2011 the Year of Saving Lives.

Watch the two videos below to learn more!

Several AMA chapters are in the process of launching their AMASavesLives week activities! We have already seen a jump in traffic to our website and look forward to you sending more people to www.AMASavesLives.com to learn how to register to be an organ donor in their states.

Here is another great idea…set up a table in your campus dining halls to catch those who are on their way to eat. You could also have people go around and talk to people while they are eating and have them stop by your table after they are finished to sign up!

Do you have another great idea for ways to increase awareness and/or get people to sign up on your campus? Let us know by posting here or on the Facebook discussion topic at http://bit.ly/ckmk7g

Winners were announced for Round 1 of the AMASavesLives Competitions at the Awards Ceremony during the 32nd International AMA Collegiate Conference. If you missed it here is a list of the winners:

Best Video (watch all five nominees at http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5FD2FF623B51D88D)

1st Place - I Gotta Feelin’ AMA’s Gonna Save Lives - Texas State University-San Marcos
2nd Place - I Can Save Lives - University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
3rd Place - AMASavesLives Without Superhero Powers - Rio Grande University
3rd Place - Organ Donors - A New Hope - Texas State University-San Marcos
3rd Place - Organ Face - University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Best AMASavesLives Events

• Florida International University
• Alfred University (NY)
• Aurora University (IL)

A new round of competitions started April 1 for the Best Video and Best AMASavesLives Events/Activities. The Total Number of Videos Submitted  Competition is cumulative through the end of May and will include all videos submitted by your chapter from February - May 2010. The Number of Registrations Competition continues through the end of August 2010.

Don’t forget to also plan for this in your 2010-2011 AMA year as new competitions will also start September 1!