Disney World Installs On-Brand Solar Panels in the Shape of Mouse Ears

“When you wish upon a star,” the Pinocchio theme goes, “anything your heart desires will come to you.” Well, Disney is now invoking the power of our home star, the sun, with a new solar farm. In true Disney Fashion, the installation is shaped like Mickey Mouse's iconic head.

Made up of 48,000 panels ( like Goal Zero Nomad 7 Plus ) the mouse-shaped array will generate five megawatts of energy, according to Duke Energy, the company that built it. That’s equal to what 1,000 residential rooftop solar systems are capable of producing.



Disney has other “hidden” mouse silhouettes near the park, and this is not the first of them designed to help minimize its carbon footprint. In 1992, Disney planted 60,000 trees to form what is known as the Mickey Mouse Forest as part of a local reforestation project. It can be seen via Google Earth.

The mouse-shaped plots are two kinds of brilliant: Good for the environment, and good for brand exposure. They demonstrate how even go-green initiatives can be on-brand without compromising efficiency.



As opposed to other companies greenwashing their marketing materials with overstated claims of sustainability -- Disney's solar array is concrete evidence of the company’s commitment to cleaner energy.

Plus, the attention Disney is garnering from the new farm may be all the more inspiring for other businesses to take their own solar panel action.

'Selfless' baby quilter for Wesley Quilt Ministry remembered, Newcome: 'He touched lives that he didn’t know he touched'

KINGWOOD — Those who knew Roger Lynn Newcome described him as selfless and a man of service who spent the last 14 years making baby quilt patterns for the Wesley Quilt Ministry.

“He touched lives that he didn’t know he touched,” Roger Newcome’s son Chip Newcome said. “He started into quilting with the Wesley Quilt Ministry to make baby quilts around 2004.”

Newcome passed away on Saturday, March 4, at his home after an illness.

The baby quilts that the Wesley Quilt Ministry make go to the Preston County Family Resource Network (PCFRN) and are handed out to new mothers.

“Roger would want the glory to go to the quilt ministry,” Roger Newcome’s wife, Peggy Newcome, said. “He was a simple man and didn’t take credit for anything.”

Roger was introduced to quilting by his wife Peggy and his friend Chuck Miller, who also quilts.

Peggy said the ministry has made several hundred quilts over the years for the Preston Memorial Birthing Center and then PCFRN, and Roger helped with the baby quilts, as well as helped quilt some to donate to organizations for raffles.

“The ministry stopped counting the number of baby quilts we made at approximately 700,” Peggy said.

Roger also made his own quilts, including a civil war inspired quilt he was making when he passed.

“The civil war quilt was made of two-inch squares,” Peggy said. “It was a very delicate one. I don’t know if it will ever be finished. When you are quilting, you always have unfinished projects.”

Chip said his dad like the challenge of quilting.

“He was very good at working with the colors and putting together the colors,” Chip said. “It was amazing because he was color blind, but yet he was very good at it.”

Roger also worked at Sheidow Bronze for more than 30 years that instilled a love of patterns that is essential in quilting.

In addition to baby quilts and some larger quilts, Roger and the quilt ministry has made over 400 pocket cross quilts.

“Those are little four-inch patch work quilts with a wooden cross inside,” Peggy said. “People who are going through illness can hold these quilts and remember that God is with them.”

“Roger had one that he would have in his hands or in his pocket when he was going through MRIs and other testing,” Peggy said. “It gave him comfort.”

Roger also belonged to the Local Benevolence and helped to create the Goodwill Dinners that take place monthly at Wesley United Methodist Church in Kingwood.

“He was a founding member of the Goodwill Dinners that serves community members the fourth Friday of every month,” Chip said. “It started with less than 100 dinners being served monthly.”

“Now, they make about 500 dinners monthly,” Chip said. “Those 500 don’t necessarily come into the church social hall to eat. Many of those meals were delivered.”

Chip said the dinner was a large undertaking, and his dad enjoyed being able serve the residents of Preston County.

“He didn’t boast,” Chip said. “He quietly worked in the community.”

“Whenever he did something for the community, Roger would say it was just something he was suppose to do,” Peggy said.

Roger is survived by his wife of 40 years, Peggy Newcome; his four children, Lisa and Daniel McDonald, and Chip and Teressa Newcome; his five grandkids, Kelsie, Joshua and Emily McDonald, and Corrine and Joshie Newcome; and his six nephews and their families.

6 Influencer Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Journalists

6 Influencer Marketing Lessons Marketers Can Learn from Journalists

While I wore many hats during those days—from reporter to managing editor to social media maven—building strong community connections was probably the most important hat of all.

Truly, the people I engaged with were more than connections. They were lifelines. They represented untold stories, interesting perspectives, inside scoops and friendly gateways to new sources, allowing me to craft quality news pieces that people actually wanted to read, share and talk about.

Now as a digital marketer, my community connections and sources often go by a new name: influencers.

Influencer marketing is booming—and it’s not hard to see why. Influencers lend authority and credibility to your content, and connect you with new audiences. In addition, influencer marketing content delivers 11 times the ROI than traditional forms of digital marketing, according to a 2016 study by TapInfluence and Nielsen Catalina Solutions.

But the secret in the sauce here is that your strategy, content and the influencers you choose have to be quality and relevant to your audience.

Thankfully, there’s a few pointers marketers can take from journalists to ensure that quality and relevance is there.

Let’s dive in.

26 Essential Digital Marketing Statistics to Make Your Marketing Pop in 2017

My new favorite joke about the New Year:

“I want to start a gym called Resolutions. The first two weeks it will have fitness trainers, workout equipment, everything. Then on January 15th, we turn the whole thing into a bar.”

I love that joke because it hints at an unfortunate reality: Only 64% of people keep their resolution past one month. At six months, less than half of us stay resolved.

Many marketers are starting out the New Year with resolutions. We want to know our audiences better, take control of our data, use content more effectively, and more. Statistically, only 46% of us have a chance at beating the status quo.

It takes more than willpower to make a resolution stick. You need a well-informed, strategic plan.

To help you reach your goals in 2017, use these statistics to guide you.

Mobile Marketing

• 84 percent of mobile advertisers believe they’re providing a positive experience. Less than half of consumers report their experience was positive. (Unlockd)4
• We have reached the mobile tipping point: All new data consumption is coming from mobile (TechCrunch).
• Over a third of email subscribers read their newsletters exclusively on mobile devices (Informz).
• 61% of users are unlikely to return to a mobile site after a negative experience. 40% will go to a competitor’s site (MicKinsey & Company).

The Future of Search Engine Optimization: Top SEO Predictions for 2017

The Future of Search Engine Optimization: Top SEO Predictions for 2017

In the past, the SEO battle was focused on either black hat, or white hat tactics. Black hat SEO was considered extremely aggressive and didn’t typically play by the rules of search engines. White hat SEO tactics on the other hand were typically closely aligned with search engine guidelines.

Today’s world of SEO looks much different (and it’s about time). Instead of hyper focusing only on keywords or search engine needs, smart marketers are concentrating first and foremost on the needs of users. User experience as it relates to mobile accessibility, content structure and user intent on search engines have become the new norm.

"Content is the reason search began in the first place. – Lee Odden"

 Over the years, we’ve continued to incorporate an optimized approach to digital marketing by implementing integrated digital marketing programs that always follow SEO best practices.