If you’re looking for an excuse to market your business next month, look no further than these monthly designations and events for the month of May 2010. What creative ways can you build a promotion around one of these events for your business?
We’ve provided listings for the United States, Canada, and for the International Community.
Special Note: May 21st is International Virtual Assistants Day. If you have a virtual assistant, be sure to honor them on this day in a special way.
UNITED STATES
Four health organizations have designated May 2010 as their special month. To get more information on the conditions and organization observances, please visit their Web sites:
Arthritis Awareness Month: www.arthritis.org.
National Hepatitis Awareness Month: www.HepatitisFoundation.org.
National Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month: www.nof.org.
National Stroke Awareness Month: www.stroke.org.
Other designations for the month of May include:
Bark in the Park, Lincoln Park, Chicago. A 5k event for people and their dogs, 3,500 attend to observe Be Kind to Animals Week. www.barkinthepark.org.
Motorcycle Safety Month. Dedicated to safe riding practices and courses. By Springboard Training, Box 588, Olney, MD 20830.
National Bike Month. By the League of American Bicyclists, 1612 K St., Ste 800, Washington, DC 20006.
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Since 1983, emphasizes the president’s fitness challenge. Visit www.fitness.gov.
Older Americans Month. By Presidential Proclamation since 1963, formerly Senior Citizens Month. 1, Kentucky Derby. Thoroughbred horse race held since 1875. 700 Churchill Downs, Louisville, KY. 40208.
2-8, Be Kind to Animals Week. Observed since 1915. American Humane, 63 Inverness Dr. E, Englewood, CO 80112.
4, National Teacher Day. To honor them for their leadership. By the National Education Assn., 1201 16th St. NW, #710, Washington, DC 20036.
5, Cinco de Mayo. Marks Mexican defeat of the French in 1862. Widely celebrated in the U.S.
6-12, National Nurses Week. Includes National Nurses Day, May 12, which is also the birthday of Florence Nightingale. American Nurses Assn., 1777 T St. NW, Washington, DC 20009.
8, Military Spouse Appreciation Day. First proclaimed in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan.
9, Mother’s Day. To honor mothers of all ages and those who have passed on. First held in 1907 and recognized by Congress in 1914.
9-15, National Police Week. By Presidential Proclamation 3537 in 1963, Includes Peace Officer Memorial Day, May 15.
10-14, National Etiquette Week. To rally people to act with courtesy and kindness. www.etiquetteleadership.com.
12, National Receptionists Day. To recognize more than a million front-line personnel in the U.S. www.nationalreceptionists.com.
14-23, Lilac Festival. At Highland Park, Rochester, NY. Free admission, entertainment, 400,000 attend. www.lilacfestival.com.
15, Preakness Stakes. Middle Jewel in thoroughbred horse racing crown. Held since 1873.
16-22, National Transportation Week. By Presidential Proclamation since 1960.
17, Armed forces Day. Celebrated annually since 1936, by Presidential Proclamation.
21, International Virtual Assistants Day. To recognize their dedication and professionalism. Web: www.oivac.com.
22-28, National Safe Boating Week. By the National Safe Boating Council and the U.S. Coast Guard. Visit www.safeboatingcouncil.org.
27-30, Mudbug Madness. At Riverfront, Shreveport, LA. Celebration of Cajun heritage and foods. 150,000 attend. www.mudbugmadness.com.
28-30, Riverfest. Riverfront Park, Little Rock, Arkansas, 33rd annual, 247,000 attend. Visit www.riverfestarkansas.com.
CANADA
May 7-24, In Ottawa, ON, the huge tulip festival. International Pavilion features food, culture and entertainment of more than 25 countries. Web: www.tulipfestival.ca.
12, Nurses Day in Canada. Web: www.cna.ca.
22, Canadian Immigrants’ Day. To recognize the contributions made by immigrants to Canada and to discuss immigration policy.
24-Oct. 11, Upper Canada Village. Visitors see the world of the 1860s. Costumed interpreters bring history to life in Morrisburg, ON. For more information, call 800-437-2233.
24, Victoria Day. Holiday celebrates the birth of Queen Victoria in 1819.
INTERNATIONAL
1, International: May Day. Widely observed as a workers’ holiday, particularly in Europe.
4, China: Youth Day. Holiday since 1919 when students protested imperialist aggression.
5, Thailand: Coronation Day. Holiday honors King Bhumibol Adulyadej, crowned in 1946.
7, E l Salvador: Day of the Soldier. National holiday marks founding of the armed forces in 1824.
8, Slovakia: Liberation Day. Celebrates liberation of Czechoslovakia from the Germans in 1945.
9, Russia: Victory Day. Commemorates Allied victory over Nazi Germany in 1945.
May 14-July 30, Norway: Midnight Sun at North Cape with 24 hours of sunshine every day.
18, Haiti: Flag and University Day. A holiday.
18, Uruguay: National holiday commemorates battle for independence from Spain in 1811.
19, Turkey: Youth and Sports Day. Marks start of the movement for independence in 1919.
22, Yemen: National Day. National holiday celebrates the reunification of Yemen in 1990.
24, Belize: Commonwealth Day. A holiday.
25, Jordan: Independence Day. Marks 1946 treaty for independence from Britain.
Please share the ways you use these special designations to promote your business to help give ideas to other entrepreneurs. Use the comment area below.
Hi Marty, I had a chance to listen to you a couple of weeks ago. I liked it and was hoping I could tune in again. What I try to do when you send me the notice is arrange my work day around it.
As a Virtual Assistant, sometimes it does not work out the way you
planned.
Thank you for listing all of the above, it is great to have for marketing
purposes!
Hope to tune in again to the next one,
Debra Leonard
Marty, what an excellent post!
I am a firm believer in the opportunities of the calendar! Thank you for all of your helpful advice all the time.
Hi, Marty! My notes show that May 2nd is World Laughter Day. Any reason for a smile – much needed these days!
Cool, Rhonda, thanks for letting me know. I’ll add it to the list. Yep, smiles are needed all the way around. It’s funny, I must smile a lot and don’t even know it. People are always asking me what I’m up to since I’m smiling. Funny, too, to think that just because some smiles they must be “up to something.” Ha!
Thanks, Jennifer and you’re welcome. I’d love to know how you — and anyone else reading this — use any of these days and dates to promote your business. Always lots of fun to be had in sharing what we do. Thanks for writing.
Welcome to the family, Debra. You made my day by saying you arrange your day around our calls. And whether a virtual assistant or some other profession, seems like our days don’t always go as planned for all of us. Be sure to say hello the next time you’re on a call.
Great info, Marty! Thanks for sending it. Here’s a few more (from Oriental Trading Company – don’t know how valid they are but they are fun): May 16 Love a Tree Day; May 18 Visit Your Relatives Day; May 21 National Memo Day; May 23 Lucky Penny Day; May 30 My Bucket’s Got a Hole In It Day. So, there you have it. Even more ways to build some sort of marketing message that is fun!
Thanks, Krysta. I’ve got some updating to do on that calendar.
Great idea. I sit down at the beginning of each month and pre-post holidays and interesting facts. On the specific day, my program automatically sends the post to Facebook and Twitter. Usually I just post the information but after reading your article, I’ll start incorporating my business info into the post as well.
Hi Deneen, Great idea back atcha.
I hadn’t thought about tweeting those special days so I like that. Thanks for the heads up on that.
I’m a bit slow getting into the Twitter world but am feeling more confident about showing up there.
Great list Marty! Lots of creative promotional ideas swirling around in my head after reading through these. Thank you.
Thanks, Michelle. Would love to hear sometime how you turn those ideas into realities.