Join Microsoft in finding the American Spirit! The US Office 365 team will be sponsoring the voyage of a Boston Whaler named “Only in America” on a journey up the eastern coast. This is going to be a 1,106 mile voyage from Norfolk to Boston in search of the American spirit. This is the second voyage this crew will embark on in hopes of encountering amazing instances of kindness, trust, hospitality and just plain warmth as they did on their 1987 voyage. Their plan is to reach the Boston Harbor by the 4th of July!
John Mirassou and John Bertsch said they discovered what the “American spirit” really is on their first voyage. “It’s the ability to help each other, to freely interact without reservation,” Bertsch said. “That’s the backbone of who we are as people.” One way OIA gives back is to donate fifty cents from the proceeds of every book sold through the OIA web site to the Jimmy Miller Foundation, which uses ocean therapy to help our Wounded Warriors.
Here’s how Microsoft technology sponsors and supports this amazing journey. Onboard will be Office 365 technologies to include a SharePoint Online Site. The Crew plans to use Office 365 to stay connected with family, friends, sponsors and fans. Office 365 is going to help them communicate through the use of Exchange Online (e-mail), Lync Online (instant message, video chat..), SharePoint Online (journal entries, post images, videos) and much of this will be done using Windows 7 phones. Wow, that’s right! Windows 7 phones will allow the Only in America crew to capture images, stories and document other aspects of the voyage and seamlessly upload them to their SharePoint site.
Check out; the OIA Web site for the full itinerary of events and follow this heart warming journey as it unfolds.
- Meet President Obama in Washington DC.
- Matt Lauer (Today Show) and Jon Stewart (Daily Show) who are proud Boston Whaler owners.
- Plan to arrive in New York City a week before Independence Day with stories of the enduring American Spirit. .
- Stage a parade of small boats through Boston Harbor on the 4th of July with a veteran and an American Flag on each boat.
Microsoft Event & Announcement Schedule
Week 3 June 13-19, 2011
Twitter/Facebook
Microsoft #Office365 is holding an event in Philadelphia this Friday 6/17 Register here http://msft.it/Philly #OIA2011
Come join in the journey with @OIA_Spirit7 and @Office365 technology on 6/17 at Moshulu at Penn’s Landing- http://msft.it/Philly #OIA2011
Learn about the journey of 3 men traveling 1,106 miles on a 19ft boat with #Office365 Technology http://msft.it/Web2 #OIA2011
Microsoft #Office365 will be holding an event in NYC 6/28 Join the fun and register here http://msft.it/NYC #OIA2011
Week 4 June 20-26,2011
Microsoft #Office365 will be holding an event in NYC 6/28 Join the fun and register here http://msft.it/NYC #OIA2011
Microsoft @Office365 will be holding an event @MicrosoftStore at the @mallofamerica on 6/28 register here http://msft.it/MSAmerica #OIA2011
If you live in Seattle join us at @BelleCollection @MicrosofStore June 28th with #Office365, #Intune & #CRMOnline details here http://msft.it/BelSq #OIA2011
If you live in or around Costa Mesa, CA join Microsoft #Office365, #Intune and #CRMOnline at @SouthCoastPlaza @MicrosoftStore on June 28th 9-11am register here http://msft.it/MSCosta #OIA2011
Donna Edwards 
Donna, did you get to participate in any of this. Sounds like it would have been a fun way to spend my vacation, if it weren’t for the 80th birthday party for mom and my daughter’s wedding. :O)
Wow, great life events, I’m sure you enjoyed them! No break from work for me although it certainly does sound like a good time. I could get used to traveling around on a boat for a while promoting some good causes 🙂 Take care Jim and enjoy.