LAST CALL: AIGA Get Out the Vote Idaho Exhibition

Just a reminder that today is the last day to submit your entries for AIGA's Get Out the Vote Idaho poster design exhibition.

Entries are due by the end of the day today, September 30th.

Technorati tags: aiga, get out the vote idaho

REMINDER: Three Ounces + Ice

Don't forget, the Boise Advertising Federation's social event Three Ounces + Ice is this Wednesday, September 24th, from 5:00 - 7:00 at Beside Bardenay.

Admission is free to members, and $5,00 $5.00 for non-members.

UPDATE: Fixed the fat-finger keystroke on the non-member price

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, three ounces + ice, beside bardenay

Job Opening - Media Buyer / Planner

Drake Cooper in Boise has an opening for a "Media Buyer/Planner Extraordinaire." The ideal candidate will "...love all things Media, from negotiating rates to reconciling discrepancies, from research to analysis, from GRPs to CPPs to HUT/PUT/PUR."

More details about this position can be found here.
(Courtesy of Craigslist)

Technorati tags: drake cooper, media buyer job opening, media planner job opening, craigslist

LAST CALL - BAF Golf Tournament

Yes, this is your final boarding call...

RSVPs for this year's BAF Golf Tournament are due today. If you've waited until the last minute (as most of us do), be sure to get in touch with Carolyn Weske before the end of the day.

Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, baf golf tournament

DNA Helps Out the ARC

DNA Advertising in Boise, along with their client Dutch Bros. Coffee, are helping out The Arc during their 2008 Clothing Drive.

The clothing drive promotion runs from September 22nd - September 24th, from 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM each day. Those who wish to donate "gently used" clothing during this time may do so at any Dutch Bros location, and in exchange will receive a coupon for $1.00 off any prepared drink.

And yes, while this appears to be an effort to drive traffic and drum up a little business for the local Dutch Bros. locations, I'll give the folks at DNA some credit for trying to help out a local charity at the same time.

Technorati tags: dna advertising, dutch bros coffee, the arc

Dreaming Big and O-Pening the Purse

Dream Big is a program put together by Drake Cooper as a way to give back to the community, and more specifically to non-profit organizations that are in need of a little extra help. From the Dream Big section of their website: Through this annual program, we will work with one selected organization to help develop a unique in-kind branding and cause marketing campaign. We hope that our joint work with the charitable organization increases community awareness, understanding and inspires action around an important cause.

This program is similar to others, such as Oliver Russell's O-pen Purse program, which offers donations or in-kind assistance to deserving non-profit organizations. From Oliver Russell's O-Pen Purse application: Each year Oliver Russell partners with a select number of nonprofit groups to help them meet their organizational goals. We provide grants in the form of advertising, design and interactive services, marketing consulting, and, occasionally, monetary contributions.

Drake Cooper is currently accepting nominations for this year's Dream Big program, and will be through October 31st. More information is available from a release on Drake Cooper's website, or on the Dream Big page itself.

Oliver Russell is also accepting applications for next year's O-Pen Purse program through November 1st. More information about his program is available on their website.

To both agencies, and everyone else who makes an effort to give back to their community: Well Done.

Technorati tags: dream big, drake cooper, oliver russell, o-pen purse

REMINDER: Coffee Morning + Location

A quick Coffee Morning reminder:

The next Coffee Morning will be this Friday, September 19th, from 7:30ish (AM) - 9:30ish.

The location is TBD no more -- it will be back at Java, on the corner of 6th and Idaho.

I look forward to seeing everyone Friday morning. Any questions - feel free to send an email.

Technorati tags: coffee morning, java

New Hire at Stoltz Marketing Group

Stoltz Marketing Group has added another new face to their staff:

Jaime Stoltz has joined the agency as Production Manager. Jaime was previously in the marketing department at Simplot Food Group, and is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Congratulations Jaime.

And for those following along with the announcement on The Idaho Statesman's website, Stuart Walsh and Lindzee Frei were already mentioned on this site - here and here, respectively.

Technorati tags: stoltz marketing group, jaime stoltz, simplot food group, university of colorado at boulder, idaho statesman, stuart walsh, lindzee frei

Upcoming Event - Three Ounces + Ice

Now that summer has passed (oh how it hurts to admit that...) The Boise Advertising Federation is once again gearing up for their regular schedule of events and activities. Case in point:

Three Ounces + Ice is a social event / cocktail party from the BAF. In addition to the usual mingling and libations, the BAF will be presenting details about the upcoming golf tournament, as well as this fall's luncheon speaker series.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24th at Beside Bardenay from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM.

More details here:



Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, three ounces + ice, baf, beside bardenay

Upcoming Event - Idaho Press Club Forum

The Idaho Press Club will be presenting a discussion forum featuring firsthand accounts from journalists who covered the Joseph Duncan trial. You'll be able to hear "what it was like to report on one of the most horrific crimes in Idaho’s history– the legal challenges and media access issues, the ethical choices of balancing the truth with potential harm and the challenge of balancing personal trauma with professional responsibilities."

The panel will consist of:
Rebecca Boone, Associated Press
Betsy Russell, Spokesman-Review
Alyson Oüten, KTVB News Group

Todd Dvorak of the Associated Press will moderate.

Time, date and all of those other pesky details:

Thursday, September 25th, at 6:00 PM
Boise Water Cooler
1401 W. Idaho

Open to the first 45 to RSVP to (208) 389-2879 or emailto:email@idahopressclub.org

$5.00 members and students, $10 non-members

Technorati tags: idaho press club, rebecca boone, associated press, betsy russell, spokesman review, alyson outen, ktvb, todd dvorak

Upcoming Event - Legends of Advertising Golf Tournament

It's that time of year again. The Boise Advertising Federation is putting on the Legends of Advertising Golf Tournament.

The golf tournament, in honor of Britt Bowden and Rex McArthur, will be held on Friday, October 3rd at BanBury Golf Club. It begins with a shotgun start at 10:00 AM, and includes a barbecue following what promises to be a day spent hurling obscenities at a little white ball.

Registration is open until Monday, September 22nd. If you'd like to register, or be a sponsor for the event, contact Carolyn Weske at MMG.

Costs are as follows:
Single Player: $125, including BBQ
Foursome: $425, including BBQ



Technorati tags: boise advertising federation, baf, britt bowden, rex mcarthur, banbury golf club, carolyn weske, mmg

Upcoming Event - Magic Valley Advertising Federation

This is very much a last minute thing, but I just came across it... Perhaps someone from the Magic Valley Advertising Federation can give me a heads-up next time so people have a little advanced notice (hint, hint).

Anyways...

Duane "DJ" Sprague, General Manager of LHM Advertising, will be speaking to the Magic Valley Advertising Federation on Thursday, September 11th, about "the chemical differences in the brain that make women and men different, how they learn and communicate, and how best to target each with advertising."

The presentation will be held at the Twin Falls Shilo Inn. For those who would like to attend, RSVPs should be directed to Melissa Crane (or by phone to 208-308-0488).

Technorati tags: magic valley advertising federation, duane sprague, lhm advertising

Recognition for Peppershock Media Productions

Peppershock Media Productions will be recognized, along with a number of other local businesses, by the Better Business Bureau and KeyBank during the 2008 Integrity Counts! Celebration.

More on the Integrity Counts! program from the BBB website:

Integrity Counts! is a recognition program established by the Board of Directors of the Better Business Bureau, serving Southwest Idaho and Eastern Oregon, to honor local firms whose business operation and related activities demonstrate a commitment to integrity and ethical business practices.

Congratulations to Peppershock, and all of this year's honorees.

Technorati tags: peppershock media productions, better business bureau, keybank, 2008 integrity counts celebration

Get Out the Vote Idaho - the AIGA Poster Exhibition

The AIGA Idaho Chapter is putting on a public service event, as part of a larger AIGA national effort to get more people involved in the election process and vote in the 2008 general election.

This is open to all designers in Idaho, not just members of the AIGA Idaho Chapter.

Here are the details:

AIGA Idaho invites Idaho designers to participate in AIGA’s public service initiative: Get Out The Vote. Designers are invited to create nonpartisan posters that inspire the American public to participate in the electoral process and vote for a presidential candidate in the 2008 general election.

To view current national submissions visit www.aiga.org/getoutthevote

Idaho poster designs will be exhibited alongside posters created by designers across the United States in a local exhibition at the Flying M Coffeehouse in Downtown Boise and Flying M Coffee Garage in Downtown Nampa. All Idaho submissions will also be made available as online PDFs for anyone to download, print and post independently at aigaidaho.org.

Submission deadline: Tuesday, September 30
Submissions can be sent to aigaidaho@gmail.com
Please download the zip file from aigaidaho.org for complete submission information.
Exhibition: October 6 – November 16
Reception: October 15, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, Flying M Coffeehouse Downtown Boise

Technorati tags: aiga idaho, aiga, 2008 election, get out the vote, flying m coffeehouse

September Coffee Morning

Let's get this one on the calendar now, before another month slips away...

The September Coffee Morning will be Friday, September 19th.

Location is TBD at this point -- we may end up back at Java, or Coffee Morning could be going on the road again. That remains to be seen.

In the meantime, however, mark your calendars. I look forward seeing a good turnout and fantastic discussion.

Technorati tags: coffee morning, java

New Clients for Davies Rourke

Davies Rourke in Boise recently announced two new client wins:

AREVA Inc, which is "an international company that specializes in technological solutions for carbon dioxide-free power generation and electricity transmission. The company’s U.S. headquarters is in Bethesda, Maryland."

For AREVA, Davies Rourke will produce marketing collateral materials for AREVA’s multi-billion dollar Eagle Rock uranium enrichment facility planned for construction in Bonneville County, Idaho.

Additionally, Davies Rourke has been selected by Port of Subs "to provide strategic marketing and media placement services for franchisee- and company-owned restaurants in southwestern Idaho."

Congratulations to the folks at Davies Rourke on the new client wins.

Technorati tags: davies rourke, areva, port of subs

Salty Design Foundry Featured in HOW Magazine

Salty Design Foundry, based in Coeur d'Alene, recently announced that two of their designs were recently published in the HOW Magazine Self Promotion Design Annual, on bookstore shelves now.

The two designs, the Gravity Anarchy catalog and the Long Story Short Coffee business card, can be found on page 67 of the Self Promotion Design Annual.

As the folks at Salty mentioned on their blog, "it isn't often that you see work from this area recognized at this level. The fight for good design continues."

Congratulations to everyone at Salty who was involved. Keep up the good work.

Technorati tags: salty design foundry, how magazine

Breaking In: A Guest Post from George Condit

Several months ago I had the chance to sit down and chat with George Condit, who is interested in getting into the marketing and advertising business. He is currently an MBA student at Northwest Nazarene University, and I invited him to write a guest post for the Idaho Ad Agencies blog about his experience so far.

Here is his story:

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is George Condit, and for the past year I have been making an enormous change in my life. I started this journey with a grand vision, and since I began this new endeavor, I have found out some interesting information. What, you ask, is this huge change and new endeavor? Well, I shall tell you, but you will first need a little background.

I grew up in Upstate New York and Graduated from a small satellite campus of Syracuse University with a degree in Construction Management. Since that time I have tried many things, including a short stint with Sears in sales, a life insurance Agent at New York Life in Rhode Island, A camp Counselor in Maine, A Russian Linguist in The United States Army, mostly in Kansas, and finally a masonry contractor here in Boise. For the past eleven years I have designed and built things out of concrete, brick, stone, and tile. Some of them today are landmarks; those abstract sculptures at 906 Harrison, yep, those are mine.

Alas, I’ve aged (these old bones can’t take the abuse anymore), the market for craftsmen isn’t what it used to be, and I’ve been stung by the marketing bug. About a year ago, almost to the very day, I took the first steps to see this fever through. I registered at Northwest Nazarene University to get a Masters in business administration. I have nearly four months to go and now I’ve started exploring the various avenues and opportunities in the advertising and marketing industry.

The first thing I learned is that networking is key. It all started back in May, when I had the opportunity to make contact with Brian Harrison. I had been working on a fundraising plan for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games with the NNU. I met Brian as a result of a classmate’s connection through LinkedIn with, none other than, Josh Mercaldo. Perhaps some of you know him. He’s a great guy and I owe him a debt of gratitude. Anyway, he gave me Brian’s number and we met. Brian, another fantastic individual, gave me the next piece of advice that has really helped me focus my efforts. He said, “The most important part to any search for the right job is, ‘fit’. Where, and with whom will you best fit? is the question you need to answer.” And he was right. Finding that right fit has now become my mission.

After a school trip to South East Asia (which was excellent, by the way), I began poking around the industry, in earnest, gathering information as a precursor to entry. The main focus of this post is to let you know what I’ve found with the intent that my experiences may help others to join what, from my perspective, looks like a ton of fun.

Anyway Brian gave me the names of people he thought would help me on my journey; Russ Stoddard at Oliver Russell, and John Drake of Drake Cooper; class acts, both. Both were extremely helpful in my search, each offering a different take on my situation and the information that would be most helpful.

While every person’s life and circumstances are different, there are a few nuggets of wisdom that are general enough to be helpful to everyone; either starting out, or making a change.

First: have your resume professionally produced by someone with design experience. I haven’t actually been applying for any particular position yet, because I’m not quite finished with school, but when you present that resume just to help whoever you’re talking to get a better idea of who you are and what your experience is, you want it looking sharp; especially to those creative artsy types.

Second: ask lots of questions. Make a list before you get there so you are prepared and don’t take up a bunch of time with the person who is across the table. School has helped me with this because there are so many parts to business. But remember, the journey is evolving and how you use the last bit of information to get the next bit of information is important as well, so for each appointment you make, customize the questions.

Third: Listen to everything they have to say intently. Statements that don’t seem relevant at the time may be insightful hints that will guide you later on. Not only that, but the people you get in front of have a ton of experience and can guide you to the right spot.

Fourth: Get referrals and follow up with a “thank you”. Everyone knows at least one other person that may be able to help you figure out where you’re going and how to get there. Being grateful for the help is just the polite thing to do anyway. This is part of the networking mentioned earlier.

Fifth: The advertising/marketing business covers a broad spectrum of categories and divisions, and an agency is just one place to try to fit in. I had the opportunity to meet Lisa Wilson over at Zeta Interactive and she gave me some info that really expanded the territory. Large corporations, like ConAgra, Simplot, HP, and many others around the planet have their own marketing departments. I know that sounds obvious enough, but sometimes it takes someone saying it to make the light click on. Anyway, what was interesting about what she told me is that one has a better chance to get exposed to many if not all the various forms of media the industry uses.

My journey has shown me these few glittering jewels of guidance, and so far I think I should be somewhere between the client and the agency. Who knows? I’ve got a few more months left of school, about thirty people to see, and the road ahead is shrouded in mystery and intrigue. It’s like a good book; I can’t wait to see how it turns out.

Technorati tags: george condit, northwest nazarene university, idaho ad agencies blog