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AAF-Houston Creative Matters! Special Bulletin - January 31st, 2012

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 GMT

In an effort to provide our membership, and our advertising community with timely Governmental legislation, which directly or indirectly affects our industry, AAF-Houston is proud to pass along this AAF Government Report by Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs.

January 27, 2012

Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs

Congress Requires Cost/Benefit Analysis for Food Advertising Guides
Ad Industry Educates Consumers About Interest Based Advertising
ICANN Moves Ahead, Industry Offers Possible Solution
Maryland Governor Proposes Digital Services Tax

Congress Requires Cost/Benefit Analysis for Food Advertising Guides

The Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress and signed into law at the end of 2011 included language putting at least a temporary halt to the Interagency Working Group’s proposed “voluntary” nutrition principles for foods marketed to children.

Specifically, the Federal Trade Commission is prohibited from expending any funds moving forward with the principles until it complies with Executive Order 13563 issued by President Obama in January, 2011. Under the order, federal agencies are required to submit a description of the need for a regulation and an explanation of how the proposed regulation will meet that need, an assessment of the potential costs and benefits of the regulation, and an explanation of the manner in which the regulation is consistent with a statutory mandate. The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs then reviews the proposed filing to determine whether it is consistent with applicable law.

The FTC has not publicly indicated whether or when it will submit the necessary information to the OIRA. AAF is unaware of any evidence that demonstrates a link between advertising and childhood obesity, therefore we believe that the Commission will be unable to demonstrate that the proposed guidelines will help to reduce the rates of childhood obesity. Further, AAF believes the guidelines violate the First Amendment protections for commercial free speech and would impose enormous economic costs on businesses – including food companies, agencies and the media – with no discernible benefits.

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Ad Industry Educates Consumers About Interest Based Advertising

On January 20, the AAF and Digital Advertising Alliance announced a major new consumer education campaign to inform the public about Your AdChoices, the industry self-regulatory program for interest based advertising. The campaign is designed to educate consumers about interest based advertising and how they can take greater control of their online privacy.

The campaign includes banner ads, a new website www.youradchoices.com, and a series of educational videos.

Many AAF corporate members use the AdChoices icon. AAF is currently planning a webinar designed to educate smaller and local businesses on how they can participate in this important industry initiative. Look for details of the webinar to be announced soon.

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ICANN Moves Ahead, Industry Offers Possible Solution

Despite numerous calls for delay from industry, non-profits, lawmakers and law enforcement officials, on January 12 the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) began accepting applications for new top level domains. AAF and other members of the Coalition for Responsible Internet Domain Oversight (CRIDO) will soon contact ICANN and the Department of Commerce with a proposal to move forward that would allow ICANN to continue to accept applications yet provide reasonable protections for brand owners. Look for more on the proposal in the next Government Report.

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Maryland Governor Proposes Digital Services Tax

Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) has released a budget proposal that would impose a tax on certain digital goods and services. As written, the proposal could be interpreted to include many business-to-business transactions, including advertising. AAF-Baltimore is among the organizations taking the lead in working to clarify that advertising will not become a taxable service.

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AAF Government Report is available to all members of the AAF. If you are interested in receiving an e-mailed copy, please e-mail government@aaf.org.

If you are interested in receiving AAF SmartBrief, an opt-in news service, please visit www.smartbrief.com/aaf. AAF SmartBrief condenses advertising industry news from dozens of media sources into a succinct, easy to read e-mail.

Go to the Government Affairs Main Page.

31-Jan-12 12:00 PM

AAF-Houston January: Creative Matters!

Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:00:00 GMT

January 2012 Issue 7

In This Issue...

New Year, New President, New Chapter
Creative Thought Leader Series: A State of Mine
ADDYs gone “Mad”
AAFH Membership Drive: 100 Members in 100 Days
In Memoriam: Richard Laurence Baron

New Year, New President, New Chapter

Dear AAF-Houston members,

The Times Square ball has dropped. Ads selling gym memberships, diets and convoluted inventions to get back in shape have taken over our television sets. Volumes of well-wishing messages and hypotheses about whether the Mayans were right or wrong abound on Facebook and Twitter. All this can only mean one thing: 2012 is here.

Yes, 2011 was a great year for our American Advertising Federation-Houston. Indeed during this, our centennial year, we won national AAF Division II Club of the Year Award honors. Our own ex-chairperson, Tami Weitkunat, was presented the AAF Division II President of the Year Award. We held enormously successful Trailblazer Gala and Student Conference events. Our Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series luncheons enjoyed both great speakers and great attendance. These are all great milestones with a great deal of time, effort and dedication behind them.

Over the last six months, the overarching goal has been to further advance the organization by establishing a consistent and crystalline direction for the organization moving forward – and this comes about by visualizing an exciting, relevant and bright future for the American Advertising Federation-Houston and determining what it takes to get there.

So, it is with great pride and excitement that I announce that as of the last meeting of the Executive Committee and the last meeting of the Board of Directors on Thursday, December 15, 2011, the motion for hiring Wm. Scott Black as the new president of the American Advertising-Houston was unanimously voted in by the members of the Board of Directors of your organization.

Pursuant to the retirement of our long-time (and legendary) president, Jay Hagins, your organization’s leadership knew these were very big shoes to fill. We started with the recruitment of Maureen Garnett as administrator. Then, we set our sights on filling the president void. While other candidates were considered, Scott's name clearly floated to the top for a variety of reasons: a) his extensive experience in this industry; b) understanding of the needs of our membership and our member agencies; c) his clear understanding of the present state of our industry and that of our industry in our city; and d) he has been past chairman, and most recently performed very effectively as president of the Presidents' Council, and chair of a number of committees through the years, including ADDYs, among many other large-scale committees. Rest assured that your board of directors and executive committee have been thorough, conscientious and forward-thinking.

I fervently believe that Scott is the right choice at the right time for the American Advertising Federation-Houston. Scott has the right level of energy, imagination, sales skills, and executive experience – all of which contribute to a very positive esprit de corps. To say that having a president who is as respected as Scott is, with his level of seniority, and who has been at the helm of some of Houston’s most successful and storied ad agencies, is an asset would be an understatement.

It is also my pleasure to announce that Scott has also volunteered for and accepted the position of ADDY chairman. This is very timely and certainly welcome, as we have a lot of folks working very hard to make this our best ADDY ever, given that it is the 50th Annual ADDY Awards, which also happens to take place during our centennial celebration.

Welcome aboard, Scott – you have our absolute support, every step of the way! Thank you for stepping up and for your willingness to serve our membership.

In closing, I would be remiss not to recognize the tremendous contributions that Jay Hagins has made to our organization over the past two decades. Jay’s dedication, service, loyalty, stewardship and personal commitment have been without equal and we will forever owe Jay a debt of gratitude.

Without doubt, this is a historical and very positive moment in the history of our organization. The leadership of this organization is absolutely focused on having a positive and transformative year. A new chapter in our history begins now.

As always, thank you for your enduring loyalty and commitment to AAF-Houston. I hope 2012 brings each of you and your businesses success, health, happiness and peace.

In service and gratitude,

Alex López Negrete
AAF-Houston Chairman 2011-2012

Creative Thought Leader Series: A State of Mine

After a highly successful 2011 run, the AAF-Houston Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series is back and ready to do it bigger, better in 2012. This year’s lineup is composed of top-tier industry professionals, kicking off with January speaker and critically acclaimed art director, DJ Stout.

Come out to the Junior League of Houston on Wednesday, January 18, to support AAF-Houston and the Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series. See for yourself how DJ Stout is using his lone star influence to put out great work for some of the best brands in the marketplace.

Book your reservations today.

ADDYs gone “Mad”

Over the past few months, Creative Matters has continuously kept the members of AAF-Houston abreast of all the latest news and updates regarding everyone’s favorite time of year. No, not Spring Break. We’re talking about, you guessed it, the 2012 ADDYs. As we near February 25, we have yet more exciting news to share.

As you are well aware, this year’s celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the ADDYs, and what better way to honor 50 years of stellar advertising than taking a trip back to where it all began: 1962.

After months of brainstorming, planning, preparing, and creating, your ADDY Committee has landed on the perfect theme for the perfect occasion. This year’s ADDYs will take a page from the wildly popular hit show, Mad Men, and provide not only an awards show, but a night of music, lyrics and thematic that truly celebrates a remarkable period of advertising, as well as the beginning of the ADDYs. Most importantly, the best work of 2011 will be competing for that oh-so-shiny Gold ADDY.

The official name of the event is “MADFEST”. Call it a blend of insanely creative ideas, cocktails, and smokin’ hot concepts. We’re upping the ante by inviting our guests to pull out their skinny ties and fedoras, as we seize the night in 60’s attire! Whether your type is Don Draper or Peggy Olsen, it’ll certainly be a night to showcase the “Mad Men” in all of us.

This year, we’ve received a remarkable number of entries and a remarkable quality of work! If you have a competition of brilliant work, you need brilliant judges, right? We have gathered top-notch industry pros to help judge this year’s competition (I hope you folks brought your A-game), so winners will definitely have bragging rights this year. Our city has created some truly phenomenal work over the years, and 2011 will be the newest member of that legacy.

It’s hard to believe that we are just over a month away from the show. This year’s ADDY Committee has worked feverishly, after hours and weekends to make this event truly special. Join us in celebrating the very best of 2011 at this year’s 50th Annual ADDY Awards. You’d be mad to miss it.

Raising a glass to 50 years of madness,

Wm. Scott Black, ADDY Chairman

AAFH Membership Drive: 100 Members in 100 Days

Join. Belong. Advance.

The American Advertising Federation Houston creates the most opportunities for advertising professionals like you to stay connected. Our industry changes quickly and it is more crucial then ever for you to stay up on the trends and topics that are shaping our future. From education on the latest technologies to access to the creative genius that propels our clients forward, the AAFH is your very best resource to all things NOW and TOMORROW.

JOIN NOW and take advantage of a very special offer!In conjunction with our 100th year, and for the next 100 days, your AAFH has discounted membership dues to $100 for the remainder of the 2011-2012 year. Join by April 11, 2012 to take advantage of this special offer!

In Memoriam: Richard Laurence Baron

A son, brother, husband, father, and friend. Richard Laurence Baron, who once said he needed to use all three parts of his name because he was so big - died Thursday of congestive heart failure.

Richard was born to Sarah Lee & Paul Baron in St. Louis, Missouri. He grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where he attended and graduated from Marist Academy & Oglethorpe University.

He served as a Naval Aircrewman (an Airedale) during the Vietnam War. After his discharge, he moved to Minneapolis and began his life-long career in advertising. On May 7, 1977, he and his wife Barbara were married under a willow tree near Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis.

In 1984, he took a position with the Bloom Company, here in Houston, which became Quest Business to Business. During his years there, he was elected chairman of Dialogue International, a worldwide consortium of business to business agencies. These worldwide meetings allowed him to travel to Paris, Prague, Rome, Madrid, Cairo, Helsinki, Malmo, New York, Copenhagen, Singapore, Budapest and other cities. Barbara & their daughter Rachel often accompanied him. Wherever he went, he forged solid friendships.

In 2006, Richard went into business for himself - becoming Signalwrite™ Marketing Communications · Copywriting. He was known for his loud shirts, loud laugh, and his firm handshake. He ran marathons, biked all over Houston, enjoyed reading history and science-fiction, loved good food, wine and craft beer, and when he smoked – he smoked good cigars.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Terry Nytes, father-in-law Raymond Slavik, and brother -in -law Jeffrey Slavik. His survivors include his wife of 33 years, Barbara; his sister Evalyn Baron & husband Peter Yonka; son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter Doug, Donna & Madeleine Rose Nytes; daughter Rachel Baron and her partner, Alison Bond; cousins, aunts, nieces, nephews, many other relatives, hundreds of friends and business associates.

A "Celebration of Life" will be held Saturday, January 7 th, from 1- 5 pm at The Pavillion on Gessner, 2500 N. Gessner Dr. Wear your best Hawaiian shirt. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to a charity of your choice.

12-Jan-12 7:00 AM

Ode to Sir Richard

Joe Fournet - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 22:00:00 GMT

Richard Laurence Baron

1945-2011

Note: Richard Laurence Baron, a Houston writer and “ad guy” since the early eighties, died of congestive heart failure December 29, 2011. I learned of his sudden and untimely passing by way of a phone call the next morning from a mutual friend and one-time co-worker of Richard’s, Mary Jo Martin. Amidst reflection and sadness, and admittedly a few chuckles, these recollections are offered in tribute to a wonderful friend who just happened to be a damned good writer.

This is not easy. It’s not particularly fun, either. Damn you, Richard! Standing there, imposing figure that you are. Martini in hand, cigar delicately balanced between fingers as you gaze down upon me from afar with an ever-so-slight smirk.

“It ain’t easy, is it?” you mumble, which for you is a rarity.

Writing about other writers is difficult enough. Writing about one who’s a friend and who I feel is still here but isn’t, is tough.

Relax, Richard. And listen for once. Take another sip of your “Thursday Night Special” martini and reflect on these musings from your friend.

“Sir Richard” – that’s the nickname I bestowed upon him. Richard Laurence Baron – his three-part name sounded to me more like a title than a name. The only thing missing was the comma after “Laurence.” Richard Laurence, BARON. It bespeaks royalty. I just thought “Sir Richard” fit. I still do.

I think the first time I met Sir Richard was at an evening dinner meeting of the Business Marketing Association (BMA) here in Houston. We were both standing over by the bar (naturally), Richard with his glass of red wine already in hand. A very gracious fellow, I thought at the time, if only because he greeted me with a firm handshake and a resounding baritone of “Hello, Joe (thanks to my name tag). I’m Richard Laurence Baron. So good of you to join us this evening.”

Impressive, I thought. This guy not only has one name, he has three. And he remembers them all!

Oh, and did I mention he was tall, significantly tall. Very personable, too. We chatted some after he introduced me to his colleague and then, respectfully, excused himself to go mingle.

OK, Richard, take a puff on that cigar you’re ever-so-gently twirling, and then another sip of your martini. I can sense you’re wincing a bit. But, hey, dammit, this is my story. Chill!

When it wasn’t wine or martinis (or craft beer), it was coffee. Sir Richard and I would meet at La Madeleine in Town & Country and have breakfast. And talk. Politics, advertising, food, restaurants, and, yes, even work. During some of these visits, we’d plot how we were going to get a joint venture off the ground.

Richard hadn’t been on his own very long when we first started these visits, so he was still getting his feet wet at this entrepreneurial thing. Over the course of several months, Sir Richard and I would meet every few weeks to try and further develop our marketing joint venture; that’s until we got to a point when we discovered there wasn’t a simple way to explain to prospective clients why they should hire us to perform these services. It involved risk. I don’t even remember what we called the damned thing. We eventually abandoned the idea, both agreeing that we were just ahead of our time.

Unfortunately, Sir Richard and I never got a chance to work much together. One time, though, he called me to get my take on a radio or TV spot he’d written. He told me I had more experience in this media and he wanted my opinion. I felt honored.

Once I read it, I called him and said that it had the makings of a good spot, but that I hadn’t realized it would be a sixty second version. Richard, taken aback a bit, said it was only a “30.” I said, “Richard, you’ve got too many words in here for a 30. You’re gonna have to cut some.”

Well, Sir Richard doesn’t like to cut, especially when they’re his words! He proceeded to explain to me his strategy and rationale for the word count, just as if he were justifying to an editor about a print piece. When I explained that precise word count doesn’t really matter that much in broadcast, I honestly think he was perplexed.

I advised him how he should rewrite for the “pace” of the spot and not worry about all the specifics he’d included. Being the professional he was, Sir Richard was very appreciative and thanked me. I didn’t have the heart to send him a bill; I just told him he’d buy the next round of drinks.

Enjoying your martini and cigar, Richard? Hmmmmm, I notice the slight smirk is gone. Could it be a slight smile emerging?

Rarely, have I experienced Sir Richard showcasing brevity. And being speechless? Forget it! However, I recall one phone conversation that proved just that.

Richard called me for something (may have been just checking in) and, as usual, we chatted about a bunch of stuff. He was particularly joyful about a recent meeting or assignment he had with a local company and proceeded to tell me all about it. Seems he was especially enamored with his client contact, and went on and on about how nice she was and how delightful he thought her daughters were, and blah, blah, blah.

Finally, he asked me if I knew of the company or this woman. I told him I had heard of them. Richard asked me “Well, if I may ask, Joe, do you know her well?” I said, “Pretty well, Richard. I guess I’ve known her and her family for several years now.”

“Several years?” he said. “Well, you could probably be a wealth of information for me about her, if you don’t mind, of course.” I said, “Richard, I don’t mind at all, but I must tell you, I’m slightly biased in my opinion of her, and it could impact your business relationship with her.”

Sir Richard then reassured, “That’s alright, Joe. I’ll respect your friendship with her.”

I replied simply, “Uh, Richard, she’s not exactly my friend. She’s my sister-in-law.”

Silence.

More silence.

“Your sister-in-law?” quietly intoned Richard.

“Yes,” I said, “my sister-in-law.”

Silence.

Long pause.

Then, in that big, bellowing voice came “You’re shittin' me?!!!!!!”

I damn near dropped the phone. “No, Richard, I’m not,” I said as calmly as I could muster.

More silence.

Shorter pause.

Finally, Richard calmly states, “Your sister-in-law, huh? God, it’s a good thing I didn’t say anything bad about her!”

That was Richard Laurence Baron. A fellow writer and creative. The ride was way too short.

Paraphrasing a line from Star Trek, “He was, is and always shall be my friend.”

Martini glasses raised and with a sincere wink, Cheers, Sir Richard!

9-Jan-12 4:00 PM

CORRECTION: WEDNESDAY: Join. Belong. Advance. Membership Mixer!!

Christine Stevens - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:52:56 GMT

CORRECTION: The first AAFH membership mixer of the year is WEDNESDAY!! We hope you will join us and kick off 2012 with friends and colleagues at 88Keys from 6-8pm!

RSVP on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/events/249053331832336/ or by clicking the image below!

AAFH Membership Drive: 100 Members in 100 Days

Join. Belong. Advance.

JOIN NOW and take advantage of a very special offer! In conjunction with our 100th year, and for the next 100 days, your AAFH has discounted membership dues to $100 for the remainder of the 2011-2012 year. Join by April 11, 2012 to take advantage of this special offer!

The AAFH Membership drive will run from January 3rd through April 11th 2012 and will be marked by three mixers. We want to see you there! Mark your calendars TODAY and join us to mix and mingle with our current membership, celebrate our newest members and to welcome our prospective members.

Kick-off Mixer - Wednesday, January 11th 6pm–8pm

We're Half-Way There Mixer - Wednesday, March 7th 6 pm–8pm

Celebrate! Mixer – Wednesday, April 11th 6 pm-8pm

Location: The Brownstone's 88 Keys Piano Bar, 2736 Virginia, Houston, TX 77098

Join now and start enjoying the many benefits of your membership! AAFH Membership includes:

Membership to the National AAF, your District 10 AAF as well as your local AAFH
Membership to Only in Houston, Houston's creative community that connects you with every other creative industry organization in our city.
Invitations and discounts to countless local, district and national events. With monthly luncheons, the ADDYs, mixers and galas locally to regional and national conferences - your schedule will never be empty!
Access to discounts on the tools that are needed to stay current and successful in the industry. Special discounts are available to AAF members for services ranging from subscriptions to trade publications to shipping to web and telecommunication services.
Access to a nationwide network of industry professionals who monitor advertising-related legislation on local, state and federal levels. The AAF protects and promotes advertising at all levels of government and we put our members face to face with influential lawmakers.
Extensive job boards locally and nationally with the latest opportunities in every discipline of the Advertising industry!

9-Jan-12 10:52 AM

AAF-Houston December - Creative Matters!

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 03:00:00 GMT

December 2011 Issue 6

In This Issue...

It’s Official: ADDY Season Is Here!
In Memoriam: Steve Barnhill
December 2011 ADDY Update
Report from the President's Council: Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about …
Christine's Member News

It’s Official: ADDY Season Is Here!

Dear AAF-Houston members,

Yes, we officially kicked off ADDY season on Thursday, December 1 with our ADDY Kickoff Party at the offices of Locke Bryan Productions. You could feel it in the air: Members from agencies across town stopped by to enjoy the live jazz band, the tasty hors d'oeuvres, a great glass of wine (or two) – and, most importantly, to pick up the entry packets for the 50th Annual ADDY Awards. That’s right, Mr. ADDY turns 50 next year – and during the AAF-Houston’s centennial celebration to boot!

Creatives and principals from almost every agency stopped by – and one could tell by the number of entry packets that were picked up, as well as by their energy and enthusiasm, that 2011 has been a year when the creative juices flowed and the talent of our industry went to work to continue building our clients’ businesses in this very tough economy. Something tells me that this is going to be an ADDY where we’ll get to see some amazing work.

It stands to reason that, as ADDY season comes into high gear and our members are furiously working to prepare their entries (deadline for entries is December 16), what also goes into high gear are the various ADDY committees. So, beyond my encouraging our members to enter their best work into the show, I also take this opportunity to encourage our members to volunteer for one (or more) of the committees, which are crucial to our organization putting on the best ADDY show possible. Some of the committees that are seeking volunteers include:

Gallery Committee
Staging/Production Committee
Awards Logistics Committee
Event Management & Production Committee

It is our intent to make this a truly special ADDY show – one that not only celebrates half a century of creative excellence in Houston, but also one that pays homage to the legacy and impact Houston’s oldest professional trade organization has made in our fair city.

So, we need you.

There’s no more inspiring, fun, or energizing event to get involved in than the ADDYs. And, this year, you’d be a part of history. Please send an e-mail to Maureen Garnett at maureen@aaf-houston.org and let her know what committee(s) you want to engage in. You have my personal guarantee that your time and effort will pay off dividends both professionally and personally for years to come.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Locke and Camille Bryan for once again hosting the ADDY Kickoff Party and to Nicole Fellers for her tireless, insightful, and positive energy in all things ADDY, entries and beyond… you’re priceless! And, needless to say, I’d like to thank our members who so quickly engaged and came by to pick up their entry packets. We look forward to seeing your work.

Lastly, I’d like to thank our entire membership for the warm, supportive welcome you have given me as your Chairman in the first half of my term. We’ve done some really exciting things – but we have lots more to do and accomplish.

Wishing everyone a warm, safe, tasty, healthy and blessed holiday season. Oh, OK, I’ll go ahead and say it… ¡Feliz Navidad!

Alex López Negrete
AAF-Houston Chairman 2011-2012

In Memoriam: Steve Barnhill

It is with a great sense of loss and sadness that we report the passing of our fellow long-time member, Steve Barnhill, on Saturday, December 10th after a brave battle with cancer.

Steve Barnhill was one of our most celebrated and awarded writers and creative directors, with over 35 years of experience. Most recently, Steve served as principal and founder of Edge Creative Strategies. Prior to that, his professional experience included six years with Rice University after graduate school, three years with Bozell, 20 years with Barnhill & Co., Inc. and six with Taylor Brown & Barnhill. During his time as vice chairman and executive creative director at TB&B, the agency was named “Rookie of the Year” (AdWeek), “Houston’s Hottest Shop,” (Houston Business Journal) and “the upstart in the Southwest” (Advertising Age). He also served as editor of Historic Galveston and wrote the corporate history of Luby’s Cafeterias, Inc. In the mid-1980s, he was a leader in the creation and production of Houston Proud, a landmark multi-media promotional campaign for his hometown. Outside of work, Steve served as a director of Operation Rainbow, the Volunteer Auxiliary of the Harris County Hospital District, The Park People, Houston Tomorrow and The Immunization Partnership.

Professionally, Steve won most awards available to advertising writers, for work ranging from radio commercials to annual reports to outdoor boards. However, what Steve won best was our hearts. He was a jovial, smart, insightful individual who knew how to be a great friend and was a true supporter of the American Advertising Federation-Houston. Steve will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his children, his family and to his team at Edge Creative Strategies.

December 2011 ADDY Update

If you were unable to attend the 50th Annual ADDY® Kickoff Party at Locke Bryan Productions on December 1st, you still have time to pick up your entry packets before the drop off deadline, this Friday, December 16th. Please reach out to one of the contacts below to arrange for packet pickup. Also see your drop off location and times, as well as information regarding late drop off below.

Nicole Fellers, Locke Bryan Productions at 713-933-6642
Anna Giles/Cassie Sunderland, Langrand and Company at 713-225-5900

Entry drop-off deadline is Friday, December 16, 2011 from 8:30AM – 5:30PM at Lopez Negrete Communications, 3336 Richmond Avenue, 3rd Floor, Houston, TX 77098

Late Entry Submission is Wednesday, December 21, 2011 – NOON. Please make arrangements for drop off by contacting Nicole Fellers, Anna Giles or Cassie Sunderland. Late entry fees apply.

Report from the President's Council: Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about …

This past November 30, the HCA (Houston Communications Alliance) held its 6th Annual Christmas event at the Courtyard on St. James. Over 800 professionals from all the various professional groups across our industry came for free food, great sounds and live entertainment, and a big thanks to the Salvation Army Singers. The food was great and seeing a lot of friends and meeting new people was at the top of everyone’s agenda. Great party!

Being there reminded me of what a large and important role our industry plays in the Houston economy. It’s easy to blame the economy on our individual company disappoints, but we all need to thank our lucky stars we live in Texas and the 4th largest city in the country. Can you feel it coming back? Just read the newest Greater Houston Partnership Forecast.

As a collective group, we are close to 28,000 professionals in the greater Houston region, including design, media, production, PR, writers, art services, printing, signage, digital development, programming and others. In a recent study conducted for Austin, which analyzed the direct spending, indirect spending, and induced spending to estimate the economic impact of our industry in the region, results showed the total estimated impact was $5.7 billion! Utilizing the same analytic tools, this would equate to almost $12 billion in the Houston area. Imagine the taxes that generates … That’s clout and something to really be Houston Proud about.

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!

Wm. Scott Black
President, Presidents Council 2011-2012

Christine's Member News

2012 is on track to be another great year for the club! And, you may have heard that this next February 25 we’ll be celebrating the 50th birthday of the ADDY Awards–it will be an evening to remember as we celebrate half a century of honoring creativity’s pinnacle on our centennial year. The stars have truly aligned for a remarkable event!

And, your membership committee still wants you to JOIN or RENEW NOW! Why? Well, we want to make sure that you take advantage of your discounted ADDY entry fees of course! Did you know that you recoup the cost of your membership with only 5 entries?

But wait, there’s more!

If you act now, you can join or renew at last year’s prices! How’s that for a good deal? Of course, this offer doesn’t last forever – in fact, this offer is good only through Tuesday, December 20.

So, go ahead. Make our day (and do something great for your career and firm along the way): renew your membership online.

Welcome new members: Leeanne Rambin, Empire Advertising & Design, Javier Gonzalez-Herba, Tippit and Moo Advertising, and Matias Lanzi, Zapboombang Studios.

14-Dec-11 9:00 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Matias Lanzi

Christine Stevens - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:00:00 GMT

Matias Lanzi, began studies in music at the age of 7 playing piano and conducting studies in composition, harmony and orchestration. Fascinated by technology he turned to synthesizers, sequencers and computers to create music and sound. He attended Berklee College of Music earning a degree in Music Production and Engineering by the age of 18. After working in Mexico as an arranger and engineer for a couple of years, he decided to move to Los Angeles to pursue an engineering career. As he arrived to the US in 1994, he started working in several music and postproduction studios recording and or producing more than 100 Spanish albums, some reaching platinum and quadruple platinum awards for sales.

In the postproduction realm he sound designed, engineered and mixed award winning feature films, TV and radio commercials for the General and Latin Markets. He also designed and consulted for several studios, analyzing needs and creating solutions being Zapboombang, LLC his current home.

His ProTools experience comes from Digidesign's early efforts to introduce ProTools as ProEdit and ProDeck, aiding in the creation of Audiosystemas Digitales the first Latin American ProTools and Motu dealer, installation and support enterprise later to become Digidesign Mexico.

In pursue of new technologies Matias turned to multimedia CD ROM design, production and programming, and working on several training programs for different large communications and internet companies. Taking advantage of his programming experience in C++, PHP, Perl and ASP, he co-developed EVA (Encoded Video and Audio), a digital audio and video transmission system for Multimedia approval and viewing purposes.

After founding and running Purepost, Inc, a post-production boutique in Santa Monica California for 7 years, he relocated to Houston to accomplish the mission of creating a world class video and audio post-production facility, Zapboombang, Inc.

Matias Lanzi

Zapboombang Studios

3336 Richmond Avenue, Ste. #400

Houston, Texas 77098

(713) 521-9227

FAX (832) 295-5498

matias@zapboombangsudios.com

13-Dec-11 7:00 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Leeanne Rambin

Christine Stevens - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:00:00 GMT

Leeanne Rambin’s fourteen years of marketing and production experience encompasses media ranging from print and web to film and television.

As the owner of Empire Advertising & Design, Leeanne has helped hundreds of businesses establish professional corporate identities through creative marketing materials, innovative website solutions and dynamic video productions. A highly motivated entrepreneur who built her own successful business, she empathetically supports other business owners in identifying unique strategies for growing their businesses. Leeanne uses her leadership skills to guide her team and is dedicated to developing lasting relationships with employees and clients. 

Leeanne began her career in 1996 as a marketing manager for a land development company. She worked for the American Diabetes Association where she successfully managed fundraising campaigns and developed marketing strategies. She also participated in Team Diabetes, and raised over $3500 in donations for her half-marathon run.

Before establishing her own advertising business, Leeanne worked as a production and traffic manager at a full service ad agency that focused on marketing for major home builders. Leeanne graduated summa cum laude from Arizona State University with a BA in Theatre Arts. She spent several years working in the film industry in various capacities on made for TV movies and feature films, including “Mars Attacks!”. She also taught theatre classes to children and adults, and founded a theatre troupe where she co-produced and directed a series of plays that received rave reviews from local media coverage. She was recently the Executive Producer and an actress on the feature film “The Mark”. Leeanne serves as a board member for Cherish Our Children International.

Specialties

Marketing Consulting, Business Development, Strategic Marketing, Graphic Design, Website Design, Professional Photography, Video Production, Film Producer, Brand Development, Corporate Identity

Leeanne Rambin

Empire Advertising & Design

1020 Bay Area Blvd, Ste. 218

Houston, Texas 77058

(281) 486-8882

FAX (281) 486-8884

irambin@empiread.com

13-Dec-11 7:00 PM

SPOTLIGHT: Javier Gonzalez-Herba

Christine Stevens - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:00:00 GMT

Javier González-Herba

Javier González-Herba, Executive Creative Director: Don Quixote meets Captain Bizzarro.

Javier is a dreamer, adventurer and idealist with super-creative powers and just the slightest, most intriguing touch of the dark side in his soul – just to keep things interesting.

Javier heads up the creative responsibilities for the shop and makes sure everything is on-strategy, but a little “off” when it comes to executing campaigns that can’t be ignored. He has basically worked on everything.

Javier Gonzalez-Herba

Tippit & Moo Advertising

3336 Richmond Avenue, Ste. # 300

Houston, Texas 77098

(713) 527-7600

FAX (832) 295-5498

javier@tippitandmoo.com

13-Dec-11 7:00 PM

AAF-Houston November - Creative Matters!

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 23:00:00 GMT

November 2011 Issue 5

In This Issue...

Chairman's Message: What Really Matters
Creative Thought Leader Series
Holiday Events
Report from the President's Council: Wow is on the Way!
Christine's Member News: Renewal Efforts are Wrapped!

Chairman's Message: What Really Matters

Dear AAF-Houston members,

As the very title of this newsletter states, at the top of the list of things that matter is creative. The product. The medium. The thinking. The leadership. All things creative. That is our territory, that is our realm.

This is why the annual Student Conference is so important to us, to our industry and our future. The American Advertising Federation-Houston’s annual Student Conference has become one of the most renowned and valuable student events in our industry and in our region. On November 4-5 we held our 2011 Conference. Not surprisingly, it was another smashing success, again, under the tireless and focused leadership of Tammy Guest. But, this year, we had a corporate sponsor: Dr Pepper Snapple Group kindly stepped up as a sponsor and thus, chose Sunkist as the brand the students worked on furiously all day on. The day ended with a screening of the Cannes Advertising Festival Lions winners from 2011. It was a remarkable two days, and it was all about creativity. Generating it. Witnessing it. Judging it. Sharing it. Celebrating it.

This takes me to the next topic: ADDYS. The ADDYS are the pinnacle of our industry, the ultimate celebration and recognition of the creative product we spend our lives and energy on. And, in February of 2012, ADDY will be celebrating 50 years of existence. Talk about a milestone. Given that this particular ADDY Awards also falls during our centennial celebration, this will be a very special one indeed. We have such a legacy of greatness in this community – and an incredible crop of creative talent and agencies coming on. We truly hope you are making plans to enter and attend.

Speaking of ADDYS, please keep these milestone dates in mind: deadline for entries is scheduled for December 16th, and the actual event will be held on Saturday, February 25th. Please keep your eyes on your e-mail and mailbox for additional information on entry form pick-up and kick-off event, and of course, actual event particulars.

Lastly – also on the topic of ADDYS: anyone who has attended the ADDYS knows what an enormous event this is to produce. Actually, it’s not just the event itself – it’s getting there that takes so much work. So, yes, we’re in need of volunteers. Every committee, from entries to judging, from gallery to event production, from staging to award coordination could use eager, smart, detail-oriented volunteers. Trust me when I say that there is no event more fun or more rewarding to volunteer for than the ADDYS. In fact, my very first year as a member (1987), I volunteered to accept and log in entries – and it was so amazing to see the work come in, and, I actually made a series of life-long friends at the same time. So, if you’re up for it – we’ll make it worth your while, just call the AAF-Houston office and sign up.

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving,

Alex López Negrete
American Advertising Federation-Houston
Chairman 2011-2012

Creative Thought Leader Series

Much like a vintage bottle of merlot, AAF-Houston’s Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series are just getting better and better! The club’s October luncheon was a HUGE success, in large part to our wonderful guest speaker, Kent Dean.

Dean serves as Director of Field Marketing for Rosa’s Café and is a Licensed Facilitator for True Colors™, a personality assessment model. The presentation was outstanding, as folks from the audience engaged with Dean on the subject of communication in the workplace. The energy in the room was through the roof, and, based on the feedback, those in attendance were not disappointed!

Again, our events are only getting better. The club’s next Creative Thought Leader Series luncheon will be January 18, 2012, at the Junior League of Houston. The guest speaker is an incredibly talented and accomplished art director who has garnered endless recognition for his work with Texas Monthly, and as a partner with Austin-based design firm Pentagram. DJ Stout, a native Texan, has been honored by I.D. Magazine for “The I.D. Fifty”, an annual listing of design innovators; The Society of Illustrators with the national Richard Gangel Art Director Award; and American Photo Magazine as one of the “100 most important people in photography.” Not too shabby.

AAF-Houston members will be enlightened with a presentation covering creation of brand identity and strategy, publication design, packaging and interactive design solutions, and much more. Visit the AAF-Houston website at www.aaf-houston.org to reserve your spot for this great event!

Holiday Events

Have you been naughty or nice this year? Either way, the HCA 6th Annual Big Huge Holiday Mixer is sure to put you in the spirit of the season!The Courtyard on St. James Place will play host on Wednesday, November 30th. This year’s event will knock your stockings off (get it?), with music by hometown band Klockwork, and a performance by The Salvation Army Harbor Lights Choir. Guests will enjoy a free buffet, and can unwind with a drink at the cash bar.This being the season of giving, please don’t forget that Toys for Tots will be on-hand collecting donations for underprivileged children.

FREE entertainment. FREE food. STRENGTHENING our communications community. What better way to kick off the holidays? Don’t miss it. This event is brought to you by the HCA (Houston Communications Alliance), comprised of your AAF-Houston, Ad 2 Houston, the AMA-Houston, the Houston Direct Marketing Association, the Media Alliance of Houston, MIT Enterprise Forum of Texas, Only In Houston, Printing Industries of the Gulf Coast, and the Public Relations Society of America Houston Chapter. For additional details, go to www.hcamixer.org.

On the topic of kicking things off, the ADDYS Awards are right around the corner! The annual ADDYS kick-off event will take place on Thursday, December 1st, from 4-7pm at Locke Bryan Productions. Finger foods and cocktails will be provided. Make sure to pick up your ADDY entry packets and take advantage of the expert advice that will be available to help you with your entries. For more info on the ADDYS kick-off, please visit our website at www.aaf-houston.org.

Report from the President's Council: Wow is on the Way!

At this month’s President’s Council meeting, there was a lot of Buzz about how well things are going with AAF-Houston: membership is growing, budgets are being exceeded, monthly luncheons with our Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series are growing in attendance and importance thanks to better, more engaging speakers…what a great start to our Centennial Year. W0W!

All this new momentum is due to the young men and women who come from a variety of backgrounds and communications businesses, all who have rallied together to bring increasing relevance and value to current and future members of the organization. As for Ad2, they play hard and work harder for their own companies and AAF-Houston.

Kudos and thanks go to your Board of Directors and their committees. They are working tirelessly to provide leadership and new direction to the organization. Next time you see a board member, thank them for all their hard work…or better yet, volunteer for a committee!

Yes, as a member for more years than I or my brethren on the President’s Council are willing to admit, the best way to get the most from your membership is to get involved. Getting involved is not only rewarding, but almost guarantees your own continuing education and your success in this business. There are very few leaders in this industry that have not engaged, volunteered and gotten directly involved with their clubs (here or otherwise). So, go to our website and look around, see what interests you and get in touch with that particular committee chair or the AAF-Houston office.

This week we celebrate education by hosting one of the finest Student Conference & Competitions in the country. Students and professors from 4 States, totaling an expected 250 participants will compete, by teams, for the top 3 awards. AAF-Houston is the only professional marketing & communications organization in Houston whose ultimate mission is education of students and its membership. Keep watching the WOW, it’s there, and it’s getting bigger.

Wm. Scott Black
President, Presidents Council 2011-2012

Christine's Member News: Renewal Efforts are Wrapped!

We recently wrapped up our annual membership renewal efforts when our grace period ended on September 30th. And, while most everyone has renewed, (Thank You and Welcome to the New Year!) there may be a few of you who might have missed the deadline. If so, there are a couple of ways you can reinstate your membership TODAY! Simply click through, mail in, or email to any of these:

Online at the AAF-Houston website
Send a check to American Advertising Federation Houston at P.O. Box 27592, Houston, Texas 77227
Contact me directly at christine@acumendesign.com

Your participation in our club is important to us and we want to make sure you remain connected! If your company generally enrolls you as a group or a corporate membership, let me know and please direct me to the person who would be best to process your renewal!

In other exciting news, we are proud to welcome Theresa Quintanilla to our membership! Theresa is the Marketing Manager at MosquitoZone Corporation, a company dedicated to keeping the workforce healthy in the tropics. They provide services and products to protect workers from malaria and other dangers.

After a few years at Ogilvy & Mather Advertising, and a few years as a marketing manager, she struck out on her own to design a service that would help companies build customer loyalty. Clients of her company include Griffing & Company accounting, DMN3 marketing services, Columbia Club of South Texas and the Goldesberry Gallery.

We are thrilled to have her join – be sure to extend her a warm welcome at our next event!

13-Nov-11 5:00 PM

AAF-Houston Creative Matters! Special Bulletin - November 2011

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:15:00 GMT

In an effort to provide our membership, and our advertising community with timely Governmental legislation, which directly or indirectly affects our industry, AAF-Houston is proud to pass along this AAF Government Report by Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs.

November 10, 2011

Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs

Judge Snuffs Out Warnings
Online Protections Expanded
AAF Asked for Delay of New Domains
President Promises Veto of Rules Repeal

Judge Snuffs Out Warnings

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon has issued a temporary injunction preventing the Food and Drug Administration from requiring tobacco companies to display a rotating series of graphic images and warnings in cigarette advertising and on packaging. The images would have occupied the top 20% of an advertisement, and the top 50% of the front and back panels of the product packaging.

The judge expressed skepticism over the potential effectiveness and informational nature of the warnings, but ultimately ruled them unconstitutional because they were not narrowly tailored and would be unlikely to pass the Central Hudson test for commercial speech restrictions under the First Amendment.

The judge recognized that the issues in this case go far beyond just tobacco. He twice specifically cited the potential for similar restrictions on food and alcoholic beverages:

One can only wonder what the Congress and the FDA might conjure for fast food packages and alcohol containers if, like the Canadian government, they were not compelled to comply with the intricacies of our First Amendment jurisprudence. (footnote, page 20)

And when one considers the logical extension of the Government's defense of its compelled graphic images to possible graphic labels that the Congress and the FDA might wish to someday impose on various food packages (i.e., fast food and snack food items) and alcoholic beverage containers (from beer cans to champagne bottles), it becomes clearer still that the public's interest in preserving its constitutional protections - and, indeed, the Government's concomitant interest in not violating the constitutional rights of its citizens - are best served by granting injunctive relief at this preliminary stage. (page 28)

AAF filed an amicus brief in the case arguing that the proposed warnings violated First Amendment protections for commercial speech.

–Back to Top–

Online Protections Expanded

The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA) has announced an expansion of its self-regulatory principles for online behavioral advertising to include Principles for Multi-Site Data. The Principles establish comprehensive self-regulatory standards governing the collection and use of Multi-Site Data, data collected from a particular computer or device regarding Web viewing over time and across non-affiliated Websites and provides consumer choice for the collection of such data. Specific protections are provided for such sensitive areas as those that concerning children, health or financial information.

AAF is a member of the DAA, which is comprised of the leading marketing and online media trade associations.

–Back to Top–

AAF Asked for Delay of New Domains

AAF and many of its corporate members and local advertising clubs have signed a letter to Secretary John Bryson of the Department of Commerce asking the Department to help convince the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to postpone a plan to allow for the creation of a virtually unlimited number of new top level domains.

Top level domains are the part of an internet address to the right of the dot (.com, .org, .edu, etc.). AAF and many other s are concerned that ICANN has not adequately addressed many possible negative consequences of the proposal including economic harm, increased possibilities for consumer fraud and Internet crimes, brand dilution and trademark issues and cyber-security issues.

ICANN is currently scheduled to start taking applications for new top level domains in January 2012.

–Back to Top–

President Promises Veto of Rules Repeal

President Barak Obama has vowed a veto if the Senate approves a resolution to repeal the Federal Communications Commission’s net-neutrality rules. The vote is expected November 9 and the rules are scheduled to go into effect November 20. The House of Representatives has already passed a resolution to repeal the rules.

– Back to Top–

AAF Government Report is available to all members of the AAF. If you are interested in receiving an e-mailed copy, please e-mail government@aaf.org.

Go to the Government Affairs Main Page.

10-Nov-11 7:15 PM

AAF-Houston October - Creative Matters!

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 01:00:00 GMT

October 2011 Issue 4

In This Issue...

Change of Seasons, the Season of Change: Jay Hagins Retiring, Welcome Maureen Garnett
Why Do I Have to Work with Freakin' Aliens?
2011 Student Conference
Update from the President's Council
Member News: Looking for Leadership

Change of Seasons, the Season of Change:
Jay Hagins Retiring, Welcome Maureen Garnett

Dear AAF-Houston members,

The 100-plus-degree days seem to be largely behind us. We’re starting to see rain in the forecasts. Halloween decorations and the usual aisles full of candy, costumes, and even Thanksgiving decorations, are starting to show up at retail. Hopefully, this means that our clients will be getting busier and asking for our help in helping them have a busy and profitable holiday season.

At the AAF-Houston we have been able to get through the summer quite well - and even heated things up very nicely with a successful Trailblazer Gala, a couple of solid and very interesting Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series luncheons, and what appears to be a successful membership drive. Your organization is in good shape going into the fourth quarter. In fact, in November we have one of our most significant events: our legendary Student Conference. This committee, headed up by our own Tammy Guest and with the creative contributions of our friends at Brand Extract, is setting us up for nothing less than a stellar event. Please tune in and see all that is lined up for students and our members alike.

Yes, as the seasons are changing, it is also the season of change for us at the American Advertising Federation-Houston. It is my duty to announce the retirement of Jay Hagins, our Executive Director and President for almost 20 years. To say we all owe Jay a debt of gratitude would be quite an understatement. Jay’s list of accomplishments and contributions as our President and Executive Director is impressive: He served faithfully under many chairpersons, under many boards, and always represented our city and our organization in exemplary fashion; he participated in developing our association’s web presence; he contributed greatly to the launch and evolution of the Trailblazer Gala; he established time-tested processes of registration and nametag systems for our events; and he computerized our office operations and developed our database management program.

Many of our members may not be aware that Jay is a founding member of the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston (AEFH), that he serves on the National Professional Advisory Board for the School of Mass Communications at Texas Tech University (where he earned a BA degree in journalism), that he serves on the boards of the AAF 10th District Foundation For Advertising Education, DREAM Fund Houston and the Rotary Club of Houston, and that he received the AAF-Houston’s Silver Medal Award in 1988, served as club President (chairman) in 1980 and that he’s also received the 10th District’s Sterling Service award and the national AAF’s Betty Riehl Excellence in Service award. But what every single member is aware of is that Jay has performed as the best possible ambassador the AAF-Houston could possibly have, helping us earn a reputation as one of the best-managed, most forward-thinking chapters in the country.

Over the course of what has been almost two decades, Jay and his lovely bride Sandra have made tremendous personal sacrifices to serve our organization and its membership. It’s their turn to enjoy their life in retirement. But, I am also delighted to announce that Jay has kindly accepted the position of Club Ambassador with the express purpose of continuing to represent our organization and its membership at the District and National levels.

It is also my pleasure to present Maureen Garnett as the American Advertising Federation-Houston’s new Club Administrator, who will immediately take over all of Jay’s clerical, bookkeeping, and organizational duties. Maureen is a highly recommended and extraordinarily experienced administrator who already serves in this capacity for the Harvard Business Club, the Harvard University Club of Houston and Vapogenix, Inc. She has thorough knowledge of office procedures, equipment and records control and possesses extraordinary organizational skills. She is ready to share her strong customer service and event planning background. Maureen attended the University of Houston and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, is so very excited to be of service, and is looking forward to getting to know our organization and our members. Please give Maureen a warm welcome to the AAF-Houston at our next Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series luncheon on October 19th.

I’d like to take a moment to thank our Vice-Chair, Camille Bryan, who led the committee formed and chartered to search for a Club Administrator and found Maureen. This committee is comprised of Camille, Norm Pegram and Rich Klein. I also want to express my appreciation to our Executive Committee and our Board of Directors, who worked with the utmost diligence, expediency and sensibility. This committee will remain in place until we find our new Executive Director – big shoes to be fill, for sure.

Again, thanks to Jay Hagins for the many years of selfless service and dedication – and, welcome aboard, Maureen Garnett! Change is in the air this season. The best is yet to come!

In service and with much optimism,

Alex López Negrete
AAF-Houston Chairman, 2011-2012

Why Do I Have to Work with Freakin' Aliens?

No doubt, managing internal communications with a team of professionals and support staff can be a little like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. From blank stares to heated debates, from employee sabotage to emotional breakdowns, communicating in today’s workplace can be a challenge. But, there’s hope. With just a little information and effort, violent waves on the sea of miscommunication can take a tranquil turn. The results: improved understanding, attitudes, atmosphere, performance and profitability.

Kent Dean, Director of Marketing for a 32-store restaurant chain and 22-year veteran of the advertising industry makes three promises for those who attend the October AAF-Houston luncheon on October 19: You will laugh, you will learn something you can apply immediately, and time will fly.

Kent is a Licensed Facilitator for True Colors™ - a fun and interactive personality assessment designed to help individuals easily recognize personality types and better execute successful communication with others. Over the past ten years, Kent has presented the True Colors™ concepts to thousands in various industries including advertising, healthcare, education, food services, government, athletics, financial services and entertainment.

Kent is an experienced public speaker, an Advanced Toastmaster, and was the Humorous Speech Champion representing DFW Toastmasters International in 2005. He is also a past president of AAF – Fort Worth.

2011 Student Conference

The planning is in full swing as we head in the home stretch for the 2011 Student Conference. Students from across District 10 are signing up and looking forward to “taking no prisoners,” thanks to the crew at Brand Extract for the conference creative. Posters are printed, thanks to Southwest Precision Printing, and in the mail, thanks to PremierIMS.

The “tribes” (student teams) are being organized, so if you would like to host a team (have enough space to have 20 students and can provide them lunch), please contact Tim Raymond. Also, if you or a client are looking for creative campaign ideas for the youth market, we are also seeking a sponser for this year’s conference. The sponsor benefits from the work of these advertising/marketing students, by receiving 20 complete advertising campaigns put together based on their objectives. This is ideal for the client looking to market to the youth of today and getting a first hand strategy directly from their target audience.

If you are interested or know a potential sponsor, please contact Kate Wiggins.

The AAF-Houston Student Competition and Conference is November 4-5 at the Houston Marriott West Loop. Registration is $85 and due by October 21. Let the games begin!

Update from the President's Council

The Presidents Council met this past September 12th at the new Jack J. Valenti School of Communication facility on the campus of the University of Houston. What a facility and what a great turnout of past AAF-H Presidents! Jack Valenti, the namesake of this state-of-the-art facility, served as the president of the Motion Picture Association of America for many years. However, Jack was also a partner with the legendary Houston agency Weekly & Valenti. Jack Valenti was a friend and consultant to then Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, and was aboard Air Force One as he was sworn in following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. He served as President Johnson’s press aide for years prior to moving to Hollywood as chairman of the MPAA, which he led for many years until his death.

As we look back over our Centennial year of the AAF-Houston, we also look back with pride at Jack J. Valenti, a past president of this organization, and his years of service to our country and the motion picture industry. Worthy of mention is that Jack Valenti was not only a native Houstonian, but also a graduate of the University of Houston.

The September meeting of the Presidents Council was at the invitation of and hosted by the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences College and the School of Communication. Dr. Beth Olson, director of the school, and Dr. Laura Ashley, head of the outreach program, Kim Howard and our own Larry Kelley presented an overview of the School and a tour of the facilities. The formal ribbon-cutting ceremonies took place on October 10th.

Your Presidents Council is proud to highlight even more “giants” from our city, and our organization; it serves as a reminder that this club is fertile ground for the talent in our city to grow and make a deep impact on our craft, our city, and our nation.

Wm. Scott Black
Chairman of the AAF-H Presidents Council

Member News: Looking for Leadership

Thank you to Dave Henry, Jennifer Bailey, Lindsay Stevic, and Diahna James for joining our leadership team! We are excited to have you on board and know that your talents will be instrumental in the success our club. The membership committee still has a few positions available for YOU to participate. We are looking for leaders to take on the following sub-committees: Member Feedback/Research, The ALLY Committee and Membership Fees Review and Revision. Contact me for more information on any of these very important sub-committees!

Also, we have officially wrapped up our renewal efforts for the 2011-2012. Thank you to everyone who took the opportunity to renew! If you haven't yet reviewed, you can still do so online.

See you at the next meeting!

All the best,

Christine Stevens

16-Oct-11 8:00 PM

AAF-Houston September - Creative Matters!

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT

September 2011 Issue 3

In This Issue...

Special Bulletin: AAF-Houston, A Legacy of Greatness
Still thinking about renewing your membership? Remember that your RTB is your ROI!
Ruthless Creativity: Difference between good intentions and great results
AAF Recognizes Houstonian with Service Award
Greeting from the President's Council: Advertising Hall of Fame Nominees
Member News: Tick, Tock - It is time to renew!

Special Bulletin: AAF-Houston, A Legacy of Greatness

If you are a member of the American Advertising Federation-Houston, you are part of something very special. You are part of an organization that has borne some true giants in our industry. These giants set the bar extraordinarily high in so many areas: creativity, innovation, leadership, advocacy, mentorship, education and beyond. Theirs is indeed a legacy of greatness.

It is with great pride that I would like to communicate to you that both Lyle Metzdorf and Jean William Brown have been selected and named to the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is to be held in Dallas on October 10.

Lyle Metzdorf left a lasting legacy of creativity from Texas to New York. He founded his own agency, Metzdorf Advertising, in 1966 and built it into one of the largest independent agencies in the Southwest. He won awards for creative excellence in nearly every contest, every festival and every venue during his 40 years in advertising. In fact, he was chosen by AdWeek as the Southwest’s first All-Star Creative Director. He is perhaps best remembered for his stellar work for Blue Bell Creameries – a client of Lyle’s since 1969 – and grew Blue Bell’s share from 1% of the Houston market to the third-best selling ice cream brand in the U.S. In fact, the very creative platform used by Blue Bell then remains in play today. Metzdorf Advertising’s roster of clients boasted national and international brands such as Blue Bell, Conoco, Igloo and many others. Perpetually aware of his local responsibility, Lyle was well-known for producing many pro bono campaigns for community and charitable organizations. One of his proudest achievements was the mentoring of numerous art directors, writers and creative directors, many of whom went on to own their own businesses and make a deep mark in our industry, names such as Chuck Carlberg, Ellie Malavis, Charles Hively and many others. An ardent blue-water sailboat racer, he successfully participated in numerous offshore events, winning acclaim for his sportsmanship and seamanship. We lost Lyle in a fire accident aboard his sailboat a few years ago.

Jean William Brown was a 50-year veteran of the advertising and public relations business in Houston. He was a leader in his profession and in his community in addition to being the consummate adman, counselor, confidant and friend. Born in San Antonio, Texas, Jean was a fourth-generation Texan. He began his advertising career as a writer and account executive with McCann Erickson in Houston; Foote, Cone & Belding; and the legendary Rives, Dyke & Company, which was eventually acquired by Young & Rubicam. Today, the successor firm is Richards/Carlberg. Under his leaderhips, Rives, Dyke won numerous awards for creativity and effective advertising and served clients such as The Houston Chronicle, Schlumberger, TRW Mission, MW Kellogg, Stewart & Stevenson and various others. After retiring from Rives, Dyke/Y&R, he started his own consultancy, Jean William Brown and Associates, specializing in marketing strategy, human resources, search and recruiting, and mergers and acquisitions within the marketing/communications industry.. Jean was President of the American Advertising Federation-Houston, was a Silver Medal and Living Legend honoree as well as an Honorary Life Member. We lost Jean William Brown in November of 2004.

It is worthy of note that Jean William Brown’s assistant for almost 50 years was our very own June Cerrato, who received the Betty Riehl Excellence In Service Award from the American Advertising Federation during the organization’s annual conference in San Diego this past spring. June joined Y&R/Rives Smith Baldwin and Carlberg in 1957 and retired in 2002, allowing her to continue her service to our industry, dedicating countless hours to our organization. June has served as AAF-H President, as Governor and Executive Director of the 10th District (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Lousiana), and holds the honors of Living Legend, Life Member, Silver Medal, and the district’s Sterling Silver Award.

The AAF-Houston, its board of directors and the membership at large extend very sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the families of Lyle Metzdorf and Jean William Brown for their induction into the highly acclaimed and very exclusive Southwest Advertising Hall Of Fame. Congratulations also go to the clients and many employees and associates of these distinguished individuals. This is indeed a special moment for them and for all of us who are a part of this organization that they helped build into what it is today.

While I am certainly biased to our city and our club, I dare say that our chapter has generated more than its fair share of individuals whose creativity, innovation, courage and leadership have made an enormous mark on our industry and its people. Yes, the American Advertising Federation-Houston is fertile ground for the growth of “giants” and big ideas. This is our legacy. It always has been. It always will be.

For more information on the Southwest Advertising Hall Of Fame and the induction ceremony and how you can salute the families of Lyle Metzdorf and Jean William Brown, please contact the AAF-Houston office at 713-237-9999.

Here’s to our giants!

Still thinking about renewing your membership? Remember that your RTB is your ROI!

Dear AAF-Houston members,

As you know, we are at the tip end of “membership renewal” season. And, while I am happy to report that we have enjoyed solid renewal numbers, there are still those who have not yet renewed.

As our Membership Chair, the extraordinarily energetic and creative Christine Stevens, states in this very newsletter, our grace period for renewal at last year’s membership rates ends September 30, so I believe this is a good opportunity for me to remind you of the many benefits that your membership to the American Advertising Federation-Houston provides.

If you will recall, when we rebranded the Houston Advertising Federation and we became the American Advertising Federation-Houston, our motto was: “Unifying. Evolving. Making Our Mark.” These words very much reflect the very essence of the benefits of membership. “How so?” you may ask. Glad you asked.

Let’s start by addressing the power of gathering, the power of the collective. We are all aware of how different Houston’s advertising industry is today than it was a decade or two ago when enormous national agencies abounded. Houston’s advertising industry was, yes, larger. No question. It’s undeniable. BUT, it is also undeniable that unifying our industry and having a collective presence and identity is more important to us individually now than it was back then. There’s more at risk, and there’s more to win. Times are simply too tough and the landscape too fragmented to “go it alone” without association and without a unifying force behind us.

Then, there is the power of connection. How do we expect to evolve as individuals – or as agencies – if we are out of touch with each other, if we have no place or opportunity to talk to each other, to learn what the other is doing? How can we expect to navigate these turbulent waters without a point of reference? Evolution is key to our survival – arguably, we will do so more successfully if we are connected to each other and we have a perspective of how others are facing the challenges of an evolving marketplace.

I can assure you that the leadership of your American Advertising Federation-Houston is absolutely focused on making this a better, different organization than it has been in years past. One that is focused on providing value to its membership. One that is committed to creating programs that provide insights, learnings, perspective and connectivity like never before and like no other. This organization is also focused on its core purpose of providing education opportunities which will usher the next generation into our industry with the resources necessary to succeed: the many scholarships granted through the AEFH, an ever-growing internship program, the region’s best Student Conference and so much more.

I believe it would be fairly safe to say that none of us is in business to simply make a buck or pay our bills. Yes – this is critically important. But, if there’s one thing that has inspired me over time is the spirit and fire that exists within Houston’s advertising, production, media and creative community to make a difference. In our city. In our industry. And, on our clients’ bottom lines. We are all here to make our mark. And this is why the American Advertising Federation-Houston exists: to help its members find strength in unity, to survive and thrive in this dynamic marketplace through evolution so that we can all make our mark and remind the industry at large that Houston is a city that boasts world-class agencies, marketers and creative resources.

So, if you’re sitting on the fence and you’re looking for your RTBs (Reasons To Believe) as to why you should renew your membership, remember that your Return On Investment is inherent in every program and every event we hold. We will make sure of that.

So, c’mon. Get off the fence. Jump in before September 30, and get ready for a great year!

Sincerely and appreciatively,

Alex López Negrete
American Advertising Federation-Houston
Chairman 2011-2012

Ruthless Creativity:Difference between good intentions and great results

Join us on September 21st as we resume our monthly luncheon program to hear Scott McAfee, Senior Vice President, ECD of Sanders\Wingo take on "Ruthless Creativity". He will share his perspective on how the shifting media landscape and increasing diverse marketplace are impacting creativity.

As partner, SVP and Executive Creative Director at Sanders\Wingo, Scott brings blue-chip brand experience and an eye for bold creative work to clients. His hallmarks are simple, vibrant concepts based on honest strategy.

Since joining Sanders\Wingo in 2002, Scott has steered the agency as it’s doubled in size, and led the team to several national awards, including The One Show, Communication Arts Design Annual and Black Enterprise Magazine’s 2009 Advertising Agency of the Year.

Scott’s work has been showcased in the Austin and the District Addys, the PRINT Regional Design Annual, Lurzer’s Archive, The One Show and the Communication Arts Advertising Annual and Design Annual. His portfolio includes work from AT&T, Pennzoil, Shell, Chili’s, State Farm, Chevrolet, YMCA and Goodwill Industries, among many others.

AAF Recognizes Houstonian with Service Award

The American Advertising Federation, at their annual conference in San Diego, CA, recently honored June Cerrato, of Houston, with the Betty Riehl Excellence In Service Award for her years of dedicated service to the advertising industry and AAF. Mrs. Cerrato in her over 45 year association with the advertising industry has continually proven her dedication to her employers, the AAF, and most importantly to her friends and business associates.

The award is named in honor of Betty Riehl, who was a longtime respected and revered senior member on AAF’s Washington staff and is given annually in recognition for outstanding service to the organization. Betty died in 1995. Dave Keith, former AAF Board Chair, commented “In my 50 years with AAF, I have been fortunate enough to work with many dedicated leaders, and can honestly say that June ranks among the very top. Like my good friend Betty was to AAF, June is to Houston and the District”.

June joined Y&R/Rives Smith Baldwin and Carlberg in 1957 and retired in 2002 to allow her more time for her AAF activities. She has served as AAF-Houston President; as Governor and Executive Director of the 10th District and has served on numerous other national and local committees. A huge supporter of advertising education, June helped organize Houston’s 41-year old, nationally acclaimed Student Advertising Conferences, was a founding member of the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston, and the Foundation for Advertising Education of the Southwest.

June was recognized by AAF-Houston as one of its Living Legends, is a Life Member, and previously received both Houston’s Silver Medal and the District’s Sterling Silver Award for outstanding service.

Greeting from the President's Council: Advertising Hall of Fame Nominees

Jean Brown and Lyle Metzdorf, two industry giants, were nominated to enter the Southwest Hall of Fame. The luncheon to honor these men, on October 10th in Dallas, is sponsored by the AAF 10th District.

The mission of the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame is to honor men and women who have distinguished themselves professionally, contributed to the betterment of advertising and its reputation, and made volunteer efforts outside the workplace. Although both of these men and their agencies were very active in our organization, nominees are not required to be members of an American Advertising Federation (AAF) club and may represent all disciplines within the advertising industry.

These two honorees join other Houston recipients: Dave Keith, Fred Korge and Earl Littman from 2008; Richard Johnson in 2009; and Audrey Gilbreth, Alex López Negrete and Willard Walbridge in 2010.

You may not know all of these Hall of "Famers", but they are the people who have laid the foundation for the communications industry for today and tomorrow. These are all Houston’s own giants.

The Presidents’ Council of the American Advertising Federation-Houston congratulates the past employees, clients, and families of Lyle Metzdorf and Jean William Brown, as well as the entire advertising community of Houston. It has been fertile ground for extraordinary individuals with extraordinary talent who leave an indelible mark in the business and in the lives of the people whom they serve and lead.

If you would like to attend this luncheon or to be a Houston sponsor, contact the AAF-Houston office.

Wm. Scott Black
President
President’s Council

Member News: Tick, Tock - It is time to renew!

As we speak, your committee is working hard to wrap up our annual membership renewal efforts. As you know, memberships run from July 1st through June 30th each year and our grace period ends on September 30th. The window for renewal is fast approaching. If you have not yet completed your renewal, please do so today!

Your participation is important so remain connected by renewing online , contacting me directly at christine@acumendesign.com, or sending a check to American Advertising Federation-Houston, P.O. Box 27592, Houston, Texas 77227

In other news, THANK YOU to Jennifer Bailey, Lindsay Stevic and Diahna James for joining our leadership team! We are excited to have you on board and know that your talents will be instrumental in the success our club.

The membership committee still has a few positions available for you to participate! We are looking for leaders to take on the following sub-committees: Member Feedback/Research, The ALLY Committee, The Database Team, Member Benefit Review + Revision, Membership Fees Review + Revision and a Copywriter. Contact me for more information on any of these very important sub-committees!

All the best,

Christine Stevens

18-Sep-11 7:00 PM

AAF-Houston August - Creative Matters!

Rita Trelewicz - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 01:00:00 GMT

August 2011 Issue 2

In This Issue...

Chairman's Message
Ruthless Creativity:Difference between good intentions & great results
It's Goin' Down in Cowtown
Greeting from the President's Council
Member News

Chairman's Message

I’d like to start this month’s communication by thanking you, our membership, for the terrific feedback we received about our monthly newsletter name and design. Clearly, “Creative Matters!” appears to have scored a direct bullseye hit and struck a deep chord, as it also speaks to the purpose of our organization. What a nice start to my first month as chairman – thank you!

I am also delighted to report that our 11th Annual Trailblazer Gala at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on Thursday, August 18 was a resounding success, in every possible way:

• Our very deserving honoree, Leroy Shafer, Chief Operating Officer of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, was truly touched by the proceedings and even stated that it was one of the best evenings of his life. When I think of the kinds of events Mr. Shafer has staged and the ranks of legendary performers he has met, I think this is one of the best compliments we could have received.

• The gala evening sparkled with memorable moments, including a creative and emotional speech by Steve Patterson – alongside whom Mr. Shafer worked in the creation of Reliant Stadium – an extraordinary IMAX video created by Locke Bryan Productions, Mr. Shafer’s moving acceptance speech, and even a video shout-out by Jimmy Fallon himself! The silent auction was full of unique and amazing items, including notably the marvelous boot sculptures created and donated by some of Houston’s top creative talent.

• It became crystal clear that the Trailblazer Award and Gala has become a cornerstone event for our organization and THE vehicle by which the advertising community in Houston celebrates the marketer (aka, client) side of the business.

There are too many people to thank them all individually, but I must single out our Gala Chairman, Mike Albrecht of Love Advertising, for putting together and energizing a terrific team, which included Joe Pogge; Troy Burwell and the team at Four Guys Interactive for creative services; Jackie Dryden; Camille Bryan; Locke Bryan and his team for performing video magic (again); Allen Brivic; Flor Alas; RoShelle Salinas; Jordan Gibbenus and the good folks at Pierpont Communications; and of course Mike’s wife, Nancy, who was auction chair. So many people, so much to do, so little time – and a successful gala nonetheless! I’d also like to send a special thank you to Brenda Love of Love Advertising, who not only loaned Mike to us – plus several other members of her team – but who also got personally involved in helping to raise funds and snag sponsors.

But now it’s time to look forward. We have an exciting program for our next Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series on Wednesday, September 21, where Scott McAfee will present “Ruthless Creativity,” telling us how we can achieve great results in today’s diverse and challenging environment by embracing fearless creative and change. Don’t miss it.

Our next big event following that is our legendary Student Conference, set for November 4-5 – let’s not forget that students and education are what we are all about. So stay tuned and plan to be a part of it. Our Student Conference Chair, Tammy Guest, is cooking up some very special activities, including a Cannes Advertising Festival Screening and many more activities that will continue to position the AAF-Houston’s Student Conference as the premier student/educational event of our region.

Whew. With one month down and eleven to go, I remind myself that we must look forward. That we still have much to do to continue positioning our club for the future. That we must make sure we provide value to our members. And that we continue positioning Houston’s advertising community as best in class.

Be cool. Stay cool. But let’s heat things up in the club. We’re off to a sensational start, so hop on: It’s going to be a great ride, people.

In gratitude and in service,

Alex López Negrete
American Advertising Federation-Houston
Chairman 2011-2012

Ruthless Creativity:Difference between good intentions & great results

It's Goin' Down in Cowtown

Presented by 4 Guys Interactive and hosted by AAF-Fort Worth, the Central Region of the AAF is delighted to announce the first-ever Central Region Conference – on Sept. 16-18, 2011, at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. This conference will take the place of the fall conferences for AAF Districts 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.

Our goal is to offer you a bigger bang for your buck than any one district can provide on its own. We've got world-class speakers and workshop leaders that will hone your professional skills and others that will provide techniques to improve your club.

Let Fort Worth “Inspur You” and get to know people from eighteen different states and five different districts. The conference will open with lunch on Friday, Sept. 16 and conclude following lunch on Sunday.

To register for the conference visit www.aaffortworth.org and for hotel reservations call 1.800 HILTONS. The group rate is $129 per night.

Greeting from the President's Council

What a great night it was at the Trailblazer Gala. The Trailblazer Award continued its tradition of recognizing the “who’s who” among Houston Business Leadership, with the presentation of the Award’s 11th edition to Leroy Shafer of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

The over 300 that were in attendance at the Houston Museum of Natural Science venue included friends and colleagues of the honoree Mr. Shafer, members of Houston media, your AAF-Houston Board of Directors, and members of the President's Council.

I had the distinct honor of sharing a table with Dave Keith and Fred Korge, both past Presidents, Silver Medal recipients, and 2008 inductees into the Southwest Advertising Hall of Fame. For 2011, the nominees and soon-to-be inductees into the Hall are: Jean William Brown and Lyle Metzdorf. The Inaugural Induction Luncheon is set for October 10, 2011 in Dallas. It promises to be an exciting event, so you won’t want to miss it. Please contact the AAF-Houston office for ticket information.

Wm. Scott Black
President
President’s Council

Member News

AAF-Houston welcomes the following new members: Mark Rudkin - Rice University; Thomas Watts - Ell, and Amy Seitz - FASU Alumna

If you have any news you want to share with the group or want to include a short profile in future newsletters, please contact Rita Trelewicz. Let the Houston ad crowd know what is going on with you!

29-Aug-11 8:00 PM

AAF-Houston July - Creative Matters!

Rita Trelewicz - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 13:00:00 GMT

In This Issue...

Introduction
Chairman's Message
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Legend Honored
President's Council Letter
Member News

Introduction

Welcome to the first issue of Creative Matters! Your voting turnout was strong. While Houston Ad News and Ad Matters came in second and third respectively, Creative Matters was the distinct favorite. Mine too! Congratulations to Susan Reeves at Prism Design, the winner of the iPod. Thanks to everyone who participated. A special thanks to Michael Strickland of Michael Strickland Design Group for his design work on our new masthead.

The newsletter is not the only thing that changed in the past month. We now have a new Board of Directors led by Chairman Alex López Negrete. As you know AAF-Houston is celebrating our 100th anniversary this year and the new board members are committed on making this year memorable.

The Trailblazer Gala is coming up in a few weeks. We are honoring Leroy Shafer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. The theme is business country-western. So grab your boots and join us in celebrating his contributions that made the rodeo a huge success.

The 2011–2012 AAF-Houston board members and officers elected include: Immediate Past Chairman Tami Weitkunat, Media Comp; Chairman Elect Camille Bryan, Locke Bryan Productions; Vice Chairman Rich Klein, FKM; Troy Burwell, 4 Guys Interactive; Dave Henry, iFilm Productions; Thomas Watts, ELL; and Lee Wheat, Whole Wheat Creative. Returning board members are Dwight Cook, Sound Works; Nicole Fellers, Locke Bryan Productions; Joe Fournet, Ideas & MORE; Tammy Guest, KTRK-TV; Larry Kelley, FKM; Moses Robles, Oak Interactive; and Dennis Vegas, Acclaim Energy Advisors.

As always, if there is something you want to share, drop me a line. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next month, thanks for reading!

Rita Trelewicz
Editor
AAF-Houtson Creative Matters!

Chairman's Message

Dear AAF-Houston Members,

Welcome to the first issue of our newly renamed and redesigned monthly e-newsletter, and welcome to our new 2011-2012 calendar year! I take this opportunity to express my appreciation for the trust you have placed in me by allowing me to serve as the organization’s Chairman. I am particularly privileged and excited to serve during our 100th Anniversary. It is an honor and a responsibility I don’t take lightly and will always cherish.

It was very rewarding to see such a huge response to the survey on renaming our e-newsletter. The choice you made was also very telling. By voting for “Creative Matters,” you told us, literally and figuratively, that creative is the strategic territory you need, want and expect this organization to own. As such, you can expect us to have complete strategic clarity of purpose as we bring you programs, initiatives and opportunities to engage in, learn about and celebrate all things creative. Creative thinking. Creative strategy. Creative media. And, of course, the creative product in all of its manifestations.

Rest assured, you have a very hard-working board of directors and a series of committees totally focused on creating a year’s worth of new and exciting programs that will make your membership fees pay dividends in so many ways. Speaking of fees, if you have not renewed your membership, please do so. This is going to be a great year – you really won’t want to miss a minute of what is coming … and we would certainly miss you!

Next month we will be holding one of our cornerstone events: the Trailblazer Gala. Designed to celebrate the marketer (aka, client) side, it each year honors an individual that has made significant contributions to our industry and our city by building his or her organization through effective advertising, strategic marketing communications and responsible corporate citizenship.

This year, our honoree is none other than Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) vice president and chief operating officer, Leroy Shafer. To say Leroy has made enormous contributions to our city would be a significant understatement. He has taken the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo far beyond being an agricultural event into a world-class entertainment and marketing venue, drawing worldwide attention and business to our city.

The Gala will be held at the Houston Museum of Natural Science on Thursday, August 18th – and it’s shaping up to be quite an evening, complete with an unbelievable silent auction, IMAX presentation, solid corporate representation (lots of clients!) and, yes, great dinner and drinks. Put it on your calendar; call the AAF-Houston office and get your tickets now. I really hope to see you there.

I also look forward to seeing you at our monthly Creative Thought Leader Speaker Series and at all our other events as well. In the meantime, I want to let you know that you can depend on me, on your board of directors and on all our committees to:

Maintain absolute strategic organizational clarity of purpose
Design programs and events that provide a clear and immediate benefit to you, our members
Be different in kind and not just in degree from other organizations
Add more programs to our calendar that will strengthen the connective tissue between you, our members, and the organization as a whole
Embrace and energize the youth coming into our industry through Ad2, our student programs and our scholarship programs through AEFH
Showcase the enormous creative talent and resources that exist in Houston, providing more opportunities and ultimately generating more business for us all
Engage with and leverage our parent organization, the American Advertising Federation, to strengthen our programs and provide even more member benefits

Again, I thank you and your 2011-2012 board of directors for the opportunity you have given me to be of service. I am truly honored; I commit to you passion, dedication and hard work – all with a healthy dose of irreverence, fun and creativity. After all, creative matters!

Sincerely,

Alex López Negrete
2011-2012 AAF-Houston Chairman

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Legend Honored

The AAF-Houston will honor Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR) vice president and chief operating officer, Leroy Shafer, with the Trailblazer Award on Thursday, August 18th at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. The annual award gives tribute to a Houston business individual and marketer who exemplifies AAF-Houston’s "Made in Houston" spirit.

Shafer propelled the HLSR far beyond a rodeo broadcasting affair and into a world-class entertainment and marketing venue. He attracted some of the world’s biggest music performers, crossing all genres and pioneering the use of lights, sound, and video projection. Thanks to his efforts the HLSR stands as the beacon of the successful intersection of philanthropy and entertainment. Shafer led the HLSR to a record 2.26 million visitors in 2011. He oversees 24,000 volunteers and supports more than 535 scholarships for Texas youth. Shafer is now in his 38th year with the organization.

The Trailblazer gala has become one of the cornerstones of our organization, as it represents an opportunity for us, as an advertising community, to celebrate those marketers that make a difference, value creativity, exalt and utilize Houston’s creative resources – and certainly, put our city in the limelight nationally and even internationally,” expressed newly incoming AAF-Houston Chairman Alex López Negrete, president, CEO and chief creative officer of Lopez Negrete Communications.

Event Chairman, Michael Albrecht of Love Advertising stated: “Our organization has honored some truly deserving Trailblazers and Leroy Shafer very much belongs amongst them. He has made history in so many ways and has contributed greatly to putting Houston in the world spotlight – we look forward to honoring this understated, highly accomplished and much beloved gentleman in the most special of ways on this evening.”

The revelry of the night includes a first-class silent auction with proceeds benefiting the educational efforts of the AAF-Houston. After dinner, attendees will cap off the night in the most fitting manner possible – an IMAX presentation showcasing Leroy Shafer’s life and work in the Houston community.

For tickets or sponsorship information, call 713-237-9999 or email jay@aaf-houston.org.

President's Council Letter

Hey y’all, gather ’round for this year’s AAF-Houston Trailblazer Gala!

On behalf of the President’s Council of the American Advertising Federation-Houston, it is with great pride that I ask you to join us to honor “The Man Behind The Brand”: Leroy Shafer, Chief Operating Officer of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

As you are aware, this award is given each year to an outstanding Houston businessperson and marketer who exemplifies American Advertising Federation-Houston’s "Made in Houston" spirit, and has built organizations through effective advertising, marketing communications, and responsible corporate citizenship. Through Leroy Shafer’s efforts and leadership of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, he has been able to make dreams for young Texans come true by awarding millions of dollars in scholarships to almost 600 deserving young men and women and by helping put Houston square in the middle of the world’s limelight.

The primary goal of the AAF-Houston is also to provide educational scholarships to deserving young communications, marketing, advertising or related degree students and professors in these fields to achieve greater success in their quest for lifelong careers in our industry. This is the first time in the history of the Trailblazer Gala that we have selected not only an outstanding businessperson, but someone whose organization shares the same goals and objectives as the AAF-Houston: continuing education through scholarships. Please join me and the members of the President’s Council as we tip our hats to “The Man Behind The Brand”: Leroy Shafer.

Y’all come on now and attend the Trailblazer Gala event on August 18 th at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Please call Jay Hagins at the AAF-Houston at (713) 237-9999.

In sincere appreciation,

Wm. Scott Black
President
President’s Council

Member News

The Membership Committee needs your talents!

The membership team is looking for Networkers, Researchers and an Art Director + Copywriter team. They need PR professionals and Event Planners, Coordinators and Sales Professionals, Creatives and Account Service Experts. Every discipline is welcome and they have the perfect place for you to serve! Their next meeting is Tuesday, August 9th at the Acumen Design offices from 6-7pm . Refreshments and snacks will be served. Please RSVP to christine@acumendesign.com.

1-Aug-11 8:00 AM

Think Differently or Else

Joe Fournet - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Houston, TX -- The Texas Association of Special Investigation Units (TASIU) featured Joe Fournet of Ideas & MORE and his "Think Differently or Else" interactive presentation.

During their June 8th meeting, Mr. Fournet talked on the importance of persuasive communication and the role of thinking differently as it applies both to internal and external audiences.

The TASIU is the Texas-South chapter of the larger international organization primarily comprised of insurance fraud investigators from insurance companies and law enforcement agencies with many of the investigators employed by insurance companies coming from law enforcement backgrounds.

Take a peek here:

Think Differently or Else

View more from Joe Fournet

14-Jun-11 4:00 PM

AAF-Houston AdSmart June - Goodbye Houston AdSmart, What's Next?

Rita Trelewicz - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 02:00:00 GMT

June 2011, Issue 26

In This Issue...

Introduction
Goodbye Houston AdSmart, What's Next?
Ad2 Houston's Bowl Your Ads Off! Bowl-a-thon Fundraiser
Dual Panels Claim Privacy
Member News

Introduction

Although it feels like summer started a couple of weeks ago in Houston, officially the first day does not start for another week. However, so you can enjoy the summer and not worry about missing a meeting, the AAF-Houston lunch series is on hold until September when the Creative Series of Speakers continues.

While our monthly luncheons may be on hold for the summer, the chapter is keeping busy. Mike Albrecht is the 2011 Trailblazer Gala Chair. The event will honor the Rodeo Houston’s Leroy Shafer, on August 18th. It promises to be the biggest Trailblazer Gala ever and your help is needed. They need auction items! Please contact Mike with any items you can rustle up for the cause.

We had a record 100 applications from top students around Texas for the AEFH scholarships and last month we gave out a record eleven scholarships worth $18,500. Later this week, mingle at Swaye Bar (3730 Washington Avenue) during Ad2 Thirstdays mixer.

One change you need to know about. This is the last issue of Houston AdSmart. What comes next is up to you! We are changing the name and want your thoughts. Read on for how you can influence what comes next.

As always, if there is something you want to share, drop me a line. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next month, thanks for reading!

Rita Trelewicz
Editor
AAF Houston AdSmart

Goodbye Houston AdSmart, What's Next?

When the electronic newsletter first debuted in 2007, it was named HAFTime Online. In October of that year, we changed the name to Houston AdSmart in an effort to give our chapter stronger connections at the national level. You might remember, that was when we also changed the chapter's name to the American Advertising Federation - Houston.

We may have been too successful in our effort to build stronger connections to national. Many people confuse our Houston AdSmart with national correspondence so don't realize we have a local newsletter. In order to ease the confusion and regain our individuality, we are re-naming our newsletter and we need your input! The leadership team identified eight names for the newsletter.

They are: AAF-Houston BUZZ, AAF-Houston E-NEWS, AAF-Houston Hot Line, Hot Town AD News, Hot Town News from AAF-Houston, Big Mouth Monthly, Houston Ad News, Creative Matters, Ad Matters, and the Creative Skinny

In July, the newsletter will publish under the new name. What will it be? In the next week or so you will receive a survey giving you a chance to vote on your favorite. Help us decide! Everyone who votes, is entered into a drawing to win an iPod Shuffle. What are your thoughts?

Ad2 Houston's Bowl Your Ads Off! Bowl-a-thon Fundraiser

On, Saturday, June 25, Ad2 Houston host's their first ever bowl-a-thon. Come out to Palace Bowling on 4191 Bellaire Blvd.from 5-8 pm, make some strikes, and help make it a great success! Half of the proceeds will go into the scholarship fund and the other half will support Ad2 Houston so they can continue to offer networking events and create educational programs.

Entry fee for team of five is $125 for members and $135 for non-members. Only one player on a team needs to be a AAF member to get the member registration rate.

Entry fee for singles is $25 for members and $35 for non-members. Singles will be placed together to form a team or placed on teams that are short players.

There will be an art pin auction designed by Houston's amazing creatives. If you are interested in designing a pin, or want more information, please contact Kelley Cox. Sponsorships are available for $350.

Registration starts at 5pm and ends at 5:30pm. There will be food, a cash bar, and a DJ.

More information and registration forms on the bowl-a-thon is available on the Ad2 website.

Dual Panels Claim Privacy

Two Senate committees are currently looking into online privacy issues. Both the Senate Commerce Committee and the newly formed Judiciary subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law have recently held hearings on privacy matters. For the moment, all legislative proposals have come from the Commerce Committee. Legislation has been introduced by Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D- W.Va., (S. 913), and committee members Senators John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz., (S. 799).

Having two committees working on privacy could actually dampen the prospects of legislation being passed. Privacy is a complicated issue. Adding cross-committee jurisdictional issues may add another layer of difficulty and further slow the process. Given the fact that the bills that have been introduced are highly problematic, the increased scrutiny may ultimately benefit industry and consumers by allowing lawmakers more time to find solutions that work.

The AAF is hopeful that lawmakers will conclude that an effective solution already exists in the form of the industry's self-regulatory program, www.aboutads.info, and that comprehensive legislation is unnecessary.

Member News

AEFH and AAF-H Present Scholarships

AAF-Houston and the Advertising Education Foundation of Houston (AEFH) presented scholarships to eleven deserving college students at the AAF-Houston monthly luncheon last month. Honoring students who are pursuing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in advertising, communications, journalism, radio and TV, commercial art, marketing, public relations or related fields, AAF-Houston presented scholarships to students who may be returning to the Houston area following graduation.

The AEFH supports education through granting scholarships to undergraduate and post-graduate students. Scholarships were given in amounts ranging from $1,500 to $2,500 per award. Scholarships will be awarded to the most qualified students within the guidelines of financial need, GPA, written communications skills, and general community and volunteer activities. Students must also have demonstrated commitment to the communications industry with internship or work experience, and participation in communications-focused professional or campus organizations.

Categories and recipients for this year’s scholarships include: AEFH Scholarship-Béne Petty, University of Houston; Bill and Sharon Young Media Education Scholarship-Kantaya Koythong, University of Texas and Brittany Hooey, Sam Houston State; Brett Elliott Education Fund, Alexandra Carreno, University of Texas; FKM Marketing Communications Scholarship-Mike Le, University of Houston; Houston Media Classic Education Fund-Kristy Nguyen, Texas Tech; Jean Brown Scholarship Fund-Kristina Casey, Texas A&M; Locke Bryan Director's Scholarship-Ngoc Nguyen, University of Houston; Lopez Negrete Hispanic Marketing Educations Scholarship-Jamie Alvizar, University of Houston; Saurage Research Academic Distinction Scholarship-Julio Salonga, University of Houston; 4-Guys Interactive Scholarship-Kristina Pontious, Texas A&M.

13-Jun-11 9:00 PM

Think Differently & Spark Creativity

Joe Fournet - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Tue, 17 May 2011 21:00:00 GMT

Just wanted to share the presentation given last Friday in a special workshop for the Professional Development for Marketers SIG of the American Marketing Association Houston, "Think Differently & Spark Creativity."

Think Differently & Spark Creativity

View more presentations from Joe Fournet

17-May-11 4:00 PM

AAF-Houston AdSmart May - Creative Thought Leader Series

Rita Trelewicz - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:00:00 GMT

May 2011, Issue 25

In This Issue...

Introduction
Creative Thought Leader Series: Think Like a Futurist
Happy Anniversary AAF-Houston!
ADMERICA! - The AAF National Conference
Member News

Introduction

Keele University scientists found that swearing can have a painkilling effect. Volunteers were able to keep their hands submerged in icy cold water longer while swearing than when they used a harmless phrase. The researchers concluded that swearing increases pain tolerance. All I can say is when I stub my toe, uttering a few expletives makes me feel better. How about you?

For some, a nice cool drink and meeting with friends does the trick. Ad2 Houston is bringing back Thirsty Thursdays! The first one is on Thursday, May 26th starting at 5:30pm. Location will be forthcoming soon. Check out the Ad 2 Houston website or their Facebook page for location.

There are at least two reasons to celebrate this month. AAF-Houston is once again the National Division II Club of the Year as announced at the AAF-Tenth District convention, We are also celebrating the 100-year anniversary of AAF-Houston. On April 11, 1911, several business leaders signed the petition to become charter members and the first luncheon service club was born. AAF-Houston is planning several events throughout the year to mark this occasion.

As always, if there is something you want to share, drop me a line. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next month, thanks for reading!

Rita Trelewicz
Editor
AAF Houston AdSmart

Creative Thought Leader Series: Think Like a Futurist

Join us on Wednesday May 18th when Pamela A. McConathy , Principal of Foresight Communications Group explains how to gain insight by using foresight and start thinking like a futurist at the AAF-Houston monthly luncheon.

Yogi Berra once said, “The future ain’t what it used to be.” And who can argue with that observation today?

“The future is taking shape around us now,” McConathy says. “Many people believe they don’t have time to look ahead because they need to focus on making it happen this quarter or this week. Unfortunately, in today’s fastchanging marketplace that just won’t cut it. A company’s competitive edge and often, its survival, depends on its ability to adapt to change and thrive, no matter what lies ahead. While everyone can’t be a futurist, we can learn to think like one. And thinking strategically about the future can empower us to make more informed decisions today.”

Pam McConathy has more than 25 years of experience consulting, planning and implementing award-winning public relations programs, internal communications, marketing communications, and more. Her clients have included Sprint PCS, Verizon Wireless, Aramco Services Company, Shell Chemical, Chevron, Reliant Energy, Halliburton Landmark, Loomis, Emirates Airline, the Houston Technology Center, Waterborne, Rockwell Automation, and Dyadem.

The Houston Business Journal is the exclusive media sponsor of the Creative Thought Leader Series of luncheon programs.

Happy Anniversary AAF-Houston!
April 11, 1911 - April 11, 2011

The American Advertising Federation Houston officially kicked off a full year of celebration on April 11, by receiving the Governor’s Proclamation in recognition of its 100th anniversary during center court ceremonies of the Rockets season finale at Toyota Center.

“Congratulations on this historic milestone. Strong advertising and marketing are essential to any business’ success, and the American Advertising Federation has been recognized as a leader for providing outstanding services to the Houston community. You continue to demonstrate the hard work and commitment that have helped your organization achieve its longevity, and I wish you continued success in the future,” states Governor Perry in the Proclamation.

On Tuesday evening, April 11, 1911, a group of Houston business leaders met at the Chamber of Commerce to sign the petition to become charter members of the Advertising Association of Houston. As such, the first luncheon service club, and one of the oldest service organizations in Houston, was born.

Houston’s advertising community has changed drastically since those early days. We have lots to celebrate. AAF-Houston remains as a living tribute to those whose courage of conviction led to its establishment and to those whose work has kept alive the spirit and commitment to foster integrity in advertising, and to use the talents and influences of Houston’s own to build upon the innovation and creativity that all began back in 1911.

Throughout 2011 and culminating with the 2012 ADDYS, AAF-Houston will be counting down one hundred candles – one shining memory at a time. Follow the year-long anniversary celebrations at AAF-Houston.

ADMERICA! - The AAF National Conference

Join AAF in San Diego at the national conference where culture and advertising meet on June 2-3.ADMERICA! 2011 connects all aspects of the advertising industry. Influential agencies, clients, media companies, suppliers, and colleges from across the country will address how to thrive in a recovering economy and how the changing culture of business and consumers is impacting our industry.

During the conference learn new ways of communicating through social media, how diverse impact business, and discover innovative insights into creativity and business solutions.

Other highlights of the event include: the National ADDY® Awards, San Diego Ad Club Centennial Ad Bash, NSAC Competition sponsored by JCPenney, Salute to AAF Achievers, and the Ad Expo 2011.

More information and registration information is available on the AAF national website.

Member News

To help break the ice if you see any of these members at an upcoming event, we profiled a few. If you have any news you want to share with the group or want to include a short profile in future newsletters, please contact Rita Trelewicz. Let the Houston ad crowd know what is going on with you!

Sabrina Lojuk recently joined Shable & Associates, a business-to-business marketing agency as a as brand consultant/account manager. Her experience in developing brand strategy, communications planning, interactive marketing and social media enhances the agency's account management capabilities brings an extra dimension to the agency’s client services. Congratulations on your new position!

13-May-11 10:00 AM

AAF-Houston AdSmart April - Creative Thought Leader Series

Rita Trelewicz - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 03:00:00 GMT

April 2011, Issue 24

In This Issue...

Introduction
Creative Thought Leader Series: Ben Gaddis on Mobile Marketing
Senate Committee Considers Privacy
Most Effective TV Ads for First Quarter 2011
Member News

Introduction

According to Ace Metrix, Mars candy commercials scored big the first quater of this year. I am sort of partial to the “You Are What You Eat" spot which ranked 9th. In this spot, the guy turns into a Pretzel M&M after eating a little too many. If we really are what we eat, then these days I run the risk of becoming a marshmallow Peep.

As you may already know, there was a recent change in speaker for the April luncheon. While Lee Garfinkel is not able to join us this month, Ben Gaddis, Vice President, Innovation and Growth at T-3 in Austin, will deliver a killer presentation on mobile marketing at the April monthly luncheon.

There is still some time to make your reservations for the 2011 AAF Tenth District Convention in Oklahoma City. From April 13-16, attend the MAD FLAVOR and relish four days of an all-you-can-eat advertising buffet.

As always, if there is something you want to share, drop me a line. I look forward to hearing from you.

Until next month, thanks for reading!

Rita Trelewicz
Editor
AAF Houston AdSmart

Creative Thought Leader Series: Ben Gaddis on Mobile Marketing

Join us on April 20th when Ben Gaddis, Vice President, Innovation and Growth at T-3 in Austin, delivers a killer presentation on mobile marketing at the AAF-Houston monthly luncheon.

He will be talk about the "I Am Here" campaign, addressing the challenges that T-3 faced while creating the campaign and how they used social media and mobile marketing to turn one donated billboard placement into a national media event.

Ben is an envelope pusher, ever ready to cultivate new ways of solving both known and arising client challenges. He leads the T-3 agency’s innovation group, developing emerging applications and media strategies. With ten years of experience focused on technology in advertising, he has developed mobile strategies and programs for Coca-Cola, JPMorgan Chase, AT&T, UPS, Nokia and American Airlines. Ben is a co-author of Mobile Marketing for Dummies and contributes to the DigitalNEXT blog on AdAge.com.

Saurage Research is a sponsor of this event and the Houston Business Journal is the exclusive media sponsor of the Creative Thought Leader Series of luncheon programs.

Senate Committee Considers Privacy

The Senate Commerce Committee conducted a hearing last month on the state of online consumer privacy. The hearings were generally encouraging for advertising, with widespread acknowledgement of the benefits to consumers and companies of online behavioral advertising. Policymakers were also very positive about the Digital Advertising Alliance’s new self-regulatory program. AAF is on the board of the DAA. However, there were still calls for more government involvement and legislative action.

Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, called the DAA program promising, but expressed concern that it does not go far enough. He said that any do-not-track program should adhere to five principles. It should be universal, easy to find and use, persistent over time, allow a consumer to opt-out of both behavioral advertising and tracking, and be effective and enforceable. AAF believes that the DAA self-regulatory program largely accomplishes these goals.

AAF believes that self-regulation will accomplish most of the policymakers’ goals and provide consumers with significant protections. We are not convinced that congressional action is necessary, but will withhold judgment on specific legislation until we have the opportunity to review specific proposals.

Most Effective TV Ads for First Quarter 2011

In the first quarter of this year, the most effective TV ad running was "Focus Group," a spot for Mars' new Snickers Peanut Butter Squared, according to Ace Metrix. They measure commercials' effectiveness based on persuasion and watchability on a score from 0 to 950.

The spot scored 668 and the norm for candy spots is 585. The commercial shows sharks in a focus group expressing a preference for the taste of a person who had just eaten a Squared over someone who had eaten a regular peanut butter cup.

Three M&M's spots made the rankings. One, for personalized M&M's, "Red Can't Say He Loves Her," ranked #3, with a 662 score. The "You Are What You Eat" spot was #9, scoring 645 and the third spot, “It's Them or Gary", placed 10th, with a 643 score.

To read more about the rankings of other ads check out Media Post.

Member News

To help break the ice if you see any of these members at an upcoming event, we profiled a few. If you have any news you want to share with the group or want to include a short profile in future newsletters, please contact Rita Trelewicz. Let the Houston ad crowd know what is going on with you!

Katy Wendell is a native Houstonian. One of her heroes is her dad because he always smiles and remains positive through the ups and downs of life. This trait may have rubbed off on her since she is a very outgoing person and can literally get a long with a brick wall. She us also very dedicated keeping focused on a goals until it’s accomplished. Her favorite movies are Forrest Gump and the Hangover because one is a great, inspirational story and she can’t stop laughing watching the other.

10-Apr-11 10:00 PM

Mayor Proclaims American Advertising Federation Houston Day

Dwight Douthit - noemail@aaf-houston.org — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:00:00 GMT

Mayor Proclaims American Advertising Federation Houston Day

Friends of BARC Board Members were on hand at Houston city council chambers to see AAF-Houston Public Service Director, Dwight Douthit being presented a proclamation from Mayor Annise Parker and Mayor Pro Tem Anne Clutterbuck.

The public ceremony proclaimed November 16, 2010 as American Advertising Federation-Houston Day, honoring the advertising community for their service to the city and the success of our work for Friends of BARC. The pro-bono campaign created by AAF- Houston aligns with the Mayor’s city-wide volunteerism initiative and directly benefits BARC, the City of Houston Animal Shelter.

For more information, e-mail dwight@douthitdesign.com.

6-Apr-11 1:00 PM

American Advertising Federation Houston Articles RSS Feed

AAF-Houston Creative Matters! Special Bulletin - January 31st, 2012

In an effort to provide our membership, and our advertising community with timely Governmental legislation, which directly or indirectly affects our industry, AAF-Houston is proud to pass along this AAF Government Report by Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs.

Congress Requires Cost/Benefit Analysis for Food Advertising Guides

Ad Industry Educates Consumers About Interest Based Advertising

ICANN Moves Ahead, Industry Offers Possible Solution

Maryland Governor Proposes Digital Services Tax

AAF-Houston January: Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

New Year, New President, New Chapter

Creative Thought Leader Series: A State of Mine

ADDYs gone “Mad”

AAFH Membership Drive: 100 Members in 100 Days

In Memoriam: Richard Laurence Baron

Ode to Sir Richard

CORRECTION: WEDNESDAY: Join. Belong. Advance. Membership Mixer!!

AAF-Houston December - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

It’s Official: ADDY Season Is Here!

In Memoriam: Steve Barnhill

December 2011 ADDY Update

Report from the President's Council: Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about …

Christine's Member News

SPOTLIGHT: Matias Lanzi

SPOTLIGHT: Leeanne Rambin

SPOTLIGHT: Javier Gonzalez-Herba

AAF-Houston November - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

Chairman's Message: What Really Matters

Creative Thought Leader Series

Holiday Events

Report from the President's Council: Wow is on the Way!

Christine's Member News: Renewal Efforts are Wrapped!

AAF-Houston Creative Matters! Special Bulletin - November 2011

In an effort to provide our membership, and our advertising community with timely Governmental legislation, which directly or indirectly affects our industry, AAF-Houston is proud to pass along this AAF Government Report by Clark Rector Jr., Executive Vice President – Government Affairs.

Judge Snuffs Out Warnings

Online Protections Expanded

AAF Asked for Delay of New Domains

President Promises Veto of Rules Repeal

AAF-Houston October - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

Change of Seasons, the Season of Change: Jay Hagins Retiring, Welcome Maureen Garnett

Why Do I Have to Work with Freakin' Aliens?

2011 Student Conference

Update from the President's Council

Member News: Looking for Leadership

AAF-Houston September - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

Special Bulletin: AAF-Houston, A Legacy of Greatness

Still thinking about renewing your membership? Remember that your RTB is your ROI!

Ruthless Creativity:Difference between good intentions and great results

AAF Recognizes Houstonian with Service Award

Greeting from the President's Council: Advertising Hall of Fame Nominees

Member News: Tick, Tock - It is time to renew!

AAF-Houston August - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

Chairman's Message

Ruthless Creativity:Difference between good intentions & great results

It's Goin' Down in Cowtown

Greeting from the President's Council

Member News

AAF-Houston July - Creative Matters!

In This Issue...

Introduction

Chairman's Message

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Legend Honored

President's Council Letter

Member News

The Membership Committee needs your talents!

Think Differently or Else

AAF-Houston AdSmart June - Goodbye Houston AdSmart, What's Next?

In This Issue...

Introduction

Goodbye Houston AdSmart, What's Next?

Ad2 Houston's Bowl Your Ads Off! Bowl-a-thon Fundraiser

Dual Panels Claim Privacy

Member News

AEFH and AAF-H Present Scholarships

Think Differently & Spark Creativity

AAF-Houston AdSmart May - Creative Thought Leader Series

Change of Seasons, the Season of Change:
Jay Hagins Retiring, Welcome Maureen Garnett

Happy Anniversary AAF-Houston!
April 11, 1911 - April 11, 2011