Spring Fever!

This April finds me no less busy than ever. Two annual AdFed conferences are coming up, one for the 4th District (in May, Tampa) and one for National (in June, Atlanta). Fun!

In addition to those conferences and our regular programs that we're busy scheduling, GO-AdFed is about to vote in next year's Board. I could say that I can't believe my year as President is nearly over – and in some respect that is true – but in another regard it has been a very full year already. That's a good thing! It's also a good thing that these responsibilities are passed on each year, letting the clubs evolve and hopefully continue to grow under different personalities. It will be official next week when the members vote – and in June we will officially induct the new board members.

In past news, last month I went to Tallahassee for a 4th District conference. It was our annual "Rally in Tally," where we visit the capitol and speak with our Senators and Representatives. It was a fun and educating experience for all of us. We had the opportunity to speak about how strong the advertising industry is and how we "Fuel Florida's Economy." Did you know:

•Advertising helps generate between $275 & $286 billion in Florida’s Economic Activity •That’s approximately 20% of the state’s $1.3 trillion in total economic activity.
•Total advertising-dependent employment in Florida is over 1.2 million.
•That represents about 15% of the entire state work force.


We are indeed a force with a voice (AdFed, "The Unified Voice of Advertising"). The AdFed is always looking out for us, and it's a privilege for me to be a part of that.

Here are some pictures from the trip to Tallahassee, enjoy!

Onward and Forward,
Jessi

On the bus from the hotel to the Capitol Building

The very fabulous Orlando crew: Larry Meador (AAF-Orlando President), Debbie Morris (AAF-Orlando Programs), Wagner (AAF-Orlando President Elect & Treasurer), Florida State Representative David Simmons, Barbara Hartley (AAF-Orlando Government Relations), Kristen Zucks (Ad2 Orlando President), Katrina Priore (Ad2 Orlando Public Service Chair) ... and me

Jessi finally gets a picture with a flag and with a Senator (Senator Dean, Citrus County)

We held a press release on the front steps and Eco the Butterfly showed up. Visit www.thinkecologically.com for more information on the public service initiative that the 4th District Advertising Federation unveiled that day.

Eco got looked over like the rest of us. No frisking though!

Touristing in the courtyard with AAF-Fort Lauderdale's President, Joe Juriga

There's always some wine at an AdFed conference! Chillin with Wagner

More from Cafe Cabernet... Jessi, Joe Juriga, Wagner, Mei Tran (Tampa Bay Ad2 President)

Whew!

The Addys are over – locally, anyway. I will send up the Gold wins this week to district for judging at that level. Then that's it, whew!

What a flurry of activity that was. I liken it to planning and having a wedding. As I said in my speech, "It takes a village to throw an Addy Gala." Everyone worked so hard and did such great work, the night was a smashing success. I had a blast and the buzz is that everyone else did, too. Willie Green and his band were the highlight for me, the after-show was amazing... intimate, world-class, fun and sexy blues. I wish more people had stayed to enjoy it, it was the best show I've seen in Ocala. Those of us who did will remember it always.







So what now? Quickly on to next month's program. We're having a club mixer with the FPRA and Tom Hayes, AdFed 4th District Government Relations Chairman, is coming to speak with us about the ever-pressing issue of our service sales tax exemption. It's an important topic and I'm pleased to be in the position to bring the news to our community. The mixer will be at MCA on Thursday, March 6th, from 5:30-7:30pm. See our News & Events Blog for more info.

Beyond that... you know, I don't know! Haha. Yes I do. Beyond March we will be planning a media auction as a fundraiser for Go-AdFed and our scholarship.

We are also starting to think ahead to next year... who will be our 2008-2009 Board of Directors? Secretary? Treasurer? Vice President? Programs Chair? Communications Chair? Membership Chair? President?... yes I do think I can be persuaded to do one more year if that's what the members want – but I need help! If you're reading this and haven't been involved lately or at all, you don't know what you're missing! It's rewarding, we are doing so much. I urge you to contact me or anyone on our board to find out how to get involved. It can be in a big or small way, every little bit helps. If things aren't how you'd like them to be, get involved! If things are great and you want to show your appreciation, get involved! If you really don't know, the best way to find out is to get involved!

Did I say get involved?

Onwards and upwards.
GOooooo-AdFed!
Jessi

Addy's my new middle name

Happy Addy Year! er, I mean New Year!

As Addy Chair and President, I've got my hands full right now. I've also got boxes full of 110+ great Addy entries. I have the lucky privilege of peeking at the creative work before even the judges see it, and I can definitely say the judges have a fun yet difficult job ahead of them.

I'd like to say thank you and good luck to all of our talented entrants:

Advisors Advertising, Inc.
Appleton Museum of Art of CFCC
Blue Centaur
Blue Sky Graphic Communications, Inc.
Clear Channel Outdoor
Flaxen
Florida's Blood Centers
Jessica Miller (hey, that's me!)
Kevin Christian Music
NetSource Technologies
Special Publications
Strategic Business Forms, Inc.
Tomes Rabold Advertising & Design, Inc.
Tymn Armstrong
Zed+Zed+Eye Creative Communications

Tomorrow our judges come to town (shhh, their identity is still a secret!) and the grueling judging process will take place Saturday. Then comes what might be the hardest part of being on the Addy Committee: the weeks before we can announce the winners!

Rest easy, though, everyone can get a preview of all of the entries on January 23rd at MCA/Brick City Center for the Arts, at 5:30 pm. You can take all the time you want to look them over without feeling rushed as sometimes happens right before the Gala. We'll have drinks and hors d'oeuvres, so join us!

All this while we are busy planning the Creative Blues Addy Gala, which will be surprisingly fun. We're also planning our Club Mixer that we're co-hosting with FPRA in March. Join us as we mingle with our clubs and AdFed District Government Relations Chairman, Tom Hayes, will come down to brief us on the service sales tax situation. If you're not aware about this imminent potential new tax on advertising services, you definitely need to be there. If you can't make it, give me a call or send me an email, I'll be happy to give you information.

Speaking of information... be sure to pick up an Ocala Business Journal when it comes out in February. There will be a story on the service sales tax issue as well as one on The Greater Ocala Advertising Federation (yes, us!).

It's turning out to be a very "happening" new year and I for one am loving it! Happy 2008!

Onward and upward,
Jessi

To-do, to-do, to-do

My to-do list is growing. Odd as it may seem, I'm actually happy about it.

It's about half-way through my year as President and I'm finally sinking my teeth in. It seems the more I learn about AdFed, the more I want us to do. This is a great club, a strong grass-roots organization with people volunteering their time, creativity, energy, and sweat to keep it running and growing. I'm an ambitious, energetic person and I see us doing great things.

Here in Marion County, we have the power to improve our professional lives and the quality of our business. The reward for serving the Greater Ocala Advertising Federation is that good, old-fashioned satisfaction that comes from giving back and making a difference. Pushing positive change along. Rewarding excellence. Bringing awareness to community service issues. Guiding students through professionalism. Bringing new opportunities for professional education and growth. Networking and bringing people together who can help one another. Having fun!

As rewarding as it is, it takes a lot of work. As I said, the more I understand and want to do, the more ideas we all have, the more that to-do list grows. Lucky for me, most of it is fun stuff. Lucky for me, too, I have great board members. Our newest addition, Adriana Rosas, of Purple Cow Communications (our Communications Chair and our Membership Chair), recently came over for a mini, mid-year retreat to catch up on the details and re-evaluate where we are and what we need to do. See us working hard (and having fun):


Adriana is "on it." I am not the only one taking the pictures any more. Way to go, communications chair! Whenever something is happening, I look up and she's taking a picture. Fabulous.

Our other board members have been busy, too. Mark Hershberger of BJ Trophy created and produced the new gold and silver ADDY Award medals. Ooooh, cool medals... get your Addy on!

Andy Stracuzzi of Zed+Zed+Eye Communications is our Branding Chair, he created our new logo and lo and behold, we've got a web page up with all things Addy. You can find it from our website www.ocalaadfed.org . He's hard at work on our overall website, so stay tuned for more. If you go to our current website and click on the cool art that takes you to our Addy page, you'll get a teaser of the art that Kip Williams, of Ocala Magazine, is working on to create a graphic environment fitting for our Creative Blues Addy Gala.
That's just the tip of the iceberg, everyone's to-do list is growing along with the busy season. Tymn Armstrong, Kip and crew are working on a movie for the gala that will have you in stitches! Networking events and programs are being planned for next year. Seminars, media auctions, scholarships, community service, legislative and government affairs, oh my!

It's a fun time. If you are interested in volunteering, participating in the fun, sharing ideas and feeling that great giving back satisfaction, give me a ring or send me a note. I'm here, checking off my to-do list.

"Write and update the President's Blog. Check."
Jessi

Live From Daytona Beach Shores

It's early. It's beautiful. We're here in Daytona for the 4th District AAF Winter Conference, heading into the last day of meetings and presentations. It's been a great weekend full of fun and information. The tone is very political right now, as Florida goes through possible budget and tax upheaval, The AdFed gets to do what it does best – represent us. I'll be bringing more information home to you all to keep you updated, it's an important time for the advertising industry to be alert.

It's breakfast time, Adriana and I are heading down... and I'll give my President's report if I can squeek it out... my voice has about gone. Maybe Adriana can talk for me and I'll whisper to her. I'll be showing off the new medals – get your Addy on!

Cheers,
Jessi

Green is Sexy!

Hi Kids!
Here's a fun-in-October photo-blog:

Wednesday, October 16th...

Tara Crawford with Mac Papers showed us that it can be easy being "green." The paper and printing industries are rising to meet the growing demand for environmental responsibility. She talked about the "green" certifications that a piece of paper can carry – which have to do with how the forests are managed, the manufacturers using wind-energy, and recycling.

Mac Papers goodies

Tara Crawford, presenting

Enjoying lunch from Primary Oven and the presentation

Sharon & Peter Mei with Tara Crawford chatting after the presentation

Our new Communications & PR Chair, Adriana Rosas talking with Andy Stracuzzi

Mark Hershberger & Kip Williams grabbing up the goodies!

Diane Smith, treasuring

Been there, bought the T-shirt

Friday, October 12th...

Several GO-AdFed members attended ELO's Haunted Hollywood, which was glamorous and ghoulish!

Debbie Roth (w/the Florida Blood Centers) won a costume award ... and wants your blood!


This mysery man is quite the dancer!



Adriana Rosas & Jessi Miller... 2 guesses as to who they're dressed up as!

Debbie Roth, headin' home...

The Calendar is Filling Up!

At about the same speed that the weather cools down, the event season seems to heat up. Calendars are filling up with special events, holidays, birthdays, vacations, deadlines, meetings, lunches, dinners, you name it. It won't slow down until February, or maybe not even until April! I'm constantly amazed at how much there is to do in "little" Ocala.

Not to be left out of the hustle and bustle, GO-AdFed has a lot planned for the season too. This month's program (Oct. 17th) is on "The Green Movement" – presented by Mac Papers. This topic is very current and relevant, so I'm excited to hear what Tara has to say. I'm also looking forward to the giveaways, I LOVE paper! In November, Pedro Perez will be returning to give the "Multicultural Marketing" presentation that was canceled in September. In December we are fortunate to have Erik Schroeder, the Director of Marketing (a.k.a. New Business) from PUSH come and speak on "Obtaining and Maintaining Business."

That takes us right into Addy Award time! Entries will be due January 8th, 2008. We have great judges lined up for the competition and we are busily planning an exciting "Creative Blues" gala for February 22nd. This year the awards are new! Especially designed and custom created for The Greater Ocala Advertising Federation, the new awards will outshine the little plastic men. I rather liked the Academy-Award resemblance they had, but the new medals are beautiful! Even more exciting, we'll be giving out gold and silver medals, so even more people can "get their Addy on."

Stay tuned for updates on all of that and more, it's turning out to be a very eventful season. I hope to see you around and would love to hear from you. Leave a comment or send me a note, let me know what you think, about new ideas, or what kind of hair-day you're having. ;)

GOoooooo-AdFed!
Jessi