Julia Ford Earns World Cup Start

Julia Ford, an 18 year old second year US Ski Team member has earned a SL World Cup start for the upcoming weekend of races. Julia, who also happens to be my niece, has worked really hard to get to where she is now.

Here is a link to a video of Julia Ford talking about what ski racing means to her. She talks about a variety of things including the love of the sport.

New York City Marathon

The RDB Marketing & Events Team spent the week constructing the signage at the start of the New York City Marathon. It was a great week of activities amongst some hard work. The team did a great job and produced a fabulous start program.

In addition, we had a great time in New York and had some great meals. Our only issue was a break in to one of the teams vehicles during an over night. Bummer!!

Strides For Life

The team spent a glorious weekend in Southhampton, NY working on the Strides For Life event, a fundraiser for Lung Cancer. This 3 mile run/walk is a perfect family event with tons of kids, parents and grandparents turning out to support this great cause.

The weather was perfect, although a little warm, and Hurricane Bill had churned up some wild surf.

Check it out at http://www.lungcancerresearchfoundation.org/strides.htm .

Univest Grand Prix

Wow, is it hot. We are deep into our final organizational meeting in Souderton leading up to the Univest Grand Prix cycling race. New this year is a team time trial in Allentown, that should be very cool to watch.

The high temp on the car thermometer as we were stuck in GWB Traffic was 101 degrees, yikes. Hope it is not that hot during the race or raining like it was last year.

Check out the website at www.univestgrandprix.com.

GMHA Chef's Night

We are one week away from the 3rd annual GMHA Chef's Night.

Chef’s Night is a celebration of the area’s unique and diverse culinary talent. Local area chefs, restaurateurs, caterers and purveyors of the freshest and finest foods, will again offer tastings of their specialties from the exotic to the every day. Local microbreweries and wineries will also join in with samples of their products.

The equestrian event will be Polocrosse, a game related to polo but played with a racquet similar to that used in lacrosse. Patrons will be able to view the Polocrosse presentation from the event tent while sampling some of the finest epicurean delights in the Upper Valley. Whether horse enthusiasts or not, guests can enjoy the elegance, beauty and agility of the animals combined with the skill of the riders.

Form more information, please visit www.gmhainc.org/special-events.html or call my office at 802-226-8092

Very Top Secret and Very Cool

So, I have a new client who has asked me to create a feasibility study on a project I cannot discuss with anyone. Very top secret and very cool.

How often does this happen? This could be an event planners dream, or the biggest nightmare ever.

I love a challenge.

More to come...

Winter Trails 2010

January 9, 2010 will be the 15th annual Winter Trails Day! It might be mid-summer but plenty of venues have already announced they'll hold Winter Trails Day events at the start of next winter.

Sponsors for next year's event will include Atlas, MSR, Kahtoola, Tubbs, Leki, Rossignol, Grabber, and Columbia Sportswear.

Get excited, and visit here for more information!

SolarFest 2009

This week we have been busy creating a booth presence for USA Solar Store at the upcoming SolarFest. In their words, SolarFest blends art, education and grassroots activism to inspire the conservation of Earth's limited resources, to promote renewable energy, and to support the creation of sustainable communities.

Should be an interesting couple of days; stop by if you are in the Vermont area. The dates are July 10, 11 & 12. For more info on the event, visit www.solarfest.org.

VeloSwap Registration Open!

VeloSwap registration opened today. This is exciting as it also is the launch of the new website. We are still working on the on-line registration element but hope to have that up in the next two weeks.

Part of the new website includes our social marketing efforts with Twitter and Facebook, a good step, but just the beginning.

We do plan on having an area where attendees can list what they are looking for at VeloSwap and vendors can review and post their booth numbers if they will be selling those items. Still working through the logistics here, but will be cool when we get it fully designed.

Please check out the new site at www.veloswap.com.

Rain

Rain again. It is tough being in the event business when the forecast continuously. Many of the tent guys I work with are bumming out as it is difficult to clean and dry their equipment between gigs.

On the other hand, rain can make an event spectacular by creating tough conditions for the event staff and, if sporting, the players. The feeling of success a good staff has after completing an event in brutal conditions is great.

As I sit here, in the rain, I do wonder if it will ever end.

Good Morning Harlem

Good Morning Harlem!!

After our 4:30am departure in the pouring rain, all was good…except the rain.

The event was great with some very exciting racing. There were many legends of cycling in attendance that were there to be part of this great cycling happening. I have included a few photos for your viewing pleasure.

The team is recovering now in preparation for our next event. Stay tuned…

Harlem, Day 1

They say, “What Happens in Harlem, Stays in Harlem”, or was that some other location. Whatever, but what a trip!!

After traveling and a full day of back breaking logistics, my team needed just the right Big Apple hospitality. And we started at our new hotel.

Although our accommodations were less than the rock bottom we were used to, the local transvestites, not that there is anything wrong with transvestites, kept us entertained in the bar. It reminded me of an old Romana Samuca promotion we managed called “Intensify Your Night”. I educated many a classically trained opera singer at the midnight open mic night at one of the best trany bars in New York. Unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the place, and my old partner in this project, is lost.

At any rate, we are heading out in search of some interesting New York hospitality. No pictures I am told.

RDB Events Rocks Harlem

Locked and loaded for the Harlem Sky Scraper Classic. We are taking a small staff to rock New York. Willie is coming for brawn and Jaclyn is coming for beauty.

Last year Rock Racing, the bad boys of bike racing were there in all their glory. This year we have R* as our primary sponsor. No doubt we will be revved and ready.

For more info, visit VeloNews at http://ow.ly/f3s1

Harlem SkyScraper Classic

Wow! Multitasking to the max now. Funny how some weeks are a relaxed busy, and then the "proverbial" hits the fan. That has been my last two weeks, crazy, and I love it.

They say a person is always more productive when under pressure. I think that is true.

I am taking a small Staff to the Harlem SkyScraper Classic, a pro bike race around McGarvey park on 121^st and 5^th Avenue in New York. We will be assisting in all the operational and hospitality elements. We received the call very late in the organization, so chaos may prevail. Crisis management is our specialty. Details to follow…

VSAA Marketing Outreach

Spent the morning at the VSAA (Vermont Ski Areas Association) Annual Meeting at the Killington Ski Resort. Attendance was the highest it had been ever. Wonder why, the economy, nothing else to do, looking for answers? I am not sure but it was great to see everyone and reconnect with some old friends.

I did listen to some great presentations, especially from Michael Barry of NSAA and Jim Spring of Leisure Trends. It was also very interesting to learn more about the marketing direction of VSAA and some of their thoughts moving forward.

In this difficult time, I am fascinated by how various associations and manufacturers are utilizing the latest electronic media, in addition to conventional advertising and PR to get their message out.

Golden Ski Award

Julia Ford, member of the US Ski Team won the NESW Golden Ski Award at a ceremony at the New England Ski Museum this past week.

Her entire family was there supporting her accomplishments.

Julia is off to park City for a summer of training before gearing up for the upcoming Olympic year.

New Business Aquisition

Interesting day today, I continue to receive many calls from potential clients wanting to create elaborate marketing plans ready to implement when the economy changes (or when they are ready to pull the trigger).

The question is, how much time do I allocated to this new business acquisition knowing that these clients will not execute for several months, if at all?

I have found that my phone is ringing far more now than ever before, but the conversion to billable business has been slow.

Interesting…

VARA Golf

The VARA Golf Tournament was a great success yesterday. Sunny and beautiful for most of the day, everyone had a great time.

While there, I ran into Lori Ford, mother of Julia Ford, member of the US Ski Team. We were discussing how to market her daughter, this great athlete and wonderful person as a rising US star. Lori is required to pay for much of her training and racing costs and needs to raise money desperately.

I am working on a few creative ideas that are cool and cutting edge. If anyone else has ideas, let me know.