Lawyers, Journalists and other users of the English language beware...

...too many words are useless...even professors are susceptible..this from an educator friend of mine:

I wonder if I might crave your momentary indulgence in order to discharge a by-no-means disagreeable obligation which has, over the years, become more or less established practice within our circles as we approach the terminal period of the calendar year, but not financial, of course. In fact, not to put too fine a point on it, I submit to you, with all appropriate deference, for your consideration at a convenient juncture, a sincere and sanguine expectation -- indeed confidence, or even, one might go so far as to say, hope -- that the terminal two weeks of this calendar year may be, at the end of the day, when all relevant factors have been taken into consideration, susceptible to being deemed to be such as to merit a final verdict of having been by no means unsatisfactory in its overall outcome and, in the final analysis, to give grounds for being judged, on mature reflection, to have been conducive to generating a degree of gratification which will be seen in retrospect to have been significantly higher than the general average.

In other words, have a Happy New Year.

The Christmas Limp

During my grade school years, no matter where my military father was stationed, we would  often return to the family farm in Indiana for Christmas.  My uncle and his family would show up and we would have a week or so of fun and reminiscence.  On Christmas eve, there was always a  unique happening that made us kids giddy with joy.  After dinner, we would all be in the living room of the old farm house talking about how hard it was going to be to get to sleep, when we would hear the sound of sleigh bells…real sleigh bells.  They would get closer and closer and then suddenly there were feet on the roof and the sound would literally make the room vibrate.  One year in particular, we thought we could actually hear the sleigh take off from the roof with a woosh and a bump. Nothing was more exciting than those few moments in our young lives.  Then it was off to bed with anticipation of the Christmas morning  festivities. Pa, as we called our grandfather, seemed to especially enjoy seeing our faces after the sleigh bell incident, though we never remember seeing him in the room while it was happening.  That particular year, we did notice that Pa was walking with a limp for the next few days.  It had been snowing and on Christmas morning, we could definitely see the footprints on the roof but they turned into a slide trail that went right over the steep side and into the bushes next to the house.  Strange way for Santa to leave, we thought. Oh well, all seemed fine and Pa’s limp got better too.  He said he “slipped on the porch steps going to the barn.”  Grandpa’s are great, aren’t they.  They will do anything to make us happy.  Have a safe and happy holiday season.

One thing leads to another...

When World Expo 2010 in Shanghai held its closing performances, parades and forums on October 31, it was the final chapter of a very exciting year filled with global events for us. We were fortunate to participate in the Vancouver Winter Olympics, the South African World Cup and the Shanghai World Expo, beginning in February and ending about a month ago. 98.2 million people attended these three events and all three set records for media coverage worldwide. Hardly a person on the planet missed seeing or hearing about one or more of these events and our business of communication is at the heart of that experience.


The host committees sought our communications and sponsorship strategies and crisis communications counsel and that made for some interesting encounters and creative problem-solving which I have written about in earlier messages. Noteworthy to me is that each of the hosts had very specific objectives to realize from their investments, which totaled in the billions. Vancouver sought tourism. South Africa wanted the world’s appreciation. Shanghai wanted business partners. In my mind, all three achieved their goals.

The series of events that brought us to these world-class happenings began three years ago with a sponsorship summit in Shanghai. It was clear to me then that China does not want to do business alone. They want to collaborate. They want to grow with the help of others. This year they became the world’s largest economy. That’s no accident. The Expo attracted 246 countries and organizations and that is quite a buffet of opportunity.

Contacts we have made over three decades working abroad have led us to many corners of the globe. The Shanghai Summit brought us to the attention of the Beijing Olympics and many of the organizers there were involved in the prep for the World Expo. Olympic contacts we made also opened the door to the Vancouver event. Working in these circles makes for long plane rides on short schedules but decisions are made quickly and you move on to the next subject or issue. There is not much time for contemplation.

73 million people attended the World Expo. Shanghai’s population is 20 million and the drive market around the city is almost twice that number. Like all three of the global events we worked on this year, there are many foreign visitors but most of the attendance comes from the surrounding area. Two things impressed me about this World Expo. First, I’m sorry to say that the US pavilion was a bit embarrassing. I’ve heard stories about the bureaucratic starts and stops and lack of funding, but the experience boiled down to watching a bunch of promotional videos from brand name companies. How disappointing. There were indeed some amazingly interactive experiences to be had at the event. It’s just too bad that none of them were associated with our country.

Secondly, China’s young people are making a great impression on the world. In all the events I’ve been involved with over there, “interns” abound. They are both interesting and interested. They have learned English in school and are making themselves very valuable to business. China’s young are becoming the best ambassadors for that country. Universities are overflowing with talent and the West is benefitting from it.

As we come to the end of our “Big Event” year, it’s important to note that, despite the travails of the world economy, life goes on. Both in business and our personal lives, we continue to move ahead, making advances where we can. Predictions and forecasts aside, this is still a time of great change and opportunity. Communication Technology is an ever-increasing part of our lives and it applies to all aspects, from business to culture, sport and education. We’re on an exciting ride right now. We need to hang on and keep going. I’m looking forward to what’s coming up. We’re already working on projects next year and beyond. I can hardly wait.

Stop complaining for one day...

All of us Americans grumble a lot. We are frustrated with our government. We don’t like many of our elected officials. Taxes are too high. Schools are not good enough. Our air and water could be cleaner. Even our cable television channels make us mad. But this is it. This is all we have. This is the life we live in a free and open democracy. How did we get to this point in our lives? Most of us were born here. Many of us came here for our own personal reasons and have become full-fledged citizens. Can we change the way things are? Can we make our lives better? We can certainly try and, in this country, no one can stop us from complaining or trying. Guess why?


Today is Veterans Day and, at least for today, we should think about those who have served our country proudly and how they have protected our right to complain…and our right to try to make things better. We only have a draft or conscription during war times…and then with exceptions. Otherwise, our military is volunteer. Many other countries have conscription. China, Russia, Germany, Israel, South Korea, even Switzerland require two years of military service at the age of 18. There are many reasons to serve your country. Personally, I like patriotism. Being a patriot is honorable. It is a distinguishing characteristic. The dictionary says one who loves, supports and defends one’s country. We all may have different reasons but I think, deep down, we love our country.

I am reminded of a line from the powerful movie about military service, “A Few Good Men”. The lawyers who are defending two Marines in a case about their commitment to service are arguing about the motives of these two young men. One lawyer asks, “Why do you like them so much?” The other answers, “Because they stand upon a wall and say ‘Nothing’s going to hurt you tonight, not on my watch.’” That’s patriotism to me.

I come from a military family. My father was a career Army officer. He was drafted in World War II and fought on D-Day and in the Battle of the Bulge. Later in his career, he worked to create Civil Defense, now FEMA, to help our country in emergencies. I still remember seeing him on television standing behind President Carter at Three-Mile-Island when he was Chief of Staff of the Department. He was a patriot to the end of his days and he would have been appalled when “W” uttered that now-infamous statement, “Good job, Brownie.” Brownie would have been my father’s boss and he would have been embarrassed. He was a patriot.

It took me over a week in the 3rd Grade to be able to bounce a quarter off the square-cornered blanket on my bed. When I could pass my Dad’s inspection, I went on to other things. I never considered not serving my country during a very unpopular war. I’m definitely a veteran and I sincerely hope I’m a patriot. I have the greatest respect for those who have served our country. It should be considered an honor. Every veteran deserves our applause and gratitude…at least, on this day dedicated to them. So take a break from your belly-aching long enough to give thanks to those who have helped make this country a place we can all love. Salute the veterans. They deserve it.

A Girl Named Soleil

Even Mad Men slow down a bit on hot summer Friday afternoons. It was just such a lazy Friday a little over 10 years ago when the phone rang and it was the senior vice president of marketing for Cirque du Soleil. He wanted to talk about a project. Did I have time to meet? I’ll make time, I said.

Like Rick said to Louis at the end of the movie Casablanca, that meeting was “the beginning of beautiful friendship”. I remember that afternoon as if it were yesterday. I grabbed the agency’s BIG conference room and recruited a couple of folks who hadn’t already headed for the sun. We quickly pulled ourselves together and got ready for the challenge.

The meeting was very informal. We just talked. It turned out that the Senior VP and I had a lot in common in our business backgrounds. We’d both seen large-scale events from all angles. What he was looking for was help in bringing Cirque’s Saltimbanco travelling show from Singapore through the Pacific Northwest and then on to Tokyo. How did he find us, I asked. The story really started in Singapore where two DDB’ers whom I had met at a New York DDB board meeting gave the Cirque office there my name. Suffice it to say, it felt like a match to me but you never know in these situations. Seldom do you get an instant response. And it didn’t come this time either.

In an unusual turn for Cirque, they were looking for one-stop-shopping. They wanted all our services, advertising, PR, media, promotions, the whole ball of wax. This was an extremely special opportunity with what I consider to be the most creative entertainment organization in the world. I had picked the right people to be in the room with me. They were able answer all the questions and offer up some good ideas. Almost too quickly, we were wrapping things up. I felt like we needed a little extra boost before we let them get away.

Now I’m not really a “Don Draper” (slick closer, ad guy from television’s Mad Men series) kind-of-guy, but this move makes me think of him. When I let the agency know that Cirque would be in the house, one of our folks told me that she and her husband named their daughter, Soleil, because of their infatuation with Cirque. “We are totally committed to our clients,” I told the Senior VP as we walked out. “We look for long term relationships. This woman (and I found her for the introduction) thinks so much of the Cirque du Soleil brand that she named her daughter Soleil. She’ll be on your team and you’ll never have a more committed group working for you.” Really? Really!

Still after over 10 years, my friend, the Senior VP, tells that story and says that my parting comment was a big factor in him calling back later that day and saying they were ready to work with us.

Before we knew it, we were in Singapore immersing ourselves in the magic of Cirque. It’s been a wonderful long term relationship. If it isn’t fun, they won’t do it. And I found out quickly that Cirque is not short on good laughs. We were going to the premiere night of Saltimbanco in Singapore, so I asked if it was black tie. Of course, they told me. This is a very special opening event. Well, when I walked into the tent at the pre-party in my tux outfit I had lugged from Seattle, not only was I the only one in a monkey suit but when I met the President of Singapore in his wild print sport shirt, he said “Why did you get so dressed up?” A good laugh was had by all...at my expense. I have continued to wear a tux on premiere nights just to remind myself not to take anything too seriously.

It’s been a great ride for more than a decade. We’ve worked together in almost every aspect of their business. I’ve watched their performers hang from the halo at the top of the Space Needle waving at the diners in the restaurant like monkeys on a limb. My trips to Montreal still captivate me when I see “behind the curtain” and am amazed at all they do to make the magic look so easy.

I’ve been able to experience a lot backstage, from trying on the make-up to bungee jumping from the top of the Grand Chapiteau. Yes, I was scared to death and had an exhilarated buzz for the rest of the day. When I’ve gotten to know the cast a little, I’ve even had a bit of influence on who they pick to have fun with before the performance begins. College Chancellors and noted mountaineers were not immune.

On the most recent visit to our area, I saw the show a few times as usual and had a great laugh when they pulled an unsuspecting person out of the audience for a hilarious on-stage pick-pocket routine. On our VIP night when I brought a group of clients and friends to the show, I wondered who they would pick. As the performer looked at the guy sitting next to me, I hardly noticed that he had grabbed my arm. He picked me clean in front of the crowd, including taking off my tie. I’m surprised I still had pants on. The College Chancellor told me afterwards that whatever goes around, comes around and he was “happy” for me.

My respect for the Cirque organization is immeasurable. They have created one of the most recognized and revered brands in the world. I have been very fortunate to play a small role in the growth and success of such a fabulous company. Every time we get together my eyes grow wide with envy at what Cirque can do to amaze and entertain so many people. For me, it all started with a girl named Soleil.

For The Record

5000 is the number I have used for quite some time to describe the six floor-to-ceiling bookcases full of phonograph records in my basement. Actually, I stopped counting between 3000 and 4000 and, even now, I don’t know the real number. I just kept buying records. There was a “pusher” at Tower Records on Mercer Street here in Seattle who wouldn’t let me out the door without a handful of new music to sink my ears into.

Music has been a passion of mine as long as I can remember. My mom and dad loved music. It was always around. My first 45 (a small record with a big hole in it) was Elvis’s “Wear your ring around my neck” and my first 33 1/3 LP was the soundtrack from the movie South Pacific, which I had just seen in Todd-AO, the successor to Cinerama. Wow, there ain’t nothing like a dame… that Mitzi Gaynor was something else!

Regardless, you know where most of the money from my paper route was going. Once I was in school, there was always a record store on the way home and they had listening booths where you could sample the music before you bought the album. Those booths were a record store owner’s delight…because I almost always bought the album.



My taste in music is eclectic. There is not much that I don’t like, though acid rock and some grunge get a little hard on the ears after an hour or two. My “collection” grew in every direction imaginable. Jazz, classical, rock, opera, cast recordings, soundtracks and lots of world music when it was called African, French, Reggae, Calypso or Samba. And that doesn’t count my great Klezmer and Zydeco albums and the Maori Chants.

I could go on but I’ve got to get to the point of this story. All those records, along with the books and video tapes, in the basement came from years of cruising shops while travelling. It was a great way to fill empty time in the evenings and the occasional weekend when I was on the road. A few months ago on a complete whim, I decided to get rid of the VHS video tapes. I had over 1500 movies and TV shows on tape but have steadily been building a duplicate DVD collection . I converted some tapes to DVD, gave a few away to friends and then trashed the rest. It was actually pretty easy…and cathartic.

But then I began to stare at the record albums. There is a lot of sentimentality associated with them. Music does that to you. I even backed them up with turntables that haven’t even been out of the packing boxes, just to make sure I could always play them. So, I invested in another turntable that could digitize records and even cassette tapes. I picked almost 1000 that ended up on cd’s or my iPod. Then I started thinking what would I do with the records if we moved again. A client in the air freight business once told me that the heaviest thing to ship per cubic inch is phonograph records. I’ve carted most of these from one end of the country to the other and can vouch for the fact that they are quite a load.

At UW, I have a good friend that has always been ready to talk records and music with me. I decided to ask him what he thought I should do. “It depends on what you’ve got,” he said. So I invited him over to take a look and give me an assessment. He’s very serious about records and music. One thing that I learned in this process is that I am not a “collector”. I’m a “buyer”. I’ve always impulsively bought music that moved me wherever I was…Chinese string music from the streets of Beijing…and that kind of thing. My friend, Dave, is a collector. I have 5000 albums. He has 25,000 and he knows who designed most of the album covers. That’s a collector.

Dave spent a summer evening going through the stacks of records on the garage floor, looking closely at almost every one. He even wears a special stocking cap when he does these searches…for good luck in finding the ultimate album, I guess. “You’ve kept them in pretty good shape,” he said. Except for a few that barely survived the college drinking parties, he was right. “Too bad you wrote your name on them.” Oops, that’s the collector talking. He identified a handful that he thought, with some effort, might really be worth something on eBay. I let him have his pick before Jane cooked us dinner but there were still thousands left.

“Some are worth a few dollars, most are worth 50 cents or a nickel,” he told me. “I can call a couple of guys who have a lot of records and we could have them take a look.” “Fine,” I said. When Dave’s two friends each went through all the albums separately, a small stack appeared in each of their corners. This is where my picture of a “collector” became even clearer. I thought I had some very unique albums that only I liked and that others had probably never seen or heard. But, there was hardly an album that these guys didn’t look at and say “I’ve got two or three copies of this but the back cover was done in Nashville by a famous artist and it’s in better shape than any of mine.” Out of my league!

We made a deal for everything, loaded their van and said goodbye to decades of music enjoyment. I’ve kept the one’s that Dave told me might have some real value. Then I found another stash in the basement that I had missed so I’ve ended up with maybe 100 that take up ¾ of one shelf…and 5 ½ empty bookcases. Oh, there has been some seller’s remorse. I stood in line to buy every Beatles and Stones album the day it came out. I had a couple of folk albums that were new to my friend who is one of the original Brothers Four. There were cast albums from Broadway Shows that closed the first week. Several autographs that I couldn’t part with (I learned that some of the covers are worth more than the records.). My “pusher” at Tower turned me on to Larry Jon Wilson and that small collection even stumped the “collectors”. Memories!

All in all, it was a great experience. I learned a lot more about music and what it means to people. Still, I’ve got 20,000 songs on two iPods and about 1000 cd’s for what they’re worth. My friend Dave and I have lots more music to talk about and I’m very close to selling the cd’s and then starting to sort through the books. Don’t worry, the DVD collection has moved from the floor to the bookcases and continues to grow. I’ve got some great obscure little films that a “collector” will look at one day and say, “Wow! I’ve never seen this before.” Cool! I'll enjoy the moment.

A Major Hurdle

Seattle is full of itself. We’re very independent…very opinionated…and very provincial. Some things we take too seriously and other things not seriously enough. The site of the 1962 World’s Fair has become the city’s gathering place for festivals, celebrations, observations and demonstrations. Earlier this year, a proposal was put forward by two of the city’s icons, the Space Needle and world renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The idea was to create the world's largest exhibition of Dale Chihuly’s glass art on the site of a now defunct amusement park. At no cost to the taxpayers, this creative mecca would be a much-needed revenue-generator for the city, an attraction for hundreds of thousands of visitors and locals, a green playground designed by artists and a haven for arts education. Could you possibly guess that a handful of our citizens who don’t like Dale Chihuly’s art (my oh my, but I’m being much too kind here), a few more who think that we can turn Seattle Center into Central Park and yet others who had absolutely nothing to do with the Master Plan for the Center decided that this idea didn’t fit the mold? What was to be a gift for the good of our city was punched, slapped and battered near submission by this effete minority. It has been a long and winding road but today the sun broke through the clouds. We cleared a major hurdle when the Chihuly Exhibition was selected by the Center’s Review Committee to be the sole recommendation for use of the site. This has been a tough contest but the game is not over. The project has to go to the Mayor and then to the City Council for approval of the lease. Who knew it would be so hard to be nice. Oh well, as I said before, Seattle is full of itself.




Below is our statement on the recommendation and an early article posted on the Seattle Times website. The battle continues… but for today, we smile.



This process has brought renewed excitement and energy to the Seattle Center and we’re happy to be a part of it. Thank you to the Century 21 Committee. We hope that this focused attention on the Seattle Center will benefit the city, the tenants and the public as we begin the next fifty year chapter for the campus . The input received over the last several months from interested citizens, neighborhood groups and public officials has been invaluable in making a great project even better. We are anxious to move forward with the Chihuly exhibition and to play an active role with the Seattle Center, the Mayor and the City Council in bringing a new vitality and openness to the community’s premier gathering place.



As much as we’re thrilled about creating the Chihuly Exhibition, there is still opportunity to find room for one or more of the other proposals on the campus of Seattle Center and we are committed to that end. We want to thank Mayor McGinn and the Seattle City Council for encouraging collaborations. If we work together now, and quickly, there will be a number of wins in this process.



Jeff Wright

Chairman

Space Needle, LLC





http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012925681_chihuly18m.html