The Obama Administration Thinks Military Spending Cuts Is A Winning Issue This Year Because…
There are five reasons why it was virtually inevitable the White House is making military spending an issue this year.
None of this should be a surprise: The military contracting community has been reading these same tealeaves for months. Indeed, the Aerospace Industry Association’s analysis following the super committee’s failure that highlighted the job losses associated with the sequester cuts has to be seen at least in part as an attempt to deal with the same factors that is motivating the Obama administration.
A Continuing Resolution For 2013 Is Now Even More Likely
Not only are the Obama administration’s $450 billion-over-10-years military spending cuts not likely to be enacted before the 2012 election, but no significant deficit reductions of any kind should be expected to be enacted this year.
The witches’ brew of hyper-partisan politics, the 2012 election, the influence within the GOP of its tea party wing and the narrow majorities in the House and Senate will combine this year to do what they did in 2011: Make a deal on any aspect of the budget impossible to achieve. More energy and effort will be expended this year on avoiding, delaying, or reducing the sequester’s military spending cuts than in developing an agreement on any additional Pentagon reductions.
In addition, given the narrow majorities in both houses, the spending reductions that were outlined by Pentagon officials today will provide the representatives and senators from the congressional districts and states that would be harmed with ample opportunities to make life miserable for the Democratic and Republican leaders.
As a result, a fiscal 2013 Department of Defense appropriation is now even less likely than it was before, and it wasn’t that likely to begin with. A continuing resolution that keeps Pentagon spending at or near current levels and keeps existing policy in place is the most likely outcome until at least a lame duck session.
Contractors Should Be Most Concerned About 2013 And Beyond
The fact that the Obama administration’s proposed Pentagon spending reductions are not likely to be enacted in 2012 should bring little comfort to the contracting community.
Even if they’re not put in place this year, reducing the military budget from current baseline levels will be hotly debated this year and be a campaign issue. This is likely to change the budget debate that has occurred since at least 2001 from how much should
military spending rise to which reductions are most acceptable. That’s a significant change.
Without an external shock that alters this outlook such as a terrorist attack or new overseas contingency, this changed debate will last at least until a significant deficit reduction plan is adopted, and, regardless of who gets elected and which political party controls each house of Congress, it will make the Pentagon as much a part of that discussion as Medicare and Medicaid.
Qorvis partner Stan Collender is one of the foremost U.S. experts on the federal budget, federal spending and revenues, the national debt and the congressional budget process.
Stan writes the very popular “Fiscal Fitness” column for the prestigious Capital Hill newspaper Roll Call. In 2009, the Wall Street Journal named Stan’s blog — “Capital Gains and Games” — one of the top 25 economic blogs in the United States. Stan is also the author of The Guide to the Federal Budget, which was one of the most assigned texts on the subject during the 19 years an annual edition was published.
Stan frequently advises banks, investment banks, hedge funds, and other major Wall Street players on fiscal policy, federal budget developments and the likely outcome of current debates. He also works closely with nonprofits, corporations and associations on spending and tax issues, especially on the federal budget process and politics.
Stan has been involved with the congressional budget process since 1974 and is one of only a handful of people who has worked for both the House and Senate Budget Committees. As a member of the House Budget Committee staff, he served as administrator of the Task Force on State and Local Government. For the Senate Budget Committee, he was responsible for analyzing defense spending. Stan also served as the administrator of the Task Force on the Budget of the Northeast-Midwest Congressional Coalition, a bipartisan group of representatives from the states in those regions.
What you are currently reading is a blog, a form of expression that allows users to share their ideas across a digital landscape. Bloggers post pictures, videos, recipes, or stories about their life, or interests. Not since the invention of the printing press has a form of technology had such a profound impact on the written word. Simply stated, the blog is brilliant.
For this post, I want to speak directly to those seeking employment. Those with a steady gig are encouraged to read on, but for today, my focus is on my unemployed friends.
Ladies and gentleman, you face an uphill battle. No matter if you are fresh out of college or a decorated veteran of the marketing battlefield, you are no match for the weakened economy. Companies are now carefully considering every hiring decision and only those with the perfect set of tools make the cut. So, let’s add another tool to your belt.
You need a blog. This is not a suggestion – it’s an order. Pick a topic you are passionate about and start writing. The topic is of less importance than the quality of your writing. Your goal is to be engaging, sound smart, and show your worth.
A blog is a powerful tool because of its ability to display worth. Posting regularly shows you are dedicated and diligent. And, in addition to displaying your writing abilities, it also shows a potential employer you’re in tune with an ever-changing online community.
Blogging is a gateway that provides invaluable training on how to interact with others through a number of different channels. For instance, you will learn how to leverage Twitter, Facebook, StumbleUpon, and other platforms to push your message and attract readers to your site. Additionally, by maintaining a blog, you will discover the intricacies of data analytics and how they correlate with your content. Most importantly, you gain the ability to speak fluently about new media marketing. Recruiters or potential employers at communications firms drool over candidates that require little training in these areas.
During my time as a high school football coach, I often told my players, “put yourself in the best position to win.” The advice: While the situation will rarely be ideal, with the right skills or mentality, you will make that play. This same idea holds true for gaining employment.
Blogging will put you in the best position to win. Add your blog URL to your resume and always carry hard copies of your most popular posts to interviews. Professionalize your blog and maybe think about posting about industry-related content. Finally, keep screen shots of your blog’s progress and don’t be scared to show these during an interview.
Remember: the emphasis is on not really on the topic. It’s on the opportunity to share your thoughts and showcase your knowledge about the changing digital landscape. Your worth is at your fingertips, so be brilliant and start blogging.
For students today, public speaking and self-presentation is becoming a lost art.
The value of speech is underrated by the hundreds of thousands students studying marketing, advertising or public relations. As a result of the changing digital landscape, we have lost ourselves in media theory, demographic analysis, and data analytics and forget the foundation to obtaining effective results through communication.
Before Qorvis, I was a public communication instructor at Ball State University. I trained students to speak clearly and confidently in professional or pubic situations, which I found highly rewarding, but often concerning.
Watching a first semester freshman struggle to find their voice in front of an unfamiliar audience was expected; however, to watch a soon-to-be graduating senior flounder and nervously stumble through their first professional presentation was worrisome.
Even more perplexing, these students were the new fresh faces of a growing field of future marketers, advertisers and PR professionals. I wondered, how could these communication-based disciplines neglect such a vital tool for gaining employment and also one necessary for translating key messages to relevant audiences?
This was not an isolated phenomenon. I have worked at other agencies, where I witnessed many client meetings, interviews, and training sessions go down in flames. I watched helplessly as colleagues and supervisors fumbled through media pitches and sales meetings, diminishing their credibility with every passing minute.
Marketing, advertising, public relations, nursing, law, or any other client-based profession is dependent on an ability to communicate with others face-to-face. There is no greater skill than the ability to speak clearly and confidently. What good are website traffic statistics if you are unable to confidently describe them to a client group?
Although I cannot say why educators and company trainers overlook such a critical tool, I can assign some homework for those who wish to improve:
Starting today, your assignment is to be more public.
• Take additional public speaking courses or media training. These classes can forever transform the way you speak and present yourself.
• If you are currently employed, ask your supervisor to lead a small training session or group activity.
• Talk to more strangers. You can start by asking for directions or greeting others in an elevator. This technique will help you become more concise and confident with your communication.
• Interact more with groups. For instance, instead of eating alone, have lunch in public or with your colleagues. Rather than staying in the home to relax, spend some time in busier parts of you neighborhood.
While these suggestions might seem ineffective at first, overtime they go a long way in building self-confidence and improving your skill at speaking concisely.
It doesn’t matter if you are currently looking for a job or are already a central part of a company; your ability to communicate orally is vital. To gain employment you need a solid interview. To get a raise, one needs to clearly articulate their value. To display your company’s progress to a client, you must be concise, organized and confident under pressure. Just remember, it doesn’t matter if you are an expert at social media, if you are an amateur at social interaction.
As trade associations lay out their strategic plans for 2012, most will have the same goal – to increase the size of the membership and to increase the rate of renewal. At its core, this is the same mission of a brand manager at a consumer goods company – to create new customers while increasing the loyalty of existing customers.
Why then are the marketing plans so different?
The board of a mid-sized trade association recently invited me to help them think through ways to rebrand the organization as a first step to increasing its footprint. I immediately abandoned my prepared presentation when I saw their signage in the lobby.
It read, “Investing hundreds of millions to stimulate to the creation of new companies, employment opportunities, new funding sources, and business investments in this geographic area”. [Exact wording intentionally altered.]
In the intangible world of professional services and trade associations, marketing messages often divert to the comfort zone of the organization’s staff rather than towards the needs of the targeted audience. Meaning they market what they do, rather than why what they do matters.
Would a soft drink manufacturer place this language in an ad to sell its product?
“We mix precise amounts of carbonated water with sugars and syrups and place it in cans and to be distributed to a point of sale for easy consumer access.”
Trade associations primarily care about two things: growing the membership base and getting members involved. It is a simple equation; the rate of membership renewal is equal to or greater than the value that a member gets from the program, and value is determined by respective ratios, including membership size, membership quality, resources, and – most of all – membership engagement.
Here are two simple lessons that trade associations can learn from consumer marketers to increase their rate of membership growth and renewal by engaging the membership.
1. It is about them. Not you. Qorvis took a look at more than 100 trade association websites this week. More than half of these websites had “About Us” as the first link in the global navigation. The first two sub-navigation under “About Us”? You guessed it, “Board of Directors” and “Staff.” If you went to any website for a soap, or a razor, or a candy bar, you would be hard pressed to find the brand manager’s name listed anywhere on the site. You would find, however, messages that guide you to consider the product.
Leaders, and their expertise, do matter in selling services and can differentiate you from alternative associations. It is important information to have listed. I am not arguing that.
What is important to note here is the root cause of the messaging problem. The board members are listed first because of a default to speak about one thing that the trade association knows most – itself.
2. Foster engagement. Don’t wait for it. Marketing a trade association doesn’t have to be overly complicated to apply similar concepts utilized by successful consumer brands. As long as the concept is tightly managed, it can remain simple in concept and still yield high levels of member involvement.
For example, Qorvis just managed a photo contest for the American Equipment Manufacturers’ I Make America campaign. EAM members and prospective members could submit images – often humorous – of instances where American infrastructure had lapsed. The campaign solved two problems. It provided a fact-basis in photographs to support legislative arguments in favor of the organization’s political agenda, while simultaneously engaging their current and prospective membership pool.
On the other end of your message is a member with dues to renew. Lead with messages that teach the member something he or she did not already know, or towards campaigns with which he or she can get involved. Your association will further establish its thought leadership, or provide an tangible opportunity to increase the value the member receives.
In a conversation at the Pentagon recently, we were discussing the debt ceiling limit and the “Super Committee” that will be overseeing budget cuts when the term “narrative” came up. Specifically, I was told: “the contracting community is going to need to change the narrative.”
I first heard “narrative” three years ago in reference to ways that Afghanistan can “change its narrative”. While this seemed a novel idea at the time, it turned out that my company’s recommendations for helping change the narrative for that war torn country was piled among a stack of 70 others. Clearly ideas spread quickly in Washington.
As we approach the 10 year anniversary of 9-11, it really is time for the contracting community and government agencies to begin developing new narratives and positioning themselves for the years ahead. The past decade saw an explosion of growth in government contracting that, after some signs of slowing down, looks like it could be coming to a screeching halt. Understandably government agencies and the contractors that serve them are scrambling to sustain programs, as is pointed out in today’s Washington Post.
Like others, my company has seen a marked increase recently in the number of firms approaching us for communications assistance to help ensure programs stay funded. We have seen associations and coalitions form around certain sectors to advocate program relevancy. And we have seen government agencies eager to communicate to their stakeholders (read: Congress) through glossy annual reports and other marketing collateral that highlight the benefits that their agency provides either to national security or jobs.
What seems to be missing, however, is the realization that agencies and organizations need to develop new narratives. The world has changed and the contracting community needs to change with it. No longer can companies issue the token press release claiming multi-million-dollar program awards written for only the most technically astute program managers. Instead, companies need to communicate awards and programs in terms that taxpayers understand. It’s not difficult; it’s just communicating programs with a slightly different audience in mind. My colleague Stan Collender made this point at last spring’s conference of the Coalition for Government Procurement, and I thought it was a brilliant recommendation. While Stan knew the debt limit was going to be a focus of Washington politics this summer, I don’t think even he foresaw the possibility of the “Super Committee”.
This call to a new narrative was reinforced last night while reading Nicolas Schmidle’s New Yorker article “Getting Bin Laden”. In the article, Schmidle writes about the close collaboration between Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and the CIA in the killing of Bin Laden. The planning and execution of this mission brought the collaboration between these two agencies to its highest level. As John Radsan, former assistant general counsel at the C.I.A., is quoted in the article, “the Abbottabad raid amounted to ‘a complete incorporation of JSOC into a C.I.A. operation.’”. Add to this Mr. Panetta’s move from the Director of the CIA to the Secretary of Defense and General Petraeus’ move from commanding general in Afghanistan and Iraq to the Director of the CIA. Now that’s a new narrative.
The humidity is now in full swing as we have passed the celebrations of the Fourth and head into the heart of summer. What events there are left celebrate architecture and Bastille Day:
Thursday July 14
Sorg Architects celebrates its 25th anniversary with “awesome Indian barbecue,” DJ Rekha and the Bollywood Dancers, 6 to 10 P.M., The Roofing Company, 933 V Street, N.W. By invitation.
French Ambassador and Mrs. Delattre host the annual Bastille Day celebration from 6 to 10 P.M. at the French Embassy, 4101 Reservoir Road, N.W. By invitation.
It’s hard not to be impressed with how fast this discussion has gone from underground rumor to mainstream option. From my column in today’s today’s Roll Call.
The 14th Amendment is one of three ratified after the Civil War to guarantee individual rights by prohibiting slavery (13th), defining citizens to include all those born in the United States (14th) and guaranteeing all citizens the right to vote regardless of race (15th).
The fireworks will continue on July Fourth and beyond. If you haven’t quit town for Maine or destinations beyond, be sure to check out the following events…if you’re invited, that is.
Monday, July 4
Secretary of the Smithsonian and Mrs. G. Wayne Clough host a picnic supper and viewing of the national fireworks display from the terrace of the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center, Constitution Ave at 14th street N.W. 7 P.M. By invitation.
Tuesday, July 5
On the occasion of the Bicentennial of the Independence of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, the Chargé d’ Affaires ad interim, Angelo Rivero Santos, will receive guests at a concert “Un Cuatro para el mundo con Los Roy,” and a reception to follow, 7 P.M., The Bolivarian Hall, Embassy of Venezuela, 2443 Massachusetts Ave, N.W. By invitation.
Thursday, July 7
Ambassador of Monaco and Mrs. Gilles Noghes will receive guests at a reception to celebrate the wedding of Prince Albert II to Mademoiselle Charlene Wittstock, 6 P.M. To 8 P.M., The Metropolitan Club, Red Lounge, 1700 H Street, N.W. By invitation.
The Embassy of Chile invites guests to a Chilean culinary tour with 2011 RAMMY’s Chef of the Year Todd Gray, who will join Chilean chef Pilar Rodrigues in preparing dishes using fresh ingredients and unique pairings from various regions of Chile. Pisco sours and Chilean wines will be featured. 5 P.M. to 7 P.M., Chef Todd Gray’s Watershed, 1225 First Street, S.E. By invitation.
Saturday, July 9
The grand opening of Trohv Home & Gift, a store featuring “artful objects discovered or found” with cocktails, food and a live band. 6 P.M. to 9 P.M., 232 Carroll Street, N.W. By invitation.
Little known fact: Qorvis has serious floral skills. Pictured here are flower center pieces shaped like tennis balls, made to adorn the high top tables at this year’s Kastles Season Kickoff Party “Wimbledon on the Water”—superbly constructed by Qorvis staff, including Meryl Draper and Grace Fenstermaker (featured above).
The floral tennis balls were created using 6″ foam to anchor the mix of green button flowers (covering the bulk of the ball) and white strati (for the “seam”). They took an average of four hours to complete, and they looked incredible.
As you may have seen in the resulting media, the party was quite a hit, and we’re excited to once again be partnered with the Washington Kastles as they head into another great season. More updates to come!
I’m pleased to announce that Kevin Chaffee, veteran journalist and nationally-respected expert on Washington’s political and social power structure, has joined Qorvis as a senior adviser. Chaffee will apply his unique skills and significant connections to help clients navigate the complex and interacting levels of Washington. He will also advise in the development of communications and events strategies.
In bringing Chaffee to Qorvis Michael Petruzzello, the firm’s founder and managing partner, said: “A significant part of what Qorvis does is help our clients navigate Washington. Kevin will add a new dimension to that service, bringing tremendous knowledge and experience with the media and the Washington social/political community.”
Chaffee’s extensive journalistic background includes 17 years as an editor and writer at The Washington Times, where he wrote more than 2,000 articles on the social and arts scenes in the nation’s capital, and three years as senior editor of Washington Life Magazine, where he will remain on the masthead as an editorial consultant.
“I’m thrilled to join Qorvis,” Chaffee said. “Qorvis has a reputation in Washington for its dynamic leadership and impressive list of clients. I look forward to employing the experience and knowledge I gained over the years to Qorvis’ client roster.”
In discussing the new hire, Michael also pointed out that as Qorvis heads into its eleventh year, there has been a significant pattern of growth in bringing aboard new accounts and experienced team members like Chaffee. In addition to adding four new partners earlier this year, we’ve hired more than a dozen new staffers to service clients and keep up with the expanding realms of digital, branding, public affairs, media relations, and online reputation management.
There are many more positions available. If you’re interested in joining our rapidly growing firm, please contact Jessica Bayer at jbayer@qorvis.com.
[A post carried on Capital Gains & Games]
Last week’s effort by the House GOP leadership to embarrass the Obama administration on Libya may have had some success politically but it has the potential to backfire legally big time.
Just to review: Knowing that it would be voted down, the House leadership held a vote last week on legislation that, if enacted, would have provided official congressional support for U.S. military activities in Libya. As expected, the bill was overwhelming defeated.
But…in what could be one of the classic overreaches of all time, the leadership then held a separate vote on another bill that, had it been enacted, would have stopped any federal money from being spent on Libya and it too was voted down. The problem for the GOP is that the courts and the Government Accountability Office have consistently held that the most recently considered legislation is the one that expresses current congressional intent. In this case that means that the failed attempt to cut off funding for Libya would likely be taken by the courts as the real expression of what Congress wants to do.
In other words, the House may have voted against what in effect was the “authorization” for the activities in Libya, but it then voted for what effectively was the appropriation for those same activities.
This is actually a widely misunderstood part of the federal budget process. The U.S. Constitution only requires an appropriation; the authorization is a congressionally created requirement. There have been legal challenges to spending for programs that have not been both authorized and appropriated, but the courts have generally determined that, in the absence of an authorization, the appropriation, that is, the most recent expression of congressional intent, serves as both.
All of this is somewhat academic in this case because the Senate doesn’t seem to have any interest in taking up the bill to authorize the Libyan activities or defund the spending and, even if it did, the president almost certainly wouldn’t sign it. But even if the Senate followed the House’s lead by defeating the authorization and it was not vetoed, a lawsuit challenging the funding on authorization grounds would very likely be decided in the administration’s favor because of the second vote the House GOP leadership forced.
Be sure to check out Qorvis’ Federal Budget Expert Stan Collender on Bloomberg TV at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow. He’ll be discussing the budget and debt ceiling—particularly the talks taking place today at the White House between the President and GOP leadership, and the negative impact on financial markets if they don’t/can’t/won’t reach an agreement.
You can find other Qorvis folk in Washington Life this week. Matt J. Lauer and and I attended the re-launch of the Washington Convention and Sports Authority—now known as Events DC—which took place at Sax Restaurant & Lounge in Penn Quarter.
As stated in the accompanying article, “…hospitality, events and tourism drive about $400 million in economic growth for the District each year, and no city-chartered organization is better positioned [as Events DC] to campaign to attract more events and provide greater economic benefits for the nation’s capital.”
Qorvis knows, since we’ve helped to conduct some of the most high-profile events in Washington, for such clients as Bloomberg, Capitol File, the National Gallery of Art, GQ, Financial Times and numerous Embassies. We wish it good luck.
In the run-up to Independence Day, there remain a few events of note; however, many Washingtonians have already quit the city for cooler climes. Do enjoy these gatherings, if you’re invited…
Sunday, June 26
Washington’s ever-burgeoning restaurant community celebrates the annual “Oscars of the local dining scene” at the RAMMY Awards, with top prizes going to the chef of the year, the best new dining spot, best wine selection and many other categories. A must-attend for restaurateurs, maitre d’s, sommeliers, bartenders, waiters and foodies alike. 5:30 P.M. dinner, 7 P.M. awards ceremony and 8 P.M. dinner, Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, rammys@ramw.org.
Monday June 27
Reception celebrating the opening of “Machu Picchu: A Lost City Uncovered,” a new exhibition at the National Geographic Society. 7 P.M., 1145 – 17th Street, N.W. By invitation.
Wednesday, June 29
Cajun cuisine aficionados get to sample crawfish, po’ boys and beignets as well as more exotic Louisiana fare (alligator, frogs legs, etc.) prepared by Executive Chef Thomas Schoberg at Cajun Experience, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M., 1825 18th Street, N.W. Open bar and live music will also be featured. By invitation.
Qorvis’ approach to the launch of Huntington Ingalls Industries (a company recently spun off from Northrup Grumman) was to make a real splash (pun intended) in a very staid industry. The new company combined two legendary names in shipbuilding—Newport News and Ingalls Shipbuilding—with 125-year legacy of building the best military ships ever put to sea. But no one had ever heard of Huntington Ingalls.
Clearly the typical defense ad with an image of military folks on the deck of a ship and a long-winded headline just wasn’t going to cut it, or cut through the clutter.
The client agreed. New company. New vision.
From there a “Legend Reborn” was created.
Taking inspiration from retro navy poster art, we created an ad with a vintage Americana feel. The illustration invokes the same sense of power and wonder that the actual ships being created by Huntington Ingalls do. Also key, keeping the headline short and the body copy powerful and punchy, driving people to the website to find out more.
The ad generated incredible buzz within the industry and has propelled Qorvis to Agency of Record for Huntington Ingalls—a company we’re proud to represent.
YOUR DAILY POLLING UPDATE
OBAMA APPROVAL AVERAGE: 47%
(down 1 from yesterday; no change from a week ago)
DIRECTION OF COUNTRY — WEEKLY AVERAGE
27% right/64% wrong
(right track down 3, wrong track up 1 from a week ago)
UTAH: 2012 SENATE*
Sen. Orrin Hatch (R) 47% v. Jim Matheson (D) 47%
Jason Chaffetz (R) 47% v. Matheson (D) 45%
GOP Senate Primary
Chaffetz 41%
Hatch 40%
MONTANA: 2012 SENATE**
Denny Rehberg (R) 47% v. Sen. Jon Tester (D) 45%
Job Ratings
Approve/Disapprove
Sen. Baucus: 41%/50%
Sen. Tester: 51%/39%
Rep. Rehberg: 44%/45%
NEW JERSEY: JOB RATINGS***
Approve/Disapprove
Pres. Obama: 50%/46%
Gov. Christie: 44%/47%
Sen. Menendez: 45%/38%
Sen. Lautenberg: 46%/40%
NJ State Assembly: 27%/51%
NJ State Senate: 21%/52%
WORSE OFF THAN IN 2009****
Asked of U.S. adults: Are you better off or worse off than you were
at the beginning of 2009?
Better off 34%
Worse off 44%
About the same 21%
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE****
Asked of U.S. adults: When do you expect the U.S. unemployment rate
will return to about 5%, where it was before the recession hit in
2008 — ?
Next 2 years 8%
Next 3-5 years 41%
Next 6-10 years 28%
Longer than 10 years from now 9%
Never 10%
SOURCES:
Presidential job approval and direction of country: average of the
three most recently reported nationwide polls.
* Deseret News/KSL-TV, June 13-16
** PPP(D), June 16-19
*** Quinnipiac, June 14-19
**** Bloomberg, June 17-20
Stan Collender, Qorvis partner and leading expert on the U.S. budget and congressional budget, will be speaking today directly with constituents at No Labels’ Illinois telephone town hall—where an anticipated 7,000 people will be in attendance. Collender will participate in the conference call alongside former Comptroller General David Walker.
No Labels is a social welfare advocacy organization dedicated to bringing bipartisanship to the United States government. The organization encourages public officials to prioritize national interest and shared common goals over party interest. In the words of No Labels, “It’s not about politics, it’s about the politics of problem solving.”
During the Illinois Telephone Town Hall, No Labels will strive to promote understanding of the rhetoric behind the 2012 budget reduction debate and examine the likely impacts on both individuals and the State of Illinois. Collender will play a major role in dissecting these issues with the participants.
This event marks a new way of engaging constituents in today’s most pressing matters; over 21,000 Illinois residents will be phoned and encouraged to participate.
Event details in brief:
What: Illinois telephone town hall
When: June 22, 2011 9 p.m. eastern time
Who: No Labels
I defaced graffiti the other day, I am loath to admit. While passing through a crosswalk near the W Hotel, I noticed a fresh “stikman” on the street, and as traffic bore down upon me, I plucked it up and moved along quickly. I carried the illicit art all the way home, half thinking (half wanting) someone of authority to accuse me of being behind these street installations. No one did.
If you are not familiar with stikman, he is the subject of an anonymous street artist who has made this figure well known throughout DC and numerous other cities, from Los Angeles to Boston.
Stikman resides mostly in crosswalks—a reflective vinyl robot staring blankly upward. He comes in several colors, and as traffic and weather run over him, his permanence is solidified by conditions that simultaneously disintegrate him entirely—like a traumatic event seared as a memory but faded overtime, from fixture to abstraction to amorphous reminiscence, and then gone altogether.
I’ve snapped photos of him before, but have never acquired one. I’ve only ever enjoyed his place in the urban landscape—a simple, humorless figure who looks up and says, “Hey, you’re walking on me.” I smile and move on. In hand, though, I sought to learn more.
Aside from many photos, I found a Washington Post article by Stephen Lowman from 2008, in which he wrote about his own exploration of stikman:
“I Googled him, half expecting to find out that stikman was part of a viral marketing campaign to get me to the theater on Halloween to see a robot slasher flick. Instead, I found other admirers sharing their fondness for this mysterious figure whose creator was anonymous.”
Oh woe for the artist whose work is mistaken for marketing! I know we are constantly exploring new ways of communicating messages: mobile, guerilla, viral, whatever. If it speaks to the right audience, I will employ graffiti as easily as I would put out a press release.
Is this not the nature of art though? Look at Shepard Fairey’s now ubiquitous “Hope” portrait of President Obama. It may offend the artist to have his or her methods adopted for commercial or political purposes, (Fairey, notably, was an Obama supporter), but I would take it as a compliment that you’re contributing to the expansion of how we can communicate with one another. The tenuous relationship between art and commerce may never be resolved.
With stikman, however, I just feel guilty. I have denied the masses exposure to this simple figure. In art, meaning is derived from context; and with street art, every piece is site-specific. I have in a sense robbed some life from this particular piece. Nor I do not feel right replacing it, now that I’ve removed it. Like a baby bird held by human hands, it may not be accepted back into its nest. It would then be sweet justice if I was arrested for littering or defacing property in an effort to restore him.
So here I am in my office trying to mash stikman into the carpet—the only sensible way I think he can be displayed. On the wall won’t cut it. I only fear the cleaning people may remove him.
Qorvis is proud to have co-sponsored last week’s Disruptathon Media Event, co-hosted by USA Today, Gannett, and Cynergy at the USA Today headquarters in McLean, VA.
Peter Erickson, Founder and Creator of the Disruptathon and its event series, paving a way through the quickly evolving world of digital media, and continues to lead the charge to create a more connected world. The Disruptathon series highlighted young companies that are media-based technologies, specialty blogs and publishing sites, as well as companies that provide products and services in this arena.
Encompassing the spirit of the event and awards, Erickson arranged for attendees to check in to the event and enter a raffle by registering on available iPad devices. Attendees with iPhones then were instructed to download the “Disrtuptathon” iPhone app with functionality allowing them to take surveys and rate event presenters on a 10-point scale, contributing to real-time results. Those without iPhones certainly did not miss out—they borrowed event-specific mobile voting devices, already downloaded with the app, and participated enthusiastically throughout the evening.
Attendees, sponsors, and hosts of the event happenings were pleased to “meet” eight businesses in the media industry that differentiated themselves from a national field search of over 100 companies. Finalists demonstrated strong leadership and innovative spirit in the changing world of media – their presentations demonstrated more than talent – attendees were treated to viewing the results of dedication and continually pushing the boundaries of the “traditional”. The big winners of the evening include: Socialize and ProConIT. Finalists included: NearSay, OneNews, Publish2, Stry, WatchParty, and Yowie.
Disruptathon and its supporters look forward to next year’s batch of newsmakers and ground shakers, as the landscape of the media world will expectedly have transformed, if not once, multiple times between now and then.
Award recipients:
Presentation: Runner-up — STRY, Winner — Socialize
Uniqueness: Runner-up — Socialize, Winner –ProConIt
Design: Runner-up — Socialize, Winner — ProConIt
Most Disruptive: Runner-up: WatchParty, Winner: ProConIt
Likes: Runner-up — Socialize, Winner — ProConIt
Overall: 3rd Runner-up — WatchParty, 2nd Runner-up — Yowie, Runner-up — ProConIt, Winner — Socialize
The Washington social season is winding down as the humidity and heat are cranking up. I am currently in London attending to some festivities, which I’ll report on next week; however, here are some select events in the days ahead:
Saturday, June 18
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership hosts “The Heart & Soul of the Journey” annual gala at Little Oatlands in Leesburg, Va., with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and dancing to classic Motown and soul-infused tunes. Silent and live auctions will be featured along with a raffle of a 2011 Mini Cooper convertible. (500 tickets at $100 apiece will be sold.) Tickets start at $125. 540-882-4292
Monday, June 20
H.R.H. Prince Edward, the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth II, will be present at an event sponsored by the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, a program that has helped thousands of young people become role models and leaders through self-development. Honorary co-hosts: Sens. Thad Cochran, Kay Hagan and Mary Landrieu. 6 P.M. to 8 P.M., Mansfield Room, United States Capitol. By invitation.
The fifth anniversary of The Center for Democracy in the Americas, 7 P. M. to 10 P.M., The Stewart R. Mott House, 122 Maryland Avenue N.E., By invitation.
The opening night of the SilverDocs film festival features a screening of “The Swell Season.” 7:30 P.M., AFI Silver Theater, 8633 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Md., with reception to follow at the Silver Spring Civic Building. By invitation.
Wednesday, June 22
Jim Justice, chairman and owner of the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va., invites clients and friends to a cocktail reception to announce the unveiling of “The Greenbrier Presidential Express,” a special train route that will connect the famed resort with Washington, D.C. within the next year. 6:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M., Hay Adams Hotel. By invitation.
Thursday, June 23
Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants “Crave Kimpton” bash promises to “indulge your senses with a night of inspired cocktails, chef-driven cuisine and festive entertainment” plus the chance to win private chef dinners and trips to Kimpton hotels around the country. 5 P.M to 7 P.M, Monaco Washington DC, 700 F Street NW. By invitation.
Small of entrance and obscure from the street, Shakespeare & Company is tough to locate, so you have to work to find it. As I wandered the back streets of the Latin Quarter, I kept running into others just as lost as me. Yet there it was, right on the Seine, hiding in plain sight. Ironically, this is a place you go not because you know what you’re looking for, but rather because you never know what you’re going to find.
It has the feeling of an ancient tomb, musty and sacred. Three rambling floors of titles and tomes—piled up on the floor, falling off makeshift shelves, arranged using no traditional scheme. They populate narrow stairs and tiny rooms. It is bookstore as destination—as much a feast for the mind as for the senses. And I believe, I hope, this relic of Paris can provide some understanding of what the future holds for bookstores.
The demise of the big booksellers is hardly a new story. In Washington, DC, one of the most educated, literate and wealthy communities in the country, Borders has shuttered almost all of its locations. The reasons are obvious—competition from online vendors and ebooks has combined with a decrease in disposable income as a result of the economic recession. Sales dry up, business is business.
It is as true here as it is throughout the world. Just this week, Australian Minister for Small Businesses Nick Sherry even made a bold declaration about the death of the bookstore: “I think in five years, other than a few specialty bookshops in capital cities, you will not see a bookstore. They will cease to exist because of what’s happening with Internet-based, Web-based distribution…. What’s occurring now is an exponential take-off—we’ve reached a tipping point.”
In my opinion…maybe. There’s no doubt consolidation will continue to take place. What exists, though, is an opportunity for large booksellers to reinvent how they market themselves—to rethink their approach to the Thinking Class. And it has everything to do with the experience they present.
Barnes & Noble, Borders and the others had in recent decades become a sterile alternative to the convenience found on the Internet, providing little reason to wander in and make a purchase. It is the same with Starbucks, entirely lifeless in presentation; yet, caffeine can be rather powerful when it comes to purchasing decisions. Few people claim to be addicted to literature.
The question then becomes anthropological. Do books possess an inherent nature that appeals to humans? Or, is our desire to be around them rooted more in nostalgia or to be associated with something intellectual? While it is difficult to say, demand does still exist for bookstores, and there are of ways large booksellers can retool their marketing to cultivate demand and re-grow sales:
Old-line companies need to take risks and dive into the demand that still exists. It is a turbulent time for justifying costs and growing the bottom line; however, innovative marketing and creative communications—combined with smart business decisions—can do a lot to create new business.
