Café Aspen, a Fort Worth Favorite, Turns 20

Fort Worth landmark Café Aspen will celebrate 20 years of exquisite cuisine and community service April 17. In honor of its platinum anniversary, the award-winning restaurant will host a series of special events to honor loyal patrons, including a one-time exclusive offer of platinum dining certificates.
 
“After 20 years of loyal patronage, it is humbling to say thank you for allowing us to serve you," said owner David Rotman. "This is a restaurant Fort Worth friends have built through their 20 years of loyalty."

The week of April 13-18, Café Aspen has several opportunities for patrons to enjoy special offers:

·        The complete signature beef tenderloin dinner will be just $12.95, a savings of more than 50 percent, from April 13-18.

·        On Wednesday, April 15, a Happy Hour offer of four margaritas and an appetizer will be just $20.

·        All lunch and dinner entrees Friday April 17 will be 20 percent off the menu price.

·        Café Aspen also will offer various deals and specials through Twitter and Facebook (coming soon).

This Fort Worth icon has been rated a Zagat Top 10 restaurant and has received numerous awards from Fort Worth Weekly and Fort Worth Texas Magazine, including Best Dessert (2006, 2007, 2008), Best Bar Food (2008) and Best Customer Service (2007).

"We hope you will continue to fuel our growth and guide us to continue to be a hometown favorite for at least 20 more years to come,” Rotman said.


 

THE HONDO GROUP ADDS TEAM MEMBERS

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is pleased to announce that Brenda Cavanaugh has joined their team as assistant account executive in the Darlington, Wisconsin office. In addition, two student interns will serve as assistants in the Fort Worth, Texas office.

Brenda Cavanaugh is as comfortable working with cattle on a dairy farm as she is developing tactics in a marketing meeting. Her writing skills and marketing know-how, combined with her driven work ethic and down-to-earth personality allow Brenda to provide unmatched public relations and advertising campaigns to clients. At Hondo, Cavanaugh handles day-to-day marketing and public relations efforts for StollerUSA and new business initiatives in the Ag and dairy industries. While attending college, Cavanaugh built an extensive portfolio through various internships in advertising, public relations and news writing. Prior to joining The Hondo Group, Cavanaugh served as the marketing services director at Accelerated Genetics and as an advertising sales consultant for The Country Today. Cavanaugh is a graduate of University of Wisconsin-River Falls, where she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in agricultural marketing communications and dairy science.

Jennifer Poyner will fill the role of graphic design intern. This position involves exploring the design process from concepting to taking a job to press. Poyner will learn internal agency procedures and will have the opportunity to put her creative ideas to work for specific projects. She will get experience in graphic design duties including creation of logos, newspaper ads, Web-based advertising, posters, and other marketing and collateral materials. Poyner is a senior graphic design major at Texas Women’s University.

Kristen Malone will serve as marketing and copywriting intern. Her duties include writing headlines and body copy for print, broadcast and Web-based advertisements, as well as drafting press releases and putting together publicity recaps. She will also be involved in the coordination of other account service, public relations and marketing activities for company clients. Malone is a senior Advertising/Public Relations major and studio art and English minor at Texas Christian University.

“We are ecstatic to have Brenda as the newest member of our team. Her experience and wealth of agriculture knowledge rounds out our team and brings a unique perspective to client accounts," said Lynn Balinas, president of the Hondo Group. “We also welcome Kristen and Jennifer with their fresh perspectives in marketing efforts, especially Web 2.0 and social networking campaigns. We expect great things from their assistance with client projects.”  

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is dedicated to providing clients with new strategic branding processes and procedures, and new products and technologies. The company represents clients in a variety of areas including agriculture, real estate, professional services, technology, healthcare, life sciences and green marketing and sustainable business strategies. As a full service agency, The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied consumers. For more information, please visit www.hondogroup.com.

DALLAS MEDIA AUCTION - HELPING OUR COMMUNITY

The Dallas Ad League recognizes the impact of this challenging economy on both media and the clients and agencies. We have found a way to help. The Dallas Ad League will host Dallas’ first Media Auction on April 26th and 27th to benefit our media community and our non-profit partners.
 
We’re supporting the Dallas Advertising Community in these tough economic times by providing cash flow for participating media and great deals for media buyers; aiding charities  (The DREAM Fund and the Dallas Ad League Foundation scholarship program) and financially handling the operating expenses of the Dallas Ad League
 
What’s in it for you? The opportunity to purchase effective media for pennies on the dollar. We already have more than $1.2 million in media inventory in newspapers, local and regional magazines, out-of-home, direct mail, local radio and TV and internet. By buying one of the available packages you provide aid to the DREAM Fund and the Dallas Ad League Scholarship program where a portion of your spend in this auction is tax deductible
 
What are we asking from you today? The agreement to be part of the DAL Spring Media Auction as a bidder and potential purchaser. Specific details for each auction package will able available starting April 8th on a link on www.dallasadleague.org . Please read and understand any media vehicles restrictions before making a bid offer

Timing and Specifics- Our plan is to run this auction using an internet server so that potential buyers can see the inventory before hand and during the bidding time period. Our technology partner is a company out of Birmingham Alabama, Local Flavor Technology, who specializes in running online auctions for a variety of industries. The auction is planned to run for 48 hours on April 27th and 28th with the inventory available to view starting April 8th.
 
After 10 am on Wednesday, April 8th please look at the available packages and see if they strategically fit into your needs. Then if any package(s) fit your plans, bid on them April 27th and 28th.

BALCOM WINS GOLD ADDYS IN AAF DISTRICT 10 COMPETITION

The Balcom Agency has won two gold ADDY® awards in the American Advertising Federation’s District 10 competition that covers four states: Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
 
Balcom struck gold for a whimsical website created for REAL School Gardens, a nonprofit organization that works with elementary schools to design and install gardens that inspire learning (www.realschoolgardens.org). The agency also won a gold Addy for its gritty, playful design for the fall 2008 issue of “Rough Times,” a tabloid-style newsletter of The Dallas Society of Visual Communications.
 
The agency won silver ADDYs for an “Oh My! Pink Eye!” patient education game created for Alcon Laboratories and for the REAL School Gardens website’s Flash introduction. The agency received bronze ADDYs for creative work done for XTO Energy and the Fort Worth retailer, Spoiled Pink.
 
“We’re proud that our work is recognized as the best of the ADDYs at a multi-state level; but even more important, that we have created stand-out work that helps our clients reach their business goals,” said Stuart Balcom, the agency’s president.
 
The AAF District Ten ADDY competition is the second of a three-tier competition for the American Advertising Federation’s prestigious national ADDY Award, the premiere industry recognition for excellence in advertising.   The award winners will be recognized April 24 at the district’s annual convention in Houston, then will proceed to compete in the national AAF competition.
 
 
About the Balcom Agency

Founded in 1993, the Balcom Agency has provided its clients with comprehensive advertising, public relations and marketing solutions to various business challenges. The agency’s roster also includes such local, regional and national clients as Justin Boots, Justin Original Workboots, Tony Lama, Texas Health Resources, Alcon Laboratories, the Neeley School of Business at TCU, Southwest Bank, REAL School Gardens, Samsill and the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council. Visit www.balcomagency.com to learn more.
 

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CONCUSSION AWARDED DISTRICT TEN ADDY GOLD

Concussion High Impact Communications has won thirteen District ADDY Awards to be presented at the American Advertising Federation (AAF) District Ten awards presentation in Houston, Texas, on Friday, April 24, announced Allen Wallach, CEO/partner at Concussion.

“It’s a war for eyeballs out there and our creative is being recognized and remembered,” said Andrew Yañez, chief creative officer/partner at Concussion.  “Our work consistently stacks up against the biggest agencies around.”

District Ten of the AAF includes chapters in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas.  Each chapter in these states hosts an ADDY competition at the local level.  Both Gold and Silver ADDY recipients are eligible to compete in the District level competition. Gold ADDY recipients at the District level are automatically forwarded on to compete in the AAF’s national ADDY competition.

Of the 21 Gold ADDYs and 21 Silver ADDYs Concussion earned in the Fort Worth competition, 22 entries moved on to compete at the District Ten level.  On the District level, Concussion was awarded two Gold ADDYs for an email blast and a micro site done on behalf of Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino; two Silver ADDYs for a website developed for Hillwood Residential and a self-promotion collateral piece for Cockrell Printing; and nine Bronze ADDYs for a multimedia campaign, self-promotion collateral piece, elements of a photo campaign, color newspaper ads and a publication cover for Texas Christian University athletics; a logo for Matador Marketing Group and a direct marketing piece for Chesapeake Energy.

Concussion’s award-winning work recognized with District Ten Gold ADDYs will now take the next step in the AAF’s ADDY competition.   The email blast and micro site developed for Osage Million Dollar Elm Casino will compete against Gold ADDY winners from 200 member advertising clubs located in 15 districts spanning the nation.

“We don’t deal with your traditional advertising methods,” said Douglas Cox, interactive director at Concussion.  “We provide clients with the two-way communication needed to be successful in today’s environment.  Whether it’s developing a dynamic website or executing social media methods, we know what we’re doing and we make these technologies work to our client’s advantage.  It’s a complete bonus that our efforts achieve Gold.”  

National ADDY winners will be announced during a special awards presentation hosted by the AAF on Saturday, July 6, 2009, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia.

 

The Hondo Group Launches Updated Web Site

The Hondo Group, a full service marketing communications agency, is utilizing the latest Web technology to enhance visitors’ experiences at www.HondoGroup.com. Highlights of the new Web site include a showcase of the company’s print, design, and branding work, and information on new interactive and green marketing services.

The new re-branded Web site is designed to be more accessible with significant information on The Hondo Group’s latest news and updates. The site was designed to be W3C compliant and built for multiple platforms and devices using XHTML and CSS.

The Web site offers information on Hondo’s digital marketing services including Web site design and hosting, online public relations, blogging, podcasting, video optimization and mobile media. Also featured on the site is The Hondo Group’s green marketing and sustainable business strategies. The green marketing services section displays a teaser for Hondo’s upcoming CO2 Management System, which implements a recommended action plan for companies to “go green,” manages completion over time, and provides real actionable suggestions and money-saving results.

“Hondo’s new Web site showcases our services, people, and work,” said Lynn Balinas, president of the Hondo Group. “We continue to innovate and improve our products and services, and it is a natural next step to take our own Web site to the standards we set for our clients.”  

The Hondo Group, a Fort Worth-based marketing communications company, is dedicated to providing clients with new strategic branding processes and procedures, and new products and technologies. The company represents clients in a variety of areas including agriculture, real estate, professional services, technology, healthcare, life sciences and green marketing and sustainable business strategies. As a full service agency, The Hondo Group helps clients close the marketing loop between great products and satisfied consumers. For more information, please visit www.hondogroup.com.

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AAF-Fort Worth to honor Lynne Swihart with Silver Medal at April meeting

Join us for the
Awards Luncheon
April 15, 2009
11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

WHERE
Joe T. Garcia's
"La Puertita"
2201 N Commerce St
Fort Worth, TX 76106




FEE
• Executive Member - Included with Dues
• Professional or member of another AAF Club $20.00
• Non Member $35.00
• Student $15.00

RSVP by April 13, 2009. For tickets and information, go to the website, or email us at: aaf.fortworth@gmail.com

Newly Designed Website Honors Fort Worth's Fallen Heroes

A brand new website for the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial (www.cfwfallenheroes.org) went live this week, the Balcom Agency announced Thursday.
 
The redesigned site honors the 95 police officers, firefighters and marshals who have lost their lives in the line of duty since the city of Fort Worth’s beginning. A memorial for the fallen heroes is under construction in Trinity Park along West 7th Avenue and will be dedicated Friday morning, June 5.
 
The Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial will honor three deputy marshals, 55 police officers and 37 firefighters, and it is designed with the flexibility to continue honoring individuals killed in the line of duty in the future.
 
The site allows friends and family members to write tributes to the fallen officers and firefighters and profiles each of them in a searchable database. The Balcom Agency designed the site and is also providing public relations services to the Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial project.
 
"There's a need to pay tribute to the officers and firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice to help keep our community safe,” said the agency’s president, Stuart Balcom.  “The Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial will be that place of honor, and we hope the website we've designed will help make the entire community more aware of the everyday risks involved in protecting us all."
 
About the Balcom Agency

Founded in 1993, the Balcom Agency provides its clients with comprehensive advertising, public relations and marketing solutions to various business challenges. The agency’s roster also includes such local, regional and national clients as Justin Boots, Justin Original Workboots, Tony Lama, Texas Health Resources, Southwest Bank, Alcon Laboratories, Neeley School of Business at TCU, Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, REAL School Gardens, Fort Worth Police & Firefighters Memorial, and Samsill. Visit www.balcomagency.com to learn more.
 

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If You Can't Give Money, Give Your Time

Members and friends of the American Advertising Federation-Fort Worth volunteered at the Tarrant Area Food Bank with the mission of addressing a need and making a positive difference in the community.  Volunteers worked to prepare non-perishable foods for distribution to a network of partner agencies in Fort Worth and 13 surrounding counties.      

“During a time when so many are faced with new challenges due to economic circumstances, we have to do what we can to help,” said Mike Roundtree, president of AAF-Fort Worth.  “There’s not many who have the money our non-profits need, but all of us have time and we should be generous.”

As a civic organization, AAF-Fort Worth takes on various volunteer projects in the Fort Worth area.  If you are interested in requesting volunteers from AAF-Fort Worth or joining one of our volunteer projects, please e-mail us at aaf.fortworth@gmail.com.

For more information on the Tarrant Area Food Bank, visit www.tafb.org.

Legislative News To You

House Oversight Committee Approves Tobacco Advertising Restrictions Bill
The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has approved a bill that would transfer authority of tobacco advertising from the Federal Trade Commission to the Food and Drug Administration. H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act, would also direct the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to publish an interim rule enacting unprecedented advertising restrictions, including requiring many tobacco ads to be black text on a white background, mandating a government-dictated "brief statement" (in addition to the current surgeon general's warning), and banning all outdoor advertising for tobacco products within 1,000 feet of any elementary or secondary school or playground.
Introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-Calif., the proposal has already been approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee and will next be considered by the full House, possibly as early as next week.
AAF National’s press release regarding the bill can be found here.

California Digital Billboard Moratorium Passes Assembly Committee
The California Assembly Judiciary Committee has approved a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on the construction of digital billboards of the conversion of standard billboards to digital in the state. Introduced by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, Assembly Bill 109 has now been referred to the Assembly's Governmental Organization Committee. Digital billboards are considered an important asset for emergency and public safety communication. They generate jobs and revenue, and there are no documented safety issues with their implementation.


DTC Advertising Ban Introduced in Wisconsin Legislation
Wisconsin Representative Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, has introduced a bill prohibiting direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs in the state. Assembly Bill 56 would not apply to ads that are broadcast or mailed from outside the state. The text of the bill accuses DTC advertising of undermining the efforts of the Wisconsin government to protect the health and welfare of its citizens.

Opponents to the bill believe that the proposal violates the First Amendment protection for commercial speech. They cite that consumers benefit from DTC advertising, which studies show encourages patients to seek information from health care providers. They also feel that local businesses would suffer, as advertising efforts would simply shift to neighboring states.

For additional legislative news, email us at aaf.fortworth@gmail.com.

Blanchard Schaefer Earns Texas Public Relations Association Best of Texas Award

Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, a full-service integrated strategic marketing services firm, took home the top honor in the news writing category at the Texas Public Relations Association (TPRA) Best of Texas Awards.  The agency was honored with a Best of Texas Silver Award for its campaign to promote ATC Logistics & Electronics’ vanpool initiative.
 
“This is a great honor to be recognized in a state-wide competition of this stature,” said Ken Schaefer, principal at Blanchard Schaefer. “While the goal is to produce results for our clients, it is great to be recognized in this way among our peers.”
 
The news-writing category focused on a news story, or press release, for external media.  The vanpool press release garnered extensive DFW-market broadcast and print media coverage with WFAA-Ch. 8., KTVT-Ch. 11 and the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
 
Blanchard Schaefer was the only agency in Tarrant County to win a TPRA award this year.  The award stems from logistics account work, which is one of the agency’s core specialties.  The initiative was also related to social and environmental responsibility, which is an emerging area of expertise for Blanchard Schaefer.
 
The TPRA, founded in 1954 and Texas’ only statewide public relations organization, conducts the annual competition among public relations practitioners in corporate and agency settings.  For more information about the TPRA, visit www.trpa.com.
 
About Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations
Blanchard Schaefer Advertising & Public Relations, an award-winning strategic marketing services firm, offers a full array of advertising and public relations expertise and services with a focus in the healthcare, supply chain and logistics, health and beauty, multi-location/franchise, and technology verticals. Its client-tailored strategic marketing services include proficiency and innovation in research, identity/collateral development, branding, creative, media placement, news generation/dissemination, media relations and trade show and speaking engagement coordination. Based in Arlington, Texas, Blanchard Schaefer serves clients across the United States. For more information, visit www.bsapr.com.

DFW AMA ANNOUNCES THE 2009 BEYOND BORDERS GLOBAL MARKETING SUMMIT PRESENTED BY GFK CUSTOM RESEARCH NORTH AMERICA

The DFW American Marketing Association (DFW AMA) will be hosting the fourth annual Beyond Borders Global Marketing Summit. Beyond Borders is the premiere global marketing event in the DFW area delivering world class presentations by prominent leaders with extensive international marketing expertise.

GfK Custom Research North America, a full service market research firm combining global resources with the local insights needed to design, execute and deliver the most appropriate research and actionable outcomes, is this year’s presenting sponsor.

Never has the symbiotic relationship of our global markets been more apparent.  The global economic landscape has shifted and international marketers must drastically adjust their strategies and initiatives accordingly in order to effectively navigate this new landscape and remain profitable.  Beyond Borders 2009 will focus on how to successfully market in this global economic revolution. 

This full day Summit will also provide unique opportunities to network and mingle with senior marketing professionals from various industries and organizations.  Exciting sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available for those companies who wish to increase their exposure to this global audience. 

“As competition for global markets intensifies, it becomes increasingly important for marketers to find new and innovative ways to target customers around the world.  GfK is proud to be a presenting sponsor of the 2009 Beyond Borders Global Marketing Summit,” says Mike Kassab, Senior Vice President GfK Custom Research North America.

 

When:  Wednesday April 15, 2009 

Where:  Plano Conference Center                 

Registration:  www.dfwama.com

Seating for this Summit will be limited, please register early. 

About the DFW AMA:

The DFW American Marketing Association (AMA) is the number one source for marketers in the Dallas /Fort Worth Metroplex. With an impressive 700+ professional members and host to more than 50 informative and educational events annually, it is the ninth fastest growing chapter and the tenth largest in the nation. Recent keynote speakers include: Mary Kay, Frito-Lay, Texas Instruments, American Airlines, Xerox, JC Penney and La Quinta Hotels and Inns.  For more information, go to: www.dfwama.com.

About the AMA:

The American Marketing Association (AMA) is the largest professional association for marketers with more than 38,000 members worldwide in every area of marketing. For over six decades, the AMA has been the leading source for information, knowledge sharing and professional development for marketing professionals. To learn more about the AMA, go to: www.marketingpower.com.

 

About GfK Custom Research North America:

Headquartered in New York, GfK Custom Research North America is part of the GfK Group. With home offices in Nuremberg, Germany, the GfK Group is fourth largest market research organization in the world. Its activities cover three business sectors: Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. With 115 companies covering over 100 countries, GfK Group has approximately 10,000 employees (as of September 30, 2008), 80% of which are based outside Germany.  For more information, visit www.gfkamerica.com