The Ontario Association of Broadcasters is proud to announce the great speaker line up for Connection 2010, Thursday, October 21
st. In order of appearance, Connection 2010 will feature Mark Ramsey, President, Mark Ramsey Media and President, Radio Intelligence USA; John Parikhal, President, Joint Communications; Theresa Treutler, President & CEO, TVB; John Potter, VP, Training, RAB; and Laura Gaggi, President, Gaggi Media’s presentation will also feature a panel of key advertisers! The day will begin with our Annual General Meeting, where we are fortunate to have Elmer Hildebrand, Chair, CAB to discuss their changes and provide an overview of the new proposed Canadian association (CARB). The OAB Annual General Meeting is open to members only. By combining our Annual General Meeting and Awards program together with a variety of much in demand industry speakers, the OAB has been able to create Connection 2010. This is a value packed one day event for radio and T.V. broadcasters that will have each attendee learning and networking all in one central location! Connection 2010 will feature the latest information for sales and programming professionals who want to be ahead of the ‘Technology Curve’ heading in to 2011 and beyond. The OAB Connection 2010 Conference will be held on Thursday, October 21st at On the Park Events and Conference Centre, at 1095 Leslie Street, just north of Eglinton Avenue in Toronto. Not only will Connection 2010 include a great line-up of speakers, but your price of admission also includes a continental breakfast, lunch and a ticket to our Gala Awards Reception and Dinner! A highlight of this year’s Gala Awards Reception and Dinner will be a special presentation of the OAB Lifetime Achievement Award to Duff Roman and Jim Waters! ? Full Delegate OAB Connection 2010 Conference passes are $199 for OAB members ? Full Delegate OAB Connection 2010 Conference passes are $249 for non-members ? Additional Gala Awards Reception tickets can be purchased for just $99 Mark your calendar for Thursday October 21st and tell your associates about OAB Connection 2010. For more information go to www.oab.ca or call 905-554-2730.
By James Carelss, Radio World International
The Canadian Association of Broadcasters (CAB) is dead; long live the Canadian Association of Radio Broadcasters (CARB). That’s the de facto mantra of Elmer Hildebrand; chairman of the defunct CAB and now the flagbearer for its radio-only successor, the CARB.
Having been unsuccessful in his attempts to hold the CAB together – it was destroyed by infighting between its broadcast television and satellite/cable TV members – Hildebrand is now putting together a radio-only group. “I’m just an interested volunteer in all of this,” he tells Radio World International, “although I have put in some money from my own company, Golden West Broadcasting.” Golden West operates 29 radio stations in Western Canada.
“The CARB’s purpose is to assume the national role for radio that the CAB and RMB had shared in the past; acting as a unified voice for the country’ 400-odd stations and promoting the medium to advertisers,” Hildebrand adds. “It is critically important for our industry to have such a voice. If I didn’t believe this, I wouldn’t be putting my own money into it.”
The Case for the CARB
Ironically, it was radio and radio alone that founded the CAB in 1926. It was formed by Canada’s commercial radio broadcasters in response to impending royalty payments. Until this point in time, radio stations had been allowed to play recorded music for free, simply because Canadian copyright law did not include the then-new medium. But impending revisions in the law meant that radio station would now have to start paying fees; the only question was how much?
By banding together, Canadian radio broadcasters made sure their views were taken into account when royalty payments were set. Years later, the CAB’s lobbying efforts prevented the entire commercial industry from being abolished in favor of a BBC-style Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Although the CBC was founded, the CAB ensured that private stations remained part of Canada’s broadcast mix.
The advent of Canadian private television in the 1960s saw the CAB’s base grow to include these upstarts; many of whom were owned by radio broadcasters. For decades the marriage worked well, until market consolidation led to satellite and cable TV companies owning TV stations and becoming CAB members as well. It was this inherent conflict of interest, brought to a head when Canada’s over-the-air TV networks began demanding payment for being carried on cable and satellite TV, that destroyed the CAB earlier this year.
This said, the reasons that made the CAB important still matter. Without a unified national voice, radio broadcasters can be ineffectual when lobbying government agencies such as the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (which regulates broadcast content and licenses radio stations) and Industry Canada (which manages the radio spectrum). This is why Elmer Hildebrand tried so hard to save the CAB, and why he is so committed to the CARB.
Sticking to Basics
As envisioned by Hildebrand, the CARB will be a ‘mean and lean’ radio-only version of the CAB, with minimal staff and a narrow focus on critical issues such as copyright and pending government broadcast legislation. “How Industry Canada intends to re-divide up the spectrum is another huge issue that we must have a say in,” Hildebrand notes.
As for digital radio? The CARB will have no part of it. In contrast, the CAB, CBC and Canadian government pushed through the deployment of Eureka-147 DAB L-band transmitters in major Canadian markets years ago. But a lack of receivers means that these transmissions are basically unheard – with broadcasters footing the bills to keep these DAB broadcasts on air.
“I think the time for digital radio has come and gone,” says Hildebrand. “I expect it’s going to go the way of AM Stereo. I don’t know what kind of digital solution will eventually come to Canadian radio, but I do know that the CARB will not be playing a part in developing it.”
Radio analyst David Bray (of Hennessy and Bray Communications) welcomes
the new development. “The void left by the CAB and RMB comes at an inopportune time for the medium,” he says. “Radio stands at a crossroads as it attempts to find a foothold in the future of an increasingly fragmented media universe. Without someone to speak up, radio’s voice could be lost in the cacophony of competition.”
“We also need leadership as we forge a digital future, whatever form that may take,” Bray adds. “It would be naive to think that the decades-old FM and AM technologies will stand the long term scrutiny of younger generations spoiled by cutting-edge technology.”
Progress to Date
There are signs that major radio groups are rallying to the CARB’s flag. Take CHUM Radio (34 stations), which is owned by CTVglobemedia: “We can confirm that we are interested in joining the CARB,” says CTVglobemedia spokesperson Andrea Goldstein.
A more guarded yet still positive sentiment has been issued by Corus Entertainment, which owns 49 stations. “We … can let you know that Corus is reviewing its options and CARB’s proposed agenda,” says Corus spokesperson Magda Krpan, “but that we do endorse, in principle, the concept of a radio industry voice on national issues.”
In the meantime, Elmer Hildebrand’s progress in creating the CARB has been slow but steady. The group is now legally incorporated, and has assumed responsibility for compiling the all-important Trans-Canada Radio Advertising by Market (TRAM), which tracks radio advertising spending in Canada. This data had been previously compiled by the Radio Marketing Bureau (RMB), but it too has recently closed.
“We are doing the work that has to be done, and moving slowly and methodically ahead to cover the CAB’s other critical functions for radio,” Hildebrand says. “But the CARB is not going to jump up phoenix-like from the CAB’s ashes. This rebirth will take time: I am prepared to work at it, no matter how long it takes.”
Still, there seems little doubt that the Canadian radio industry needs a champion like the CARB to work with government and advertisers. As David Bray observes, “without a voice, radio could face the very real prospect of a future in which it will cease to be heard.”
Congratulations to all the Canadian Country Music Award winners who were honoured at an awards event in Edmonton on September 11th.
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR Major Market: CISN-FM • Edmonton, AB
RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR Secondary Market: CFRM-FM • Manitoulin, ON
The Gala Dinner honours record companies, publishers, talent buyers and radio stations alongside awards for the roots artists, songwriters and top selling albums. Also recognized at the gala were members of the industry with long-term contributions to the growth and development of Canadian country music (Hall of Honour Builder) and outstanding contributions of time and energy in the support of humanitarian causes (Humanitarian Award). The full list can be found here
Greg Diamond – ByrnesMedia
When was the last time you heard something like this? “The talent pool in this country is more like a puddle!” If you haven’t, then book your room now for Canadian Music Week, next March. I guarantee you’ll hear words to that effect within an hour of arriving.
I can certainly understand people’s frustration when it comes to finding talent. It’s easily the most difficult thing I do. We shouldn’t be too upset, though, given that the pain is self-inflicted. At the start of the 90’s I was a young Program Director in a small market when budget realities forced everyone to start cutting staff, and with it the vehicle that had nurtured talent for years – the Overnight Show. Later would come Evenings, and then voice-tracked Middays, etc. Soon, the rush to reduce operating costs and embrace capital investment in technology worked its way from the small markets (necessary), to medium markets (opportunistic), and finally to large markets (greedy).
I broke into the business in the 80’s as an overnight jock (although I preferred to call it the Early-Early Morning Show) in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The hours were terrible, but I would never have traded the opportunity I had to cut my teeth and train in an environment that was tailor-made for experimenting, making mistakes, gaining confidence and simply getting better. I acquired experience from every break, including my very first one which was a case study for a finely edited, rehearsed and executed radio break… and if I had remembered to open the mic before doing it, someone might have actually heard it. Truth be told, the dead air was probably much more compelling than whatever it was I had planned to say. Regardless, lesson number 1 learned.
Being on the air is all about experience. You have to do it and do it and do it. There’s no other way to gain the confidence required to gradually relax and allow your personality to start shining through. Nowadays, though, we are forced to demand a new announcer be qualified for at the very least an evening slot, but more likely Middays or even Afternoons. These kids usually lack the seasoning and maturity for such shifts and are often unfairly shown the door.
The days of the farm system are long gone, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still help up and comers gain some valuable mic time. Put that intern that’s been walking around with nothing to do in the voice-track studio to VT your overnight show. If it isn’t up to snuff, you can have it redone or just keep the kid in there to practice until it is. Again, it’s the repetition that’s so important for younger jocks. I’ve known of a few situations with my client stations where this exercise has yielded their next full time announcer. Also, encourage them to read (out loud, of course) everything they can get their hands on when not doing their voice-tracking. I’m not a huge fan of sports analogies, but I’ve always thought of that as being the driving range and the actual on-air execution as the golf course.
The Summer Cruiser position is an ideal way for someone to get on-air experience. Just take the time to audition and find someone who really wants to be in radio. You should also produce an intro and extro to look after sponsor commitments, so the cruiser person can concentrate on the particulars of the cut-in.
Put the person in the Production Studio and have them make some commercials. Again, repetition may result in something that’s good enough to air, but if you don’t get there, at least have one of your more seasoned voices also read the spot to compare the finished product. That’s an ideal way for a newbie to learn.
Put them in the room with the jock live for a few days so they can see what actually goes on in the studio.
Help them listen to good jocks in other markets that are streaming. Have them record them and tell you, as the PD, what they liked and why, and what they didn’t like and why. This is another important part of the learning process.
Finally, grade all those resumes you receive and keep the best ones. Encourage those people through correspondence, and pass along some of them to friends in other markets who may be looking.
You have the means to help find the next great personality. It may not be the whole farm system of days gone by, but at least you’ll be doing your part to deepen the puddle.
Chris Byrnes – ByrnesMedia
I was recently in the same city at the same time as Daniel Anstandig, one of the founders of Listener Driven Radio (LDR), and sat down with him and Greg Hunt, LDR VP/Affiliate Relations. I asked them about this software–and how it is helping radio stations to build audiences and engage them.
How did Listener Driven Radio come about: The idea started three years ago, as I was on the road consulting radio stations. We felt that listeners were becoming disenfranchised with radio. I would stand in focus groups and hear listeners saying things like, “I don’t actually believe radio stations play the songs I request anymore,” or, “I don’t believe they used that survey I filled out because after I told them what I liked, nothing changed on that radio station.” Listeners told us very clearly that they felt radio stations were not interested in their opinions about what songs played.
At the same time, we heard from stations that the web was a priority and that most PD’s needed creative ways to drive visitors and page views on their websites. That was difficult to tie in contextually with the on-air programming, since there was no real time bridge between what was happening on the radio station and what was happening on the station’s website.
So Listener Driven Radio was born out of this listener research as well as conservations with Programmers, Managers and Station Owners around the world. Our goal was to provide a platform, and build something that would allow listeners to participate and give the radio station real time feedback on what should be happening on the air. We are allowing listeners to pull a chair up to the PD’s desk and have a say in what happens. We call this crowdcasting. Instead of the traditional model where we decide and the listener then makes a decision as to if they will listen or not, with LDR they get to have a real time say in the songs that your radio station will play.
What is Listener Driven Radio? Listener Driven Radio gives your audience real time control over your playlist (within programming parameters set by the PD), and gets listeners more engaged in your radio station. They can request songs, vote for songs to play more or less, get notifications by e-mail or IM when their favourite songs play, and vote for which song should play next on the air.
How does LDR integrate with a radio station’s systems: LDR integrates in real time with most of the popular automation systems, including Scott Studios (SS32), AudioVault, Nexgen, and WideOrbit, and Enco. We also integrate directly with all the most popular music software scheduling systems such as MusicMaster, RCS (including v12, v15, and gSelector), and Power Gold.
How does LDR help radio stations reach listeners on Social Network platforms: We believe that the big Social Networks, such as Facebook and Twitter are traffic generators for radio and can also provide significant cume growth for a radio station. Some time ago we did some research on how media websites, and specifically radio stations’ websites, get traffic. We found that for every one visitor that goes through a radio station website to Facebook or Twitter to talk about something they liked on that local media webpage, four of their friends would specifically check out that radio station website. That shows a high level of return for the radio station.
A huge part of LDR is the social networking integration. We tie directly into Facebook and Twitter and almost 300 other Social networks so we can move traffic from the radio station site into social networks and back from Social Networking into the station website. The goal here is to increase cume for the radio station and get the radio station noticed by people who may not be aware of or have not had any reason to check out that radio station for some time. When a friend recommends a product or service to you, you are more than 30 times more likely to try that product or service. So with LDR you have a tangible way for fans of your radio station to recommend your station to their friends via their social networks. And with LDR it is more than, “I like this radio station and I want my friends to know about it.” It is, “I just voted for this song on radio station XYZ and you should vote too, so we can hear this song.” This not only engages the listener, but it becomes a clear and simple way for them to visit the radio station website and get involved.
What evidence do you have to show that LDR is actually increasing cume and traffic to radio station website: When LDR was launched on Virgin Radio in France their website traffic increased by 300%. They had over 3 million hits to their websites in the first weekend and over 750,000 votes or song requests in the first 2 days that LDR was live. At Fresh FM in Washington DC they created “You Pick the Music Weekends” and the PPM numbers show the following:
Adults 18-49
Fresh 2.5 – 3.5 – 4.3 – 4.0 – 6.6 4th (260% increase!)
WASH 3.5 – 4.2 – 5.3 – 4.0 – 4.6 8th
WRQX 2.3 – 3.9 – 4.6 – 3.6 – 3.3 11th
Women 18-49
Fresh 3.0 – 2.7 – 4.5 – 4.7 – 8.1 3rd (270% increase!)
WASH 3.7 – 4.2 – 6.6 – 3.6 – 5.7 4th
WRQX 2.0 – 4.7 – 4.0 – 3.9 – 3.2 12th
Adults 25-54
Fresh 2.9 – 3.4 – 4.3 – 3.4 – 6.1 4th (210% increase!)
WASH 3.4 – 4.6 – 4.7 – 4.9 – 5.1 6th
WRQX 2.2 – 4.9 – 5.0 – 3.8 – 3.3 13th
Women 25-54
Fresh 2.9 – 4.5 – 3.8 – 7.3 4th (250%+ increase!)
WASH 4.7 – 6.6 – 4.8 – 6.1 5th
WRQX 6.4 – 5.1 – 4.2 – 3.3 12th
Social Media is a less expensive and obtrusive way to get the message about your radio station out there quickly. External advertising is becoming very expensive and with smaller staff in the typical radio station we just do not have time to be putting up banners, and most stations do not have the budget for billboards or television these days.
Other than on a widget on a radio station website where would I expect to find LDR: The radio station website is the primary tool, but we also provide a mobile WAP site that lives on any of the smart phones such as iPhone, Blackberry, or Android. We can also incorporate it into your existing smart phone app and we have an interface that is optimised for iPad which is proving very popular. In short, LDR is living where the listeners are and they are flocking to LDR and love the power it gives the listener to influence what happens on their favourite radio station.
Tell me how the ‘you pick the next song’ feature works on LDR: This is one of the most popular ways the audience interacts via LDR. At certain points in every hour, or for a complete hour, say at Noon or 10pm, a command is placed in the clock of your music scheduling system, and the music scheduler will schedule three songs into that position—or the Program Director decides which three songs he would like the audience to see and vote on. The audience votes via your website and the winning song is placed directly into your automation system and plays on the air without the announcer having to be in the room or do anything. We integrate directly with most automation systems plus we have a web based interface for those automation systems that we do not currently interface with.
What else can the listeners do via LDR: Listeners can request songs, rate songs (play a song more or less), receive notification via email or text message when their favourite songs are about to play on your station, they can listen to (stream) music on demand and rate that music. They can also upload their own locally produced songs and once vetted by the Program Director the audience can vote on which of the local songs should be added to the station’s playlist.
How is LDR helping stations in this new PPM world: Big PPM numbers come from a high number of tune-ins. LDR alerts listeners when their favourite songs are playing (creating more tune-in), and it keeps listeners longer by keeping them more engaged. That’s why stations like Fresh-FM in DC is seeing 200% and 300% growth in their key demos and they couldn’t be more pleased with the results. PPM is the new currency that radio stations in major markets are being measured by, and LDR is helping these stations get their unfair share of tuning. We will have new Canadian PPM data soon from two markets where LDR is quickly establishing itself. For example since early July, X92 in Calgary has been allowing listeners to pick the next song each hour. Over 15,000 used this feature on the first day and the numbers have grown steadily from there.
Is LDR only for the younger targeted radio stations: The client base for LDR in North America and around the world does not suggest that. In Europe, for example, we have more stations that target the 35+ demo than the younger demos. Virgin Radio France, Radio 105 as well as Radio Monte Carlo in Italy are both targeting 35+ audiences, and they have had tremendous experience using LDR to engage their listeners. In Italy the increase in the web traffic on all their websites has been staggering.
What’s the future for LDR: The business of LDR is based on “interactive programming tools.” We have a complete development team working on some additional enhancements to the LDR platform and software, including four en-gineers internally and partnerships with a number of broadcasters. We are currently working on some really exciting music programming tools which is going to make this product even better. Mike McVay, Lee Zapis, myself, and our development team are constantly coming up with ideas to make this product even better. The feedback we have received from the Byrnes Media team has been invaluable in building the platform to fit Canadian broadcasters and fit with CRTC/Cancon guidelines. Plus, we get lots of suggestions from our client base, which is growing each and every month. We are just about to launch LDR with one of the major radio groups in South Africa for example, plus we will be announcing some other major news in the next two months so watch our website for that news. (listenerdrivenradio.com)
We believe programmers of the future cannot continue to program radio stations the same way they did 20 years ago. We are in a world that demands an immediate real time feedback loop and LDR is providing that for radio stations. Everyone in our company comes from either programming, sales or broadcast management, so we are radio people who want to build particle usable tools to help radio stations generate larger audiences and larger revenues.
How does a radio station make money using LDR: LDR has banner ad opportunities on the bottom of the widget which is proving to be an easy sell. Plus when anyone drags the widget into their Facebook or other social network the banner ads go with them. Also, IM and e-mail notifications can be sponsored. We also have a Programming/Sales support person in our company who works with stations to develop sales tools for the program. Call us to find out more information on this.
Conclusion: Listener Driven Radio is getting a lot of attention around the world. For example, the trend setting website Springwise.com just came out with their list of five businesses that look to the crowds for content, including Listener Driven Radio. Here is what they said about LDR: “Listener Driven Radio makes a set of tools to help broadcasters become crowdcasters. Using LDR, a radio station’s listeners can provide real-time feedback about what they’re hearing—dynamically influencing the station’s playlists. They can use the station’s website, Twitter or mobile phones to rate songs and make requests, and this information is fed into a weighting system for the station’s music library.“
At ByrnesMedia we get lots of opportunities to become involved in products and services and, frankly, we turn most down because we do not feel they are right for our clients. Listener Driven Radio is one product we have taken on and we are proud to represent it in Canada. If you would like to talk to us about how LDR can help your radio station please call our office at 905-332-1331.
Sept 1-Dec 31 “Million Minute Family Challenge”: 10th Annual. An effort to bring family, friends, and neighbours together through board games. Goal is one million minutes of game playing. Add to the running total at www.millionminute.com. Call Beth Muehlenkamp from the Million Minute Family Challenge 1-800-524-4263, email bethm@patchproducts.com
Sept 1-30 “International People Skills Month”: Get a better job, improve office atmosphere and increase rapport with your family by refining your people skills. Call Karla Brandau at People Skills International 770-923-0883. email karla@karlaspeaks.com
Sept 1-30 “International Self Awareness Month”: Drawing attention to the value of knowing oneself. Call Jim Cathcart 800-222-4883, email info@cathcart.com, or www.cathcart.com.
Sept 1-30 “Library Card Sign-up Month”: To ensure every child obtains a library card and uses it. See the Canadian Library Assn. www.cla.ca.
Sept 1-30 “National Chicken Month”: Contact Bill Roenigk VP of Chicken Council 202-296-2622 or www.eatchicken.com. Email WRoenigk@chickenUSA.org. Good opportunity to play the Chicken Man serial, and generate some sales revenue. Episodes from Dick Orkin at http://www.sandyorkin-crs.com/cmtf.html.
Sept 1-30 “Pleasure Your Mate Month”: To promote love and show appreciation to your mate. Look for new ways to create happiness together. Call Donald Etkes 310-979-0245, email drdonetkes@aol.com.
Sept 1-30 “Shameless Promotion Month”: This is the month to go out and promote yourself or your product shamelessly [just in time for the BBM sweep] For outrageous tips email Marisa D’Vari expert@deg.com, or see www.buildingbuzz.com.
Sept 1-30 “Update Your Resume Month”: To encourage people to update and maintain their resumes. Call Laura DeCarlo, Professional Resume Writing and Research Assn. 888-867-7972, email info@careerdirectors.com. See www.careerdirectors.com.
Sept 1-30 “Women’s Friendship Month”: Every woman has special friends she can’t live without, those women to whom she tells everything, friends who will always listen and who know just what to say. Call Kappa Delta Sorority 901-748-1897, email dircomm@kappadelta.org.
Sept 1 “Emma M. Nutt Day”: To honour the first woman telephone operator who reportedly began her professional career at Boston, MA, Sept 1, 1878 and continued for 33 years.
Sept 1-8 “International Enthusiasm Week”: show genuine enthusiasm to every person, every project, every possibility that comes your way! Call Carolyn Stein at 877-771-0772, email carolyn@carolynstein.com, or go to www.carolynstein.com.
Sept 3 “Lazy Moms Day”: A day for all hardworking moms to do what they want to do. Moms work hard, they deserve a day to be lazy! Call Leslie Schulze 832-868-8444, email leslie@lazymoms.com
Sept 8-12 “The Masters”: Spruce Meadows, Calgary, AB. International show jumping competition. Call 403-974-4200, email information@sprucemeadows.com. See www.sprucemeadows.com.
Sept 5 “Be Late For Something Day”: Designed to create a release from the stresses and strains resulting from a consistent need to be on time. Call Les Waas the President of The Procrastinators’ Club of America 215-947-9020, email procrastinators_club_of_america@yahoo.com, web: www.geocities.com/procrastinators_club_of_america.
Sept 6 “Canada: Labour Day”: Annually, the first Monday in September.
Sept 8 “Rosh Hashanah Begins at Sundown”: Jewish New Year.
Sept 8 “International Literacy Day”: www.un.org
Sept 9 “Wonderful Weirdos Day”: These are the folks who remind us to think outside the box, to be a little more true to ourselves. Today’s the day to thank them. Give them a hug and say “I love you, you weirdo!” Call Thomas & Ruth Roy at 717-279-0184 or go to www.wellcat.com.
Sept 9-18 “Toronto International Film Festival”: Toronto, ON. 35th annual. A 10-day festival of contemporary Canadian and international cinema at various downtown theatres. Call 416-968-FILM, email tiffg@torfilmfest.ca, see www.tiffg.ca.
Sept 10 “Swap Ideas Day”: To encourage people to explore ways in which their ideas can be put to work for the benefit of humanity and to encourage development of incentives that will encourage use of creative imagination. Call Robert L. Birch 703-533-3668.
Sept 12 “National Grandparents’ Day”: To honour grandparents, to give them an opportunity to show love for their children’s children and to help children become aware of the strength, information and guidance older people can offer.
Sept 17 “Yom Kippur Begins at Sundown”: Jewish Day of Atonement.
Sept 18 “Big Whopper Liar’s Contest”: New Harmony, IN. Twenty “storytellers” compete to see who can tell the BIGGEST whopper. Call Jeff Fleming 618-395-8491.
Sept 18 “International Eat an Apple Day”: To promote the beginning of fall with its vivid colour and crispness, celebrate by eating an apple. See www.appleberrymarket.ca
Sept 19 “Talk Like A Pirate Day”: A day when people everywhere add a touch of larceny to their dialogue by talking like pirates. While it’s inherently a guy thing, women have been known to enjoy the day because they have to be addressed as “me beauty.” Arr! Call Mark Summers at 541-791-8281, email capnslappy@talklikeapirate.com, web: www.talklikeapirate.com.
Sept 19-25 “International Clean Hands Week”: Working together to improve health and save lives through clean hands. Clean Hands Coalition nbock@cleaning101.com
Sept 19-25 “Deaf Awareness Week”: Celebration to promote deaf culture, Sign Language and deaf heritage. Email Natl Assn of the Deaf at nadinfo@nad.org. See www.nad.org.
Sept 21 “National Woman Road Warrior Day”: A day of recognition for the nation’s traveling businesswomen. Call Kathleen Ameche 312-202-0034, email kameche@amechegroup.com. See www.womanroadwarrior.com.
Sept 21 “World Alzheimer’s Day”: Alzheimer’s associations around the world concentrate their efforts on raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. Call the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society 1-800-616-8816, email pr@alzheimer.ca.
Sept 21-23 “International Women’s Ecommerce Days”: To celebrate women around the globe and their economic impact and purchasing power. Call Heidi Richards 945-981-5515, email heidi@wecai.org. see www.wecai.org.
Sept 22 “Hobbit Day”: A day to celebrate the birthdays of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins and their creator J.R. Tolkien. For information email the American Tolkien Society at americantolkiensociety@yahoo.com.
Sept 23 “Innergize Day”: A day set aside for anyone who has said “I don’t have time to do the personal things I want to do for myself. Set the day aside for yourself to do anything you want to do. Call Michelle Porchia 203-924-1012, email michelle@innerdimensionsllc.com.
Sept 24 “Love Note Day”: Words of love – powerful and poignant – expressed on paper. Call Leona Hamel 450-375-9566, email Leona@romanceunlimited.com
Sept 25 “One Hit Wonder Day”: Anyone who ever had a hit single deserves eternal remembrance. Call Steven Rosen 513-321-1018, email srosenone@aol.com.
Sept 26-Oct 2 “Keep Kids Creative Week”: More than ever before, kids need encouragement to be imaginative. Set aside time this week to celebrate the inventive minds of kids. Call Bruce Van Patter 570-524-9770, see www.brucevanpatter.com/keepkidscreative.html.
Sept 27 “Ancestor Appreciation Day”: Learn about one’s family. Give away “family tree” software, or arrange a promotion with a photographer for discounts on family portraits.