In This Issue: Club News | AAF News | Upcoming Events | Member Benefits

Welcome to the new Interact!

As you may have heard, AAF's Web site, www.aaf.org, recently underwent an extensive makeover. To complement the site changes, we've also overhauled Interact, making it more informative and easier to read. Below you will find club-specific news, information regarding other AAF events and news and information on a discount or benefit that is only available to AAF members. Additionally, we've added a "Club Spotlight" section, in which we highlight one of our member clubs in order to keep everyone up to date on individual club events, milestones, news and so forth. We hope you enjoy the new Interact.

Club News

AAF Name Changes

At this year's conference, new AAF Chairman Murray Gaylord, AAF President and CEO Wally Snyder and AAF Executive Vice President of Club Services Joanne Schecter spoke to club leaders regarding the AAF brand, suggesting that they consider changing their club names to better identify with the AAF national brand. Many clubs and federations have adapted or are in the process of adapting this idea within their own chapter. Below is a list of those who have.

ADDY Awards

With over 60,000 entries annually, the ADDY^® Awards are the world's largest and arguably toughest advertising competition. The ADDY® Awards represent the true spirit of creative excellence by recognizing all forms of advertising from media of all types, creative by all sizes and entrants of all levels from anywhere in the world. To help facilitate the ADDY Awards process, The ADDY online entry system is "live" and ready for use by your ad club for its 2007–2008 ADDY competition. The software is designed to streamline the entry process as well as the management of the judging.

Student ADDY Awards

The AAF Student ADDY Awards Competition is a unique national awards program designed specially for college students. Work entered at your local level can move up to the regional and national judging, just like the work entered by professionals across the country. For more information on the Student ADDY Awards and how to win $1,000 for the National Best of Show, please visit www.studentaddys.com.

For more information on the ADDY Awards, please visit www.addycompetition.com.

Club Spotlight: AAF – Cleveland

The American Advertising Federation – Cleveland recently inducted Mark Szczepanik, the director of brand voice at Liggett Stashower, as president for the 2007-08 year. At 30, he is the youngest president in the organization's 106-year history. (He will also be the only president to get married while in office!) One of Mark's goals as he takes the reigns of this Division 1 Club of the Year is to pull off a "Battle of the Agency Bands" held in conjunction with the annual Media/Lifestyle Auction to help boost attendance and buying power at the auction.

AAF News

New Staff

Anna Grbenick, Manager – Public Affairs, agrbenick@aaf.org. Anna joined AAF in May 2007 as manager of public affairs. Anna worked previously as manager of external communications with the American Frozen Food Institute in McLean, Va. Anna holds a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa. She is responsible for raising the visibility and stature of the American Advertising Federation (AAF) and our signature programs and services.

Corrine Soltis, Events Assistant, csoltis@aaf.org. Corrine supports the events department in the planning and coordination of the Advertising Hall of Fame, the Advertising Hall of Achievement, the ADDY Awards and annual conference. Corrine recently graduated from Villanova University where she received her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a major in marketing.

New AAF Chairman

The American Advertising Federation (AAF) has elected advertising industry executive Murray Gaylord, vice president, marketing, NYTimes.com, as AAF chairman of the board of directors. Gaylord succeeds Andy Jung, senior director of advertising & media services, Kellogg Company. Frank Cooper III, Pepsi-Cola North America, will serve as AAF vice chairman. The announcement was made at the AAF National Conference 2007 in Louisville, Ky.

Gaylord's projected goals for his two-year term as chairman include a Web-based "AAF University," expanding AAF membership and strengthening the ADDY brand. The purpose of "AAF University" would be to provide a series of webcasts to inform and educate AAF members in all aspects of advertising, media marketing and events; a curriculum would be developed with regularly scheduled presentations on a wide variety of topics.

Gaylord would also like to see AAF membership doubled by the year 2010. Based on research presented earlier this year, there are approximately 458,000 individuals working in the advertising industry. Ten percent of these individuals are represented in AAF membership. Gaylord stated, "As the unifying voice for advertising with members from agencies, media and advertisers, I believe we can achieve this goal."

Gaylord also stressed the importance of strengthening the ADDY® brand and increasing the number of entries annually.

Murray Gaylord is the second member of The Times Company to chair the AAF; Janet Robinson, president and CEO of The Times Company, served in the role from 2004 to 2005.

Upcoming AAF Events

2007 AAF/AOL Student Conference

The National Student Conference is designed to provide students with the training and education necessary to enter into today's advertising industry. This two-day event includes panel discussions on transitioning into the advertising work force, renowned speakers and workshops on topics such as interviewing, résumé writing and portfolio development.

The 2007 Student Conference is sponsored by AOL and will be held October 18-19 at AOL Headquarters in Dulles, Va. Visit www.aaf.org/studentconference for updates on the program schedule, speakers, shuttle bus schedule, hotels and information on how to register.

For questions regarding the Student Conference, please contact Tricia McWilliams Ward at tward@aaf.org.

2008 Mosaic Career Fairs

The Mosaic Career Fairs provide students with the perfect venue for networking with recruiters and learning about careers in advertising, marketing, media and communications through professional development seminars, panel discussions with top industry executives and one-on-one résumé reviews and portfolio critiques. The following is a list of confirmed sponsors, dates and locations for 2008 (to date):
— Leo Burnett Mosaic Career Fair: February 21, Chicago, Ill.
— The Walt Disney Company Mosaic Career Fair: February 29, Anaheim, Calif.
— USA TODAY Mosaic Career Fair: March 6, USA TODAY Headquarters, McLean, Va.

Be sure to keep checking the Mosaic Career Fairs Web site at www.aaf.org/mosaicfair for updates on dates, locations, participating recruiters, schedules and registration.

For questions regarding the Mosaic Career Fairs, please contact Tricia McWilliams Ward at tward@aaf.org.

Member Benefits

The New York Times

Now the convenience of The New York Times delivery is available to AAF members at a special discount! Save 25 percent on the cost of home (or office) delivery for a full year. Plus, when you subscribe, you'll also get Times Reader, the digital newspaper that reads like the real thing. To take advantage of this special offer, call (800) 753-7795 between 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday to Friday and mention the code T77AA1.

AAF Job Bank

Searching for a new job? The AAF Job Bank, part of the Marketing Career Network, is a great resource for finding that perfject job in advertising or marketing. Thousands of top employers in the industry use the Marketing Career Network to find candidates. It's free to post your résumé or apply for a job. Start your search today! Visit www.aaf.org/jobs!

The club services department of the American Advertising Federation is here to assist you with leadership and club management questions, securing resources and information on AAF programs. Please call (800) 999-2231 or e-mail the following individuals:

Joanne Schecter, EVP – club services, jschecter@aaf.org
Jeremy Hoders, director – club services, jhoders@aaf.org
Caitlin Tucker, coordinator – club services, ctucker@aaf.org
Lucille Hill, database coordinator, lhill@aaf.org

American Advertising Federation
1101 Vermont Avenue NW, Suite 500 | Washington, DC 20005
(202) 898-0089 | Fax: (202) 898-0159 | www.aaf.org