Submitted by Bob Mancuso
AAF Omaha Membership Team Co-Chair
AAF Omaha Membership Team Chairs: Paula Steenson and Bob Mancuso
Membership Committee Members:- Kelly Sohns, Alec Rahe, Kathy McArdle, Vicki Voet, Brigid McCormick
With the news about COVID-19 – we are in unprecedented times and things are changing daily.
One thing you can be assured of is that AAF Omaha is operating and focused on how we can best support our members and the Omaha advertising community. We are continuing to develop relevant content and virtual programming to support our community during these uncertain times.
The AAF Omaha’s Breakfast and Tax Solutions event on Thursday, March 19th was quickly converted to a webinar for the safety of our attendees. The Tax Solutions program was free for our members, local agencies, and businesses. This event was well received by members and guests joining us online from the comfort of their office or home.
On April 1st AAF Omaha’s leaders submitted our AAF Club Achievement entries online. The AAF’s Club Achievement Competition recognizes local advertising clubs for their initiatives in advertising education, communications, club operations, diversity and multicultural initiatives, government relations, membership, programs, and public service. The competition honors the significant contributions of the AAF network of professional advertising clubs and encourages excellence in areas of club operations that contribute to the strength of the AAF’s member clubs.
Thank you to our board of directors, members, and teams for preparing our entries this year. AAF National has decided to present this year’s Salute to Achievers awards online June 9th. As we get more details for this virtual awards presentation, we will share the information with our members.
On April 16 we hosted a relevant webinar on “Crisis Communication During the Coronavirus”. David Campbell, President and COO of Chernoff Newman led the webinar and gave us great tips on crisis communication. Nearly 50 AAF Omaha members and guests attended this webinar. Campbell kept attendees engaged with his presentation based on not losing sight of what is important when faced with challenges during the past month.
Mark your calendar for future AAF Omaha online events:
May 14, AdReads –
AdReads from AAF Omaha is a virtual book club and happy hour, where we will talk about books about advertising via Zoom meetings. Our first book is an easy one – “Advertising for Skeptics” by Bob Hoffman, aka TheAdContrarian. In his introduction, he says, “I like to write short books” and this one comes in at only 149 pages – each one filled with fact-based opinions about the sorry state of advertising today. Bob describes himself as “someone to add controversy and piss people off” and is also regarded as one of the best ad bloggers out there. We promise not to shame you for holding different opinions. The fun and learning comes in hearing what other people’s points of view.
Get the book, mark your calendar, and join us on May 14th for AdReads.
More information and AdReads signup at https://aafomaha.wildapricot.org/event-3817167.
May 28, Webinar –
Free to members and the Omaha advertising community. More information and registration at https://aafomaha.wildapricot.org/event-3821666.
“The Viewing Vortex: What’s Swirling Out there to View and Buy in 2020” presented by Noor Naseer Senior Director of Media Innovations and Technology at Centro.
June 2 Webinar –
Free to members and the Omaha advertising community. More information and registration at https://aafomaha.wildapricot.org/event-3816115.
“Introducing Your Clients on Branded Podcasts” presented by Yeosh Bendayan founder and partner at Push Button Creative Audio.
AAF Omaha has a number of fun Special Events planned in coming months that have had to be put on hold for right now. Look for our annual AdWars trivia contest to be rescheduled for later in the summer or early in the fall along with AAF Omaha Bingo.
I would like to remind AAF Omaha members to watch for your membership renewal notice. Renew quickly so you don’t miss one minute of AAF Omaha programming and events at special member pricing! Also, when you attend future AAF Omaha events you may be the recipient of an awesome member perk from one of our great sponsors.
Please help us get the word out about the AAF Omaha organization to the marketing professionals you meet with and invite them to all future events. Tell them about the benefits AAF Omaha has to offer and that membership in the unifying voice of advertising helps everyone in the industry.
The AAF Omaha membership benefits include the following:
- Access to professional development events (luncheons and webinars) discussing the latest trends in our industry / profession from experts who will educate, motivate, and intrigue you.
- Access to discounts for club events, luncheons, and the American Advertising Awards. Plus you are eligible for special discounts on shipping, car rentals, insurance, and supplies and more.
- Fun networking events throughout the year including AdWars, Bowl-a-Rama, AdConnect, AAF Open Golf, and the Holiday Luncheon.
- Opportunity to share ideas, discuss marketing challenges, and brain storm ideas.
- Local AAF Omaha membership also gives you AAF National membership which plays a significant role in supporting charities, legislation, and issues that affect your business.
Please reach out to us and let us know how we can help. Everyone in our advertising community is important to us at AAF Omaha. We have opened more of our member benefits to everyone in our community offering free webinars and providing free resume postings.
We are in uncharted territory with the pandemic. Let us hope for the best as the world turns and be safe out there!
