Bike to Work Week – June 9-15!

Eire will be celebrating Chicago’s annual Bike to Work Week by participating in Active Transportation Alliance’s Bike Commuter Challenge. This will be the 5th year we have participated. Oh wait we didn’t participate last year because I was on maternity leave and no one covered for me. I’m back! So let’s get excited and bike to work!

We challenge you to compete too.
The Bike Commuter Challenge is the best way to celebrate Chicago Bike to Work Week, June 9–15, 2012.

Just sign up your company and be a Team Leader or join an existing team and start logging your trips during Chicago Bike to Work Week. Any bike trip to work counts – even partway. You can bike to the train, bus, or carpool location and lock up there.

It’s easy, free, and most of all, fun! There is even help you get ready for the Challenge with tips and tricks on how to ride to work.

The Bike Commuter Challenge is brought to you by the Active Transportation Alliance. Active Trans is a non-profit advocacy organization that works throughout Chicagoland to improve conditions for bicycling, walking and transit while engaging people in healthy and active ways to get around.

All in a day...

Well, I attended a Webinar yesterday and it was somewhat interesting. The webinar, hosted by INEXPOLIVE, featured a guest speaker (Carman Tarren) who talked about Innovative Techniques for Multi Taskers. The subject seemed perfect for me. After all I consider myself an exceptional Multi Tasker, have been my whole life. Although some people have suggested I have Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. I even took a 300 question test for it and I did not qualify (I think because I actually finished the test).

When I started the webinar I expected it to be live, but a still picture of the speaker came up on the screen. She was quite attractive and I wondered if this was planned. I thought INEXPOLIVE meant LIVE? After getting used to seeing Carman’s face (and realizing I’d just be staring at this for an hour), I noticed that people were chatting and answering questions on another screen. This was very distracting, but then again it was a seminar on MULTI TASKING. Maybe just like not being diagnosed with ADD I was not as proficient at Multi Tasking as I originally thought?

About 10 minutes into the presentation, while looking at Carman and reading the comments on the small screen, I decided to take some notes myself. Some of the more revealing stats that the lovely Carmen shared were:

• 294 Billion emails are sent a day
• 2 million blog posts are posted a day
• 35 million apps are opened a day
• 250 million photos are downloaded a day
• 200 million minutes a day are spent on Angry Birds
• The one that really blew me a way was…
• The average length of time that a person stays on a website is 8 seconds…

Sounds to me like all these Multi Taskers are wasting a lot of time not doing much.

All in a day…

The Eire St. Patrick's Day Social

Last week was Eire’s 25th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Social.

It’s hard to believe it’s been 25 years since Eire hosted its first party in their first year of business. This party has become an Eire tradition. Not only is it a celebration of Eire’s Irish roots, more importantly, it’s a reminder to our clients, vendors and associates that we appreciate everything they’ve done throughout the year to contribute to Eire’s success. It’s also a great opportunity to see a friendly face that you haven’t seen in a while or finally meet that person you’ve only talked to on the phone or communicated with through email.

So whether you’ve made it to one of our parties or haven’t had the chance, Eire would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to each and every one of you. And be sure to join us next year. You won’t be disappointed.

“St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic.”  – Adrienne Cook

Poetry Foundation in River North.

There have been many changes in our River North neighborhood over the past six years, condo developments, new restaurants (one which hosted a dinner for none other than President Obama), and we finally got a Walgreens just around the corner. Yet the most remarkable addition has been the Poetry Foundation down the street at 61 W. Superior. 

The history of how the building came to life is classic story book stuff. In 2002 Ruth Lilly, granddaughter of pharmaceutical czar Eli Lilly, left an endowment of stock worth $100 million to the Poetry Foundation, the publisher of Poetry Magazine. In her youth Ms. Lilly, an aspiring poet, sent numerous poems to the magazine, all were rejected.  She was touched by the spirit of the rejection letters which urged her to continue her writing, and with that, decided to bequeath the gift (kind of puts failure in whole different light).

At the time, Poetry Mag had a staff of four, no permanent home, and a meager subscriber base. In August 2011, the foundation moved into its’ new building designed by John Ronan Architects. You must walk past, a view from a cab or website visit does not invoke the serenity felt from the garden that is described in PF’s brochure as “conceived of as an urban sanctuary, a space that could mediate between the street and the building, blurring the distinction between public and private”. It invites you to enter and take a look, it invites you to think about poetry. So I finally checked it out. The first floor is open to the public, offering exhibit space, theatre for open readings, a 30,000 volume library and a library listening room.

Poetry Magazine celebrates its’ 100th anniversary in 2012.  I will be there.

Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” / Let us go and make our visit. – T.S. Eliot

Photos also courtesy of Marcia!

Decisions, decisions...

Every year about this time I start to review website after website about various conferences to attend.  The problem is that the conferences that are most relevant to our clients at Eire, and my particular areas of concentration all occur at just about the same time in September and October.  Deciding which conference to attend can be difficult.  After all, when you read their promotional websites and excerpts from the speakers, all the events sound worthwhile.  Of course, there is the occasional “panel” that doesn’t quite seem to fit when you put all the members together.  But overall, the exhibitors, speakers and topics are intriguing.  And, when I attend a conference and network with current clients, vendors and prospective clients – it’s energizing.

Then, there is the cost of the conference to consider and just how do you attach value or your return on investment to what you spend.  The cost for the event can be as low as $500 and upwards of $2,000, plus the lost time out of the office working for current clients and travel expenses.  When I started in marketing, there were only two or three conventions to attend in direct marketing, and each year you went where your clients were going.  We would go to the DMA for up to 4-5 days and enjoy client service, meeting new vendors and prospects, socializing and learning through workshops and the exhibit hall.  Now, there are specialized conferences for just about every aspect of marketing, and they are often times more enticing than the larger format “general” sessions.   If I don’t attend, I could be missing out…by the next time I write, I will report in on my decision and if I received value for my time and financial investment.  I’m going to take another look now.

Payments Market

Direct Marketing Association

Retail Ramp

NACS

Marcia does another Triathlon!

The morning of the Trek Sprint Triathlon couldn’t have been more beautiful, sun glistening off the lake, corn fields shimmering emerald green in the gentle breeze, and not a cloud to be seen all the way to Minnesota.  I felt great, relaxed and ready to knock out a personal best.  I was well on my way, knocking 3 minutes off my previous swim times (Thank you Crossfit!) and killing the bike (finished in the top 30%).  Then it happened, THE RUN, I fell apart.  Quads quivered, bunions bulged, calves collapsed.  My overall time was just 2 seconds faster than last year.  But despite that, I had a great time and will be back in July 2012.

“The only easy day was yesterday”  US Navy Seals

Chicago Farmer's Markets

Summer in Chicago is amazing. Sure, it can be crazy-hot and swamp-humid, but it’s my favorite season, hands-down. One of my favorite things of summer is the reappearance of farmers markets. Sure they have flowers, veggies, and fruit… but my neighborhood market also has crepes, fresh bread, and a truck called, “Everything’s Better with Bacon.”

There are more than 70 vendors that come out every day of the week throughout the city. If you haven’t been to a market yet, you should go! The people-watching is pretty amazing, and you can find some pretty fantastic, super-fresh produce. As a bonus, you’re supporting local farmers and businesses. I think this weekend I’ll check out the farmers market and look for some strawberries and asparagus… and maybe a crepe!

For more information about Farmer's Markets in Chicago.
To find a Farmer's Market near you, in the city or suburbs, click here.

Image from Free Things To Do In Chicago (Green City Market).

"Believe me, the reward is not so great without the struggle"*

My futile attempt at running began seven years ago when I signed up for a charity 5k in my town. I lasted about 3 blocks.  I hated it. Bound and determined to break the mental roadblock, I signed up again. I lasted about 3 blocks. I hated it. I hit the turning point in year three by running about half a mile. I was ecstatic. I hated it. The T-shirts began to pile up and I still was crossing the finish line at a fast paced walk. I finally figured out that what was beating me was the anticipation. By the time the gun went off I was so afraid of not finishing I wasn’t able to even start. I needed to relax, to realize that just maybe I would have a bit of fun. And slowly, very slowly, I improved. Music helped.  This year I completed my first 10k, ran the whole course, and crossed the finish line in true Olympic arm raised triumph. And I liked it.  

I will be participating in the TREK Sprint Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. Check back in mid July to see how I finished. Your prayers are welcomed.

Swimming.  I hate it.

*Wilma Rudolph, Olympic Gold-medal Runner.

Running for a Cause

Last weekend Marcia and Hillary both ran in the American Brain Tumor Association's "Path to Progress" 5k event. Despite less-than-optimal weather conditions, they had a good time and were proud to participate and show support for friends and their family members. Path to Progress is an annual spring event that continues to grow every year, and takes runners and walkers up and down the Chicago lakefront. It's a great way to get out and see the city while making a contribution to a worthy cause – so consider joining them next year!