Our Blog Has Moved

Our blog has moved to a new location you can find it at http://blog.tafurocommunications.com/.

Check out the new Tafuro Communications website.

See you there!

Catch Up, Up Date

I have not blogged or sent an email update since before I left for Tallahassee and cannot believe it has been over two full months. Thank you to those of you who let me know my writing has been missed. It has been a whirlwind of a year so far.

On to the updates:

This week’s big event!

The biggest event in Tampa Bay this week, at least in my humble opinion is Ad 2 Tampa Bay's 29th Annual Merchandise & Media Auction which this year has been moved to eBay and is online only. This has opened it up to many new bidders and made for an exciting online war for the donated media.

The auction closes tomorrow (Friday 5/23) around 2 p.m. so go check it out and spend some money on some great advertising deals!

Click here: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZad2tampabay

My Voice and the Infinite Power of One

If you click the link here and listen to the PSA you should notice that the lead voice/line “What if you could be more powerful” is none other than yours truly.

I was asked by my long time friend Kate Whatley, Art Director at Peak Biety and Incoming Ad 2 Tampa Bay President to do some voice trials for a PSA. They liked my voice enough to use it twice in this spot and also in the 15 and 30 second versions.

The work was pro bono of course but only took about 15 minutes one afternoon. The campaign is national so it will be heard all over the country.

I want to thank Kate and also Glen Peak for the awesome opportunity.

Harping on an issue, voter apathy

I read this Tampa Tribune article in April and it really illustrated the utterly depressing turn out numbers in Pasco County’s various municipal elections.

When I have more time I want to go into more details on this but as noted above I like to harp on this issue.

When will not voting become political incorrect?

American Advertising Federation & National Ad 2

I am off to Atlanta June 7th through 10th for the AAF National Conference, advertising expo and of course the National ADDY Award Show.

We will be holding the National Ad 2 Public Service Competition on Monday June 9th from 2 to 6 p.m. during the conference. We will have nine Ad 2 chapters competing.

Click here for a list of clubs and the charities they helped this year.

Tampa Bay Advertising Federation

I have signed on to be the local TBAF legislative chair again this coming year and will be looking forward to working with those of you in our industry and market on various legislative issues affecting our business.

Raising Citizens' Income

If you watch enough city, county and state meetings you start to hear a term used over and over. The term is revenue and it is used by elected and oppointed officials alike as well as numerous government employees.

The problem I have with that is unlike a private sector business, it is not "revenue" in the sence some of our business minded officals would like to think.

The that term should be removed from government completely. It is “citizens’ income” and should be stated that way each time it is used so people our government learns to respect where the money comes from.

The proper way to say it would then be, "we need to raise/aquire more 'citizens’ income' to help offset shortfalls through addional user fees".

The Rally in Tally & Public Service Ad Campaigns

American Advertising Federation – Fourth District Legislative Rally

This week Tampa Bay Advertising Federation and Ad 2 Tampa Bay members (myself included) will head to Tallahassee to join with the other 20+ AAF chapters around the state to visit our local state legislators for the Rally in Tally.

Each year we make this visit on behalf of the advertising industry to talk with our elected officials about the various pro-bono public service advertising initiatives we take on each year.

Each year countless hours and immeasurable creativity is donated to the promotion of non profits around the state by individuals and advertising agencies.

These pro bono campaigns allow non profits to reach more people and assist in raising more private dollars for support.Ad 2 Tampa Bay this year is working with Wheels of Success and the TBAF is working with Hillsborough County’s Cyber Safe initiative.

Pirates... of Silicon Valley

Found the Pirates of Silicon Valley on Google Video and wanted to share it. Its the whole movie in one shot if you want to check it out.


http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1552555273778978142

Microsoft and Crispin... this ought to be fun

As this headline, In an Effort to Get 'Cool,' Microsoft Finally Calls in Crispin, came across my screen I had to saw "wow" as the Window's Vista campaign had previously exclaimed. Now that the Sprint & Goodby saga has ended, this might be a good relationship to watch.

Don't get me wrong unlike Burger King, Miller Lite and Sprint, I actually really like Microsoft and the software that they have produced. Bill Gates, love him of hate him is a master mind to be respected.

That said... Apple is so much cooler, right? Steve Jobs vs. Bill Gates? You can watch a head to head panel discussion here on YouTube and decide for youself.

Seriously though, I really want to see what comes of this relationship. I think if Microsoft continues to work on innovating and allows Crispin to be creative that something really cool and valuable just might be delivered.

AdCast in Febuary with Media Talk

Co-hosting AdCast this month with Media Talk I was able to see myself on the big screen of the Tampa Theatre during the kick of of the Gasparilla Film Festival. If you have not seen Ad 2 Tampa Bay's monthly web cast you can always check out the archives online at YouTube.

I have had the opportunity to play co-host the last two months with Ad 2 Tampa Bay board member Cris Vatalaro and Tampa Bay Film Commission Manager Lindsey Norris.

It was a great opportunity and I look forward to working with them on future projects.