Blog

Under the “Pink Tent”

As one of the newest members of the CAWOOD team, I often marvel at the unique ways this team gets our clients noticed.

Last night was a great example. On Thursday, Feb. 11, Oregon Imaging Centers pitched its pink tent at the 7th annual Affair of the Heart, held at the Lane Events Center in Eugene. To promote Oregon Imaging Centers’ slogan “Every picture tells a story” and raise awareness about the importance of regular mammograms for women, we worked with Oregon Imaging Centers to install a fully branded, pink, arcade-style photo booth.

As you might imagine, the photo booth was a huge hit. What seemed like an endless line of women (and a few men) waited their turn for the photo booth. Behind the curtain, people giggled and posed for silly pictures with their sisters, mothers and girlfriends.

The tent and booth was clearly one of the busiest stops of the night. It was a great opportunity for representatives from Oregon Imaging Centers and its event partner, Komen Oregon, to share life-saving information about breast cancer awareness and the importance of frequent mammograms.

In addition, attendees learned about the inaugural Komen Race for the Cure coming to Eugene on Oct. 10, 2010. Many purchased “Make time for the girls” T-shirts and pink Komen bracelets, with the sales supporting the work of Komen Oregon in providing free and low-cost screening services to women throughout the region.

By closing time, nearly 500 attendees had climbed into the photo booth to snap a memento of the event and learned more about state-of-the-art imaging services available at Oregon Imaging Centers.

I’m proud that in addition to coming up with a fun idea that captured everyone’s attention, we were able to keep attendees hanging out at our booth long enough to make a real connection – and maybe even save a life.

Written by Jodie Rogers filed under: Blog - Work Feb 12 2010

Print is alive and well

There I am, sitting in anxious anticipation as I wait my turn at the dentist’s office. This is one of those cozy, make-you-feel-right-at-home lobbies. Cushy chairs, soothing colors, and an aquarium filled with tropical fish – all intended to put me at ease.

But I can see past all that. I’ve got a broken tooth way in the back, and I know full well what’s coming – a shot, the dreaded dental dam and several hours of drooling as the Novocain lingers. Nothing short of a couple stiff drinks could make me feel good about being here.

Except, what’s that over there? A new issue of Cook’s Illustrated AND Martha Stewart Living? As I flip through the pages, my stress begins to melt away.

For me, magazines have always been my “great escape.” While living in the Midwest during college, I subscribed to Backpacker and Outside magazines, which allowed me to leave the endless cornfields of Nebraska and travel to far-flung, warm-weather places and explore mountain peaks and remote wilderness areas.

Now a busy working mom, my “great escapes” often happen as I sit perched on a small step stool while my son splashes about during bath time.

My interests may have changed over the years – culinary and parenting magazines now take the place of those outdoorsy magazines because I’m now surrounded by the great outdoors – but my love of the medium has never waned. Beautiful photos. Slick, sleek pages. Short, entertaining, info-packed stories. Longer in-depth pieces for when I need an extended vacation from the everyday grind.

Don’t get me wrong – I love books and newspapers, but my true love lies with magazines. It always has. There’s just something wonderful about sitting, relaxing and physically turning the pages anywhere, anytime. (I wouldn’t dare take a computer or a Kindle into the bathroom at bath time!)

In this era of media downsizing, I am deeply saddened whenever I learn about the death of a magazine. So, when Condé Nast announced the end of Gourmet magazine, I literally felt as though I’d been kicked in the stomach, and I truly mourned the loss. For days afterward, I whispered to everyone I met, “Did you hear?”

So when I hear people say, “print is dead,” I strongly beg to differ. For me, print is very much alive and well. And it will be a sad, sad day if it ever goes away. One thing is for sure – visiting the dentist would certainly be a much more painful experience.

Jeneca, we’re ready for you…

Written by Jeneca Jones filed under: Blog - Life Feb 02 2010

The power of strangers

It’s amazing when someone you don’t even know touches your life. It happened to me this week when I went out for pizza with my family.

On Monday night, we went to Papa’s Pizza in Springfield for dinner, and the parlor was holding a fundraiser, as they do quite often. Fifty percent of the food sales would be given to a local woman, Angie, who is undergoing treatment for Leukemia. Angie has a daughter who happens to be in my oldest son’s fourth grade class at Thurston Elementary School.

Angie is a single mother whom I’ve never met. Still, I can’t imagine her struggles. She doesn’t have any family living in the local area, and she’s unable to work. While she’s undergoing treatment in Seattle, her daughter has been staying with another Springfield family while attending school. This arrangement could go on for several months depending on Angie’s treatment.

When we arrived at Papa’s Pizza, a woman saw our flier for the fundraiser and thanked us for being there. We began talking with her and it turns out she is a friend of Angie’s who arranged the event. She shared with us more details about her friend and her daughter’s situation and how difficult it has been for the two to be apart and how the bills are stacking up.

The whole conversation left me a little choked up and it reminded me how precious life is. It’s funny, I went there thinking I was giving something by buying a pizza. As it turns out, Angie gave something to me.

Written by Mike McGillivray filed under: Blog - Life Jan 22 2010