Every day the media report on more corporate misdoings — mismanagement, unscrupulous stock manipulations, outright lying, obscene financial scandals and more. It makes me wonder what kind of environment these people grew up in. Even the wonder woman of domesticity is in deep trouble. What kind of men and women are they who think they are beyond the law, beyond accountability, beyond scrutiny? We have no answer.
Years ago great philosophers began debating whether humankind was basically good or basically bad. This question remains unanswerable today, too.

But one thing I have observed as this first year of my tenure ends and the second begins is that the people who volunteer and subsequently drive the activities of the New Jersey Advertising Club are good. Not only that, they’re becoming so involved that the positive changes they’re recommending are being implemented and, yes, working. They’re calling meetings and enjoying the encounters. They’re planning events and getting great turnouts. The enthusiasm they generate is resulting in new members. People we haven’t heard from in ages are vowing to “come to the next happening.”

Efficient is the singular word for Pat Tesman’s and Karen DeLuca’s co-chairing of Career Day 2002. With a committee of at least 15 Montclair State University marketing students, the program is set.
Keynote speakers —
Ron Gianettino and George Meredith are in place. Motivational speaker Rob Gilbert returns in a reprise of last year. For a middle-of-the-summer program in the middle of downtown Newark, in the middle of a sustained heatwave, the response to the TriFesta Networking Business Card Exchange at NJN Newark was phenomenal. Kudos to Michael Schumacher, John Howlett and Jeff Friedman (NJN’s Newark station manager).

Smart Talk programs, under the diligence and perserverence of Gary Denburg, scheduled for October 9 and November 13 will feature Internet advertising and branding, respectively, while plans are in the works for a holiday bash.

Although Hall of Fame 2003 isn’t until spring, we have found a place for our homeless trophy — once again we are grateful to MSU’s marketing department for its generosity. MSU and the marketing department have also volunteered to conduct a survey to determine exactly what people want in an association dealing with advertising and marketing.

And in just one year under Deirdre Breakenridge’s guidance, our Website is viable, vital and used.
So in the first year of the club’s newest leadership, dedicated people created a dramatic change.
And it was good.
--Suzanne Poor