We had planned for weeks to have a team celebration. Why celebrate? There are so many good reasons for Archer to celebrate. Here’s three:

• New people joined Archer in the past several months, and it was a good way to have a partial “team day”.
• The success of the Cornhill Arts Festival was the culmination of months of work for everyone, particularly Elaine and Ty.
• It’s summer.  (if you live in Rochester you have to celebrate summer!)

So we made our plan- spent the afternoon on the Mary Jemison, with a guided tour of the Genesee River and ErieCanal. We cleared the calendar for July 29^th, and everyone was looking forward to it… until the 29^thgreeted us with grey skies, rain, and cool temps; not the kind of day you want to spend on a boat, right?  We talked about other team day activities, but in the end, we all really wanted to go on the boat ride. The weather broke a little, and we took a chance! Thankfully, the rain held out for all but a few minutes of our ride, and we had a great afternoon.  Just look at the smiles! Clearly the Archer team is more than just co-workers. We’re friends,who laugh together and smile a lot.  It’s an important part of our company culture- it’s part of what makes us unique.  Our team is young and “less young”, humorous, quick-witted and sometimes sassy—in other words—FUN.  It’s one of the things I like best about my job. As the weather gets colder and the days get shorter, I’ll look back on our boat trip and smile. I didn’t need the sun and blue skies to make the day memorable, just some great smiles.

The day greeted me with Elaine’s announcement that we were to help out in a 5K race put on by the Brighton Chamber of Commerce, with the sponsorship of Fleet Feet. A quick stop for a cup of coffee, an offer to help, the donning of highlighter-colored t-shirts and flag in hand, we walked through an awakening and well-tended Brighton neighborhood to our post.

Positioning ourselves where all runners must pass, our job is simple. We only need to confirm that the runners continue straight on, ignoring the obvious fact that the finish line is much closer if they turn left.

A box of crayons had been released, and now flows down Bonnie Brae. The procession begins thin and speedy, with a clear, forthright leader and gaps between each runner. The colors thicken through the middle and effervesce into a multitude of characters. The flow sputters at times, and ultimately thins down to the last determined spirit who ambles by heroically with the aid of walking sticks.

Elaine cheers loudly. She has had a large coffee, and several runners lament at not having had as good an energy boost as she so obviously has had. I know differently. Elaine is stoked by people, and particularly by people working together to make something happen, to make a difference, or simply to share. She encourages each passer with increasing bravado.

I think about the cheer, the generations, the good will, and the sweet, intense pride of the people involved in this one event. It is easy to extend that thought and  imagine this same spirit throughout our region and country. Truly, the Fourth of July, expands each year into a menagerie of hues, defying and yet, paying homage to the traditional red, white and blue.

Have you ever watched a black belt Karate expert blast his bare hand through a stack of bricks? It is a powerful demonstration of focus and commitment.

Austrian pines command the lilac-filled hilltop in Highland Park.

I remember people who could perform such acts remarking that it is not difficult—all you need to do is concentrate on a point beyond the stacked barriers. But I don’t buy that.  I think it requires confidence, commitment and good technique.

Focusing beyond the target with commitment has always struck me as special and worth building upon. People are noteworthy when they demonstrate this combination. Heroic figures resonate in our hearts when their break-through accomplishments become their historic legacy.

My home city, Rochester, New York has been blessed with such heroes. George Eastman, Susan B. Anthony and Frederic Douglas all quickly come to mind, and there are many others. Two of my favorites were Frederick Law Olmstead and Dr. John R. Williams. Each of them was dedicated to our natural surroundings. Olmstead designed Highland and Seneca Parks and Williams sought out and planted the great variety of magnificent trees at Oak Hill Country Club. Both focused upon a world beyond their own days to create ongoing majesty for people to enjoy.

I used to find it a bit unsettling that people would spend lifetimes devoted to causes that would only be realized after their deaths. Now I do not. Maturation, parenting, as well as working and sharing with others altered my perspective. Today I am devoting more and more energy to building little legacies, and I suppose that, while recognition and kudos are impressive stacks to assemble, the internal warmth that accompanies legacy-focused action is simply more fulfilling.

At Archer Communications, it is more rewarding for us to help companies realize ways to perpetually grow than it is to design a single step in the process.  But, even as a step in the process, we seek to comprehend a company’s overall strategy so that our work is synergistic with it.

We want each client to build its own legacy, no matter how personal or how ambitious. Our process is intentionally flexible and customizable to build each marketing communications strategy beyond short-term success and to deliver sustainable gratification. By aligning ourselves with a client’s purpose, we accentuate a deeper legacy for them, and hopefully contribute in a small way to the betterment of our world.

Jeff Lennox

Archer is pleased to announce that this year’s 2nd Annual Emerging Artists Expo at the 42nd Annual Corn Hill Arts Festival was a tremendous success! As the Expo’s sponsor, we strove to create an inviting, interactive, and fun atmosphere at the main entrance to the Expo. If you stopped by to visit the A-Team, you may have walked the red carpet, posed for paparazzi pictures, and created artwork to contribute to the gallery displayed in the Archer tent.

“Everyone at Archer is extremely pleased with how the weekend went. We really tried to make the Expo the highlight of the Festival. I feel that people really enjoyed the activities we offered at the entrance of the Expo and interacting with fresh, young, Rochester-based talent,” said Jeff Lennox, President of Archer Communications.

Jeff continues, “For most of these artists, the Expo was their public debut. It was a chance for them to sell and display their artwork to a large and diverse audience. I am pleased that Archer could partake in supporting these passionate and brilliant artists.”

Be sure to check back to the Emerging Artists Expo page (www.archercom.com/emerging-artists) throughout the upcoming weeks! We will be updating the site with red carpet pictures, video interviews with the artists, and more!

Archer Communications would also like to congratulate Heather Swenson on winning 1^st place for the Emerging Artists Expo category. As promised, Ms. Swenson will be presented with a customized website to showcase her portfolio of work throughout the year. “I am grateful to Archer Communications for providing me with such a generous gift. This will really help me gain exposure to the public and help me keep in contact with other artists,” said Swenson. She continues, “I gave out a lot of business cards at the Festival, but everyone also kept asking me if I had a website. Getting a website has been something I have been putting off, so I am thrilled that Archer is going to help me finally put my art on the web.”

Heather Swenson, an Irondequoit native, is a rising junior at SUNY Purchase College of Art Design. She felt that Expo went very well for her, as she sold several pieces and networked with many of the area’s local artists and art professionals. The 2^nd Annual Emerging Arts Expo was Swenson’s inaugural showing to the general public and she was thrilled as to how many people were intrigued with her work and the process of woodcut lithograph printing. She is also excited to be recognized for her hard work and dedication to her art. Swenson said that, “Winning this honor provides me with affirmation and confidence that I can succeed within a medium that I am passionate about.” You may see Swenson’s work around Rochester at different events this Summer—events she was invited to show at by people with whom she connected with at the Expo.

Stay tuned for updates regarding the release of Ms. Swenson’s new web-based portfolio. And don’t forget to check the Emerging Artists Expo web page for the latest updates!

The 2^nd Annual Emerging Artists Expo: 25 artists, 25 and younger, 25 different styles.

This weekend is the 42^nd Annual Corn Hill Arts Festival! Here at Archer Communications, the anticipation and excitement is building. We are thrilled  to be sponsoring the 2^nd Annual Emerging Artists Expo and wanted to promote a greater awareness for the Expo by creating a microsite: www.archercom.com/emerging-artists.

Talented. Innovative. Entrepreneurial. Fresh. Edgy. These artists are all that and more. Visit the website to learn a little bit about every artist. Connect with them to see who they are and what inspires them. Then, meet the artists in person at the Emerging Artists Expo, located next to the Food Court, at the Corn Hill Arts Festival, July 10 and 11.You can also see photos of the artists and their artwork for a sneak peek as to what you can expect at the Expo this weekend. Throughout the Festival, Archer will also be conducting fun video interviews with all the artists and posting them on the website. The website also features a Twitter feed, a map of the Festival, blog posts, the latest news, and more!

It can be difficult for rising artists to gain exposure to a large audience. The 2^nd Annual Emerging Artists Expo is the place where the premier young artists in the area can be recognized for their creativity, talent, and dedication to the arts. At the end of the Festival, the Corn Hill Arts Festival’s Jurying Committee will select a winner of the Expo. Here at Archer, we believe in supporting and promoting young, promising artists. Thus, to further encourage these artists to pursue their creative dreams and develop their talent, we will also award the selected winner with a website. This custom website will allow the artist to showcase and promote their work online throughout the year.

We hope you will make a trip out to this year’s Corn Hill Arts Festival and visit the Emerging Artists Expo. Come by and also meet the “A-Team” from Archer Communications at the entrance the Expo. We hope to see you this weekend!

For more information regarding the festival, please visit www.cornhillartsfestival.org.

What art offers is space – a certain breathing room for the spirit.

- John Updike

When you step into the world of art and allow your mind to experience alternative views of reality, it is a chance to relinquish what you know for what is possible.

Embracing art, its limitless possibilities, and the young people who challenge themselves to exhibit, is precisely why Archer Communications has chosen to sponsor the Corn Hill Arts Festival 2^nd Annual Emerging Artists Expo on July 10 and 11. We’re counting down the days, and we’re really excited about this opportunity because we see a need to support young people as they enter into the arts.

This year, 25 talented men and women, between the ages of 15 to 25, will represent the next generation of creativity in the Rochester area. No one knows where or when the next great artist will emerge, even Picasso had a debut.  Young artists have limited opportunities to display their work to large crowds. (Corn Hill attracts over 250,000 people in two days!) So, this expo will give these young artists the opportunity to receive feedback and be able to sell their work.

“Finding your way in the world of art can be difficult,” said Jeff Lennox, Archer’s president. “We want to support these young artists by presenting this showcase.”

Jeff shared his belief that, “as both a fine and graphic artist, as well as a long-time member of the Rochester community, I am personally dedicated to inspiring and supporting our local talent base.” Whatever direction their art careers take them, whether it’s commercial or fine art, everyone has to be able to market themselves and their product.

Archer is going to liven things up and connect with each artist at the Expo. You will be able to visit www.archercom.com/emerging-artists on June 30th to view their photos, art, and bios, and have an opportunity to follow our twitter feed, along with festival blog updates.

The weekend will include the expo art show, opportunities to create your own “masterpiece,” meet the artists, and hang out with the Archer team at our tent adjacent to the expo.

We’re looking forward to the event and we hope you can stop by the Expo on Adams Street, adjacent to the food court, spend some time exploring the Emerging Artists, and meet our team of professionals from Archer Communications.

Archer Communications is excited to announce that it will serve as agency of record for Empire Attractions, LLC, New York’s newest themed event and entertainment provider.

Empire Attractions, recently established by Doug Waterbury, owns and operates a variety of venues throughout the State, including the Sterling Renaissance Festival, Screamers’ Hollow and the newly created Celtic Rock Festival, located at the Sterling Festival Grounds in Sterling, NY. Other Empire Attraction venues included Sylvan Beach Amusement Park, the Sylvan Beach Screamer Speedboat Thrill Ride and Yesterday’s Royal, located along Oneida Lake in Sylvan Beach, NY; and Santa’s Workshop at North Pole, NY, located on Whiteface Mountain in Wilmington, NY.

As agency of record, Archer is responsible for the development, management and implementation of all marketing efforts for Empire Attractions and each of its entertainment venues.

“Although challenging at times, this account has everyone at Archer buzzing with excitement,” said Carol Davison, Sr. VP Client Services at Archer Communications. “These events demand a marketing approach and media mix as unique as the entertainment venues themselves. Branding, media placement, web development and PR are a few of the many responsibilities Archer will take on in 2009.”

Archer worked with the Sterling Renaissance Festival throughout the 2008 season. Prior to that, Carol Davison oversaw the Renaissance Festival account at Davison Advertising for 20-plus years.

Archer Communications is a branding and Integrated Marketing Communications firm, specializing in advertising, public relations, sales promotion, web development, exhibits, events, media planning and buying, Internet marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), packaging and direct marketing. Archer serves a wide range of business-to-business, retail and consumer clients in a diverse range of industries and markets.

For more information, visit us at www.Archercom.com

The Internet has quickly become a place where consumers can come together and share information about their experiences, where they shop, how much they paid and the level of or lack of service they received.

A decade ago, not-so-happy patrons would have gone and voiced their dissatisfaction to ten-or-so of their closest friends. Today, thanks to the Internet, those unsatisfied individuals now have an eager audience of hundreds, even thousands. The upside? The Internet has granted us (marketers) the ability to identify topics of discussion for disgruntled customers and pinpoint areas of our business that are in need of improvement.

Tips to Effectively Manage Your Online Reputation
Pay close attention to online chatter. Websites such as, Epinions.com, Viewpoints.com, ConsumerReview.com and Rocwiki.org were developed to provide mindful shoppers with unbiased first-hand reviews and recommendations. What are consumers saying about you and your products and services? Pay attention and respond accordingly.

If you are getting unfavorable feedback: Act quickly. If your customers are unhappy, how are you going to fix it? Recall? Refund? Tutorial? Upgrade? Remedy the situation fast or, thanks to the limitless nature of the Internet, the backlash will more than likely snowball.

If you are praised by the masses: Determine what you are doing right and keep doing it (unfortunately A+ ratings are hard to come by – the critics are tough and most of us have room for improvement).

For more information, visit us at www.Archercom.com

E-newsletters are an effective and relatively inexpensive way to stay in touch with clients, vendors and influential members of the community, and to keep them informed on both organizational news and industry trends.

Give Them Something They Want!
People will rarely engage in a newsletter that solely explains the benefits of doing business with your organization. To increase the likelihood of people actively reading what you have to say, make sure there is something in it for them. Be sure your content is newsworthy, relevant to the recipient, and includes something interesting, fun and non-promotional.

Update Your List
You can take the time to create a highly engaging and effective newsletter, but it won’t do you much good if it doesn’t get in front of the right people. Update your list with new contacts every month or as necessary and remove those that are no longer relevant.

Archer works web-based companies that help build and maintain targeted contact lists for our clients and enables us to provide fast and easy distribution of our clients’ e-newsletters and e-marketing campaigns.

Do Not Abuse/Overuse
As interesting as you think the day-to-day happenings of your business may be, outsiders most likely do not care. Send a newsletter only when there is news, and pick a distribution schedule that will not get you blacklisted from recipient in-boxes…try once a month or every quarter.

For information on creating an effective-newsletter, please contact Carrie Tschetter, ctschetter@Archercom.com, 585.461.1570 x 216 or visit us at www.Archercom.com

The management team at Archer Communications, a branding and integrated marketing communications firm, provided a staff team building day in early February at their offices located on Alexander St. in Rochester, NY. The purpose of this event was to strengthen their capacity to communicate efficiently and effectively, both internally and with our clients.

The session was facilitated by Harry Merryman, Ph.D and President of Management Insight and Development. Dr. Merryman, a licensed psychologist, who specializes in leadership assessment and coaching. Utilizing the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Preferences model, Dr. Merryman conducted team-building exercises to help Archer fine tune the art of working together.

Carol Davison, Sr. VP Client Services, at Archer Communications, introduced the team building concept to Archer two and a half years ago. “Each of our staff discovered what personality type they are, and how to appreciate not only their strengths, but also the strengths and contributions that others bring to the group. It was not only a learning experience; we had a lot of fun in the process! The goal of this exercise was to help nurture and build strong working relationships, since teamwork has always played an important role in Archer’s success,” Carol stated.

“Some of us are extroverts, some are thinking types – I’m an ENFP, which means I’m an extrovert who sees the big picture, understands the human side of decision-making and is open to new ideas,” said Carrie Tschetter, Sr. Account Supervisor at Archer Communications. “I can see how these exercises can help communication between Archer and our clients, by understanding that we all communicate in our own unique way.”

Archer’s management team plans on continuing both on and offsite team building, in-service training and skill development seminars in the future.

For more information, visit us at www.Archercom.com