This morning, I was fortunate enough to meet, talk to and have my photo taken with President Bill Clinton backstage at the NAC following his speech.

The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is pleased to announce the selection of Thornley Fallis & 76design as their Agency of Record for marketing and communications.

Thornley Fallis & 76design will provide CIRA with a range of services, including brand development, media relations, corporate communications, advertising, sponsorship, creative design, website development, video production and program measurement.

“CIRA chose Thornley Fallis & 76design from a group of very talented agencies based on several criteria. Most importantly, they truly are an integrated, full-service agency. In addition to more traditional, core capabilities such as strategic communications, media relations and advertising; Thornley Fallis & 76design also offers creative design, website development, video production, and public engagement services. All of this in addition to being Canadian leaders in the use social media and the development of online communities,” said David Fowler, CIRA’s Director of Marketing and Communications. “The CIRA team is really looking forward to our new relationship with Thornley Fallis & 76design. In addition to helping us improve communications with our stakeholders, including the more than 1.5 million .CA registrations, our new AOR will also help our team continue to promote and grow the .CA brand, as well as educate Canadians in the value .CA brings to their lives.”

This new, long-term Agency of Record agreement builds on a previous project-based relationship between CIRA and Thornley Fallis & 76design.  Since 2005, Thornley Fallis & 76design and CIRA have worked together on a variety of projects, including annual general meetings, the One Millionth .CA celebration event, online advertising and annual report design and production.

“This is a very exciting opportunity for our agency,” said Keelan Green, President of Thornley Fallis & 76design and manager of the CIRA relationship. “As a marketing and public relations agency that has really embraced the web and become a leader in digital communications, working with the organization that is responsible for managing significant parts of the Internet in Canada is just a great fit for our firm – our team is really looking forward to it.”

About CIRA
The Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA) is the organization that manages Canada’s .CA domain name registry, develops and implements policies that support Canada’s Internet community and represents the .CA registry internationally.

About Thornley Fallis & 76design
Thornley Fallis & 76design is an innovative, full-service public relations, communications and marketing agency that helps organizations reach, connect with, build and sustain positive relationships with their communities through the integrated use of on-line and off-line communications tactics.

For additional information, please contact:

Jennifer Austin
Senior Manager, Communications & Marketing, CIRA
(613) 237-5335 ext. 296
jennifer.austin@cira.ca

LeeEllen Carroll
Thornley Fallis for CIRA
613-231-3355 ext. 231
carroll@thornleyfallis.ca

Announcing a new Meetup for Third Tuesday Ottawa!

What: The Return of RichardAtDell

When: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 6:00 PM

Price: $10.00 per person

Where: The Exchange Pub & Restaurant,  Rideau Centre (corner of Rideau and Sussex across from Chapters)

Dell is one of the best known and longest standing case studies of the successful use of social media. It might well not have turned out this way. In fact, Dell was one of the early examples of a company on the receiving end of viral criticism and anger. Rather than go into a shell or attack its critics, Dell chose to enter the social media discussion, learn from it, win friends, and gradually turn things around. Today, Dell uses social media for many purposes, including to connect with customers, build brand and as a retail channel.

RichardAtDell, aka Richard Binhammer, has been from the outset one of the constants in Dell’s social media presence.

Well, it’s not 2006 anymore. A lot has changed. And RichardAtDell has been there to experience the evolution of social media first hand. As the saying goes, he’s forgotten more than many of us ever will learn.

I hope that you’ll join us at Third Tuesday to hear from one of the leading corporate social media practitioners as he talks with us about the journey he’s been on, the path we’re following, and where he sees things going in the future.

To RSVP for this Meetup, go to: http://www.meetup.com/third-tuesday-ottawa/calendar/15182785/. You must sign-up for Third Tuesday Ottawa in order to RSVP.

Student Tickets

The Third Tuesday speakers have a lot to teach all of us. And we want students to be able to participate. So, Thornley Fallis is sponsoring free admission for any registered students who want to attend. If you’re a student, please register in the normal way. But when you arrive at the registration desk, simply present your student ID and we’ll refund your registration fee.

Ever wonder what book you should have read in your youth? 

Ever wonder what Terry Fallis does in his “spare” time? 

This week, Terry will be reading excerpts from his new book THE HIGH ROAD, the sequel to THE BEST LAID PLANS, at the 23rd Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival which runs from October 18-24 on the city’s Granville Island.  Terry is participating in two events, both on October 22^nd.

Every so often, in public relations, you get the opportunity to help present an event that truly gives back to the community in a way that matters.  Last week Thornley Fallis delivered thousands of dollars worth of non-perishable food items, collected at local Ford dealerships, to the Shepherds of Good Hope; this week we will be on location for Ford’s “Future of Safety Tour.”

Over 30 years ago an experimental airbag was developed. Known today as frontal and side-impact airbag systems, they changed the future of vehicle safety and have saved countless lives.

The latest addition to seatbelt safety is sure to make a splash at this week’s event, a seatbelt equipped with its own airbag – designed specifically for children traveling in rear seats.

On Thursday, October 14th, Sparks Street Mall will be transformed into one of the biggest vehicle safety awareness events in Ottawa, with close to 100 feet of safety technologies to explore and test.

The hands on demonstrations feature award-winning safety products. The general public and the media will have the opportunity to speak with experts in road safety, vehicle restraint safety, and vehicle usage safety.

The “Future of Safety Tour” is Ford’s second global safety event that raises awareness and brings safety from the home and to the roads. Ford’s safety innovations helps customers avoid crashes or protect them when an accident unavoidable. They’re also pioneering new technologies such as radar warning systems to help drivers avoid potentially dangerous situations, as well as auto parking and braking advices to help drivers avoid even more unnecessary accidents.

Experiencing Ford's inflatable seatbelt

Come out and see the excitement at the Sparks Street Mall (outside the CBC Building).

Thursday, October 14th, 2010

07:00 a.m. – Demonstrations begin for general public

12:00 p.m. – News conference begins

12:30 p.m. – Demonstrations for media begin

In this week’s (Monday, October 11th) issue of The Hill Times, Kate Malloy interviews Terry Fallis of Thornley Fallis about his new book The High Road.

Terry’s first book, The Best Laid Plans, won the Stephen Leacock Award for Humour.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED

On Wednesday, October 13th, Lauren More, Vice-President of Communications for Ford of Canada, will deliver a presentation on Satisfying Consumer Mega-Trends.

Ms. More’s presentation will take place at the Sheraton Hotel (150 Albert Street, O’Connor Room) from 11:30am to 1:30pm.  Costs: $50.00 for CPRS Members, $65 for Non-members and $40 for CPRS Student Members.

Spaces are limited. Please register by October 8, 2010 on the secure CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau website at https://vws3.primus.ca/www.cprsottawa.com/register/event-registration.php. VIsa and MasterCard are accepted.

About the Presentation:
As business people and communications professionals, we certainly live in interesting times. We are witnesses to unprecedented shifts in the global economies – new population growth patterns are emerging, market purchasing power is changing and consumer preferences around the world
are converging. Many of the decisions we make today, during this unique economic era, will shape our companies for decades to come. How do we ensure we’re delivering the products and services customers and clients really want? In this session, we’ll explore some of these consumer mega-
trends from a global perspective.

About Lauren More:
Lauren More is the Vice President of Communications at Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd., where she manages multiple media communications programs and serves as a company spokesperson on a number of topics, including: corporate news, manufacturing and assembly operations, environment and safety, human resources issues, and crisis communications.

Ms. More has more than 20 years experience as a communications professional and daily newspaper reporter. Prior to joining Ford, she served as the Public Relations Manager for Canada at one of the world’s largest technology and management consulting firms and has held a variety of
positions at Toronto-based public relations agencies.

As a journalist, Ms. More earned both national and regional awards for her work covering everything from educational issues and local politics, to high-tech and the automotive
industry. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Journalism degree from Carleton University and earned a Master of Business Administration degree from York University’s Schulich School of Business.

[Ford is a client of Thornley Fallis and Keelan Green is President of CPRS Ottawa-Gatineau]