Dear Members of the Direct Marketing Community,
During my first eight months at DMEF, I have had countless conversations with practitioners and educators, some of you may be reading this newsletter. These conversations have been enormously valuable as I’ve tried to identify the true needs of DMEF’s marketplace, both corporate and school-level, and attempted to assess the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the DMEF. So my eye was drawn to a recent column in The New York Times which began, "Your past success could be holding you back." From what I’ve seen and heard, this could easily be applied to the DMEF of today.
At the February DMEF Board meeting, I provided a report to the Board of Trustees which reflects what I have discovered, and how these findings parallel the current evolution of the DMEF. I’d like to summarize some of the thoughtful, diligent and creative work that’s taking place under the direction of the Board through the committee process and DMEF staff.
OverviewThe DMEF’s success has – and will continue to – depend on the strength of its programs. As a result, a vast amount of effort by DMEF Board of Trustees and staff to conduct a thorough review of current programs, including “outside” programs that the Foundation is known for. Traditionally, DMEF programs have been groundbreaking and solidified the reputation and appeal of direct marketing education among educators and practitioners alike. The DMEF’s reputation was consistent: “Excellent” “credible” and “practical” were qualities I most often heard cited.
Past, Present, Future
Which brings me back to the quote above. Because everyone has strongly identified DMEF programs with the past, few have stopped to look at what is taking place today. There is a very significant chance that our past success could be holding us back, and perhaps keeping people from thinking of DMEF in the present – and – future tense.
At the February meeting, the Board recognized a dire need to reorganize and revitalize our programming, requiring us to consolidate, eliminate, introduce, and in all cases rejuvenate our offerings in order to create a menu of programs that achieve DMEF’s current objectives – which track back to our mission.
- Gain measurable results (“to attract, educate and place top college students …”)
- Create a strong synergy between corporations and educators to equip professors to teach students practical, leading-edge skills (“… by continuously improving and supporting the teaching of world-class teaching of direct marketing.”)
- Appeal to our key constituencies – educators and students – in order to catapult awareness of and interest in the field of direct marketing.
The world is clearly undergoing a paradigm shift in the way business is conducted. For the DMEF to remain relevant and retain the power needed to achieve our mission, we must create and offer programs that make a difference in today’s “flattening” world. I’m getting a glimpse of just how complete of a revamp our programs and activities need if we’re serious about appealing to and preparing students today to be prepared for business tomorrow.
The DMEF’s key constituents are students at the undergraduate and graduate levels … a group that definitely brings their own ideas, opinions and dreams to the table. In order to be relevant to today’s students, we have to speak their language and provide a platform where their voice will blend with that of the DMEF. To do so, it is important that we are all on the same page. If we’re not attracting, educating and placing students – our prime audience – we will never achieve our mission. More importantly, we may never capture the interest of the best students to ensure leadership and innovation to sustain direct marketing in the future.
Your support and alignment are critical to the direction, pace and success we are achieving – and will achieve – going forward. In order to move swiftly, we need total alignment as we all work together to identify, nurture and secure the future leaders of the thriving field of direct marketing. Which is the perfect segue to our first item in this E-Update announcing the DMEF’s corporate and individual Rising Stars, to be honored at the June 19 Awards Dinner.
In closing, I hope to see you at DMEF events … to hear from you about your interest in the DMEF … and to receive your financial and in-kind support to help make the DMEF mission a reality.
Terri L. Bartlett
June 19 Awards Dinner - Corporate and Individual "Rising Stars" Honorees Announced
The DMEF will honor Time Consumer Marketing, Inc., a division of Time, Inc. as the first honoree to receive the Foundation’s Corporate Commitment Award. The Award honors companies that consistently demonstrate a commitment to excellence in all areas of direct marketing education among new and upcoming talent, and that regularly participate in activities that foster and promote excellence … for today and tomorrow.
The Awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday evening, June 19, from 6:00 – 9:30 at The Boathouse Central Park. Tickets are going fast! To submit your reservation now, visit: Reservation Form
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Behind The Scenes: A First-Glance At The DMEF’s Newest Program Introduction Program Objectives:
The Direct Marketing Leadership Development Program (DMLDP) is a pilot program that offers qualified applicants the opportunity to acquire valuable work experience through a unique combination of settings during a 12-month program in New York City. Four top undergrad graduates from among the country’s top-tier schools will be selected for placement at four different organizations, rotating three-month assignments at Bookspan, Goodman & Company, Harte-Hanks and Wunderman.
Watch for updates about this new, exciting program to enable our community to attract the country’s leading students to the field of direct marketing.
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The DMEF’s Leaders’ Circle –
An Opportunity for the DM Community to Support the DMEF through a Personal Donation
The Leaders’ Circle is a new initiative spearheaded by former DMEF Chairman John Temple, to give individuals throughout the direct marketing community the opportunity to give personally. Many of you have been contacted about contributing to the DMEF through your corporation. This is different! This is about people throughout the field and what we are personally doing about giving back to ensure the future of marketing direct.
We have had the great fortune to benefit from this dynamic and thriving field. We’ve been rewarded with a satisfying career, enjoyed professional and personal relationships that have enriched our lives, and we’ve been fortunate to enjoy a lifestyle that has enabled us to live in the style we dreamed of so many years ago.
All it takes is a gift from you, under your personal listing (with your corporate affiliation included if desired), at the level you wish as noted on the attached Donation Form. To confirm your contribution, please download and complete the attached form, and return it to Terri L. Bartlett by fax: 212.790.1561 or via e-mail at tlbartlett@the-dma.org. Also, I encourage you to pass this request along to those in your company or in the industry who may be willing to support the efforts of the DMEF.
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DMEF to Announce 2007 Student Scholarship Opportunity
The DMEF is currently inviting professors from select universities nationwide to submit names of candidates to receive unrestricted scholarship support for undergraduate students studying and interested in direct, interactive or multi-channel marketing. Due to some funding restrictions, US candidates will be given priority, but international students, with plans to either stay in the US or work for multi-national firms, may be wait-listed. All scholarship awards will be announced and disbursed before July 31. Awards will be made based on academic and work achievements related to direct marketing, marketing, advertising, communications and related subjects, as well as the applicant’s career aspirations. Scholarship awards will be paid in the recipient’s name to the college or university tuition account.
2007 Educators' Conference:
DMEF Raising the Bar on this 19-year Program
Repositioned as the Direct/Interactive Marketing Research Summit, The 2007 DMEF Educators' Conference marks the beginning of a new format for this 19-year tradition. On October 13-14, educators and practitioners will gather in Chicago, IL for the 1-1/2-day conference where a wealth of current research will be presented in all areas of direct, database, and interactive marketing; direct and interactive advertising; and customer relationship management, as well as papers dealing with teaching issues in these areas. Sunday's agenda offers a full day of academic sessions. It is an ideal forum to learn about new research in the area, interact with other academics in these specialties, and gain practical examples to bring into the classroom.
To register, review the agenda, and learn about the most recent developments of this dynamic research-focused event, visit: www.educatorsconference.org
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Contact Us
If you have any questions about the Direct Marketing Educational Foundation or would like to make a donation, contact Terri L. Bartlett, President at dmef@the-dma.org
Please feel free to forward the DMEF E-Update to other interested parties. If you’d like to subscribe, send us an e-mail at dmef@the-dma.org with the words “E-update Subscribe” in the subject line; please include your contact information in the body of the e-mail.
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Direct Marketing Educational Foundation
1120 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036-6700
www.the-dmef.org
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