Boise – Luck happens again as the citizens of Idaho became millionaires for the 22nd time in as many years when the Idaho Lottery returned their eighth consecutive record annual dividend for the benefit of Idaho public schools, the State’s Permanent Building Fund, and the Bond Levy Equalization Fund.

On behalf of the citizens of Idaho, this afternoon Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter accepted a record dividend check for $37 million from the Idaho State Lottery Commission and Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson. With this year’s dividend, the Idaho Lottery has now returned $510,800,000 in dividends since beginning operations on July 19, 1989.

“I am pleased to accept this, another record breaking dividend from the Idaho Lottery, on behalf of Idaho’s public schools and our Permanent Building Fund,” Governor Otter said. “This funding will continue contributing to the infrastructure in our schools and around the state for future generations. And every dollar that the Lottery contributes is a dollar less that comes out of taxpayers’ pockets.”

“This year marked a historic achievement in the success of the Idaho Lottery. With this year’s dividend, we have now returned more than half-a-billion dollars to the citizens of Idaho,” stated Jeff Anderson, Idaho Lottery Director. “It was also a banner year for our players, our dedicated retailer network, and for the true winners of the Idaho Lottery, our beneficiaries: Idaho public schools, the Permanent Building Fund and the Bond Levy Equalization Fund. Thank you to every one for supporting us this past year.”

This year’s dividend comes on the strength of $147.2 million in sales that ties last year’s Idaho Lottery record. In addition to the $37 million annual dividend, the Idaho Lottery has also returned $10.1 million in income tax withholdings on high tier winning Lottery tickets since January 1, 2011. Fueled by over $192.7 million in high tier prizes, the Idaho Lottery returned $9.6 million in income tax withholdings in the month of January alone. This was approximately 11.25% of Idaho’s surplus revenue for FY2011. Since income tax withholdings were first started in Idaho in 1998, the Lottery has returned $25.7 million.

The Idaho Lottery’s record-setting year produced seven new millionaires and more $500,000 and higher winners per capita on multi-state draw games than anywhere else in the country since December 1, 2010. For the first time in its history, Idaho recorded a Mega Millions jackpot winner, sharing the second largest jackpot in United States Lottery history with Washington. For the fourth time in five years, Idaho also had a Wild Card jackpot winner. In addition, six players, three on Powerball, two on Mega Millions, and one on the Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle won $1,000,000. In total, 19 players won over $200,000 and 154 players won over $10,000, both individual records. This year, the Idaho Lottery paid out over $89,900,000 in prizes other than multi-state jackpots.

And with the record number of six-figure or higher winners this year, Idaho’s local retailers earned record commissions of $8.9 million bringing their 22-year earnings to over $126 million.

Historically, Lottery dividends are shared by the Idaho Department of Education’s Public School Building Account and the Department of Administration’s Permanent Building Fund. Each of those two accounts will receive $17,000,000 this year. A statute change in 2009, which sunsets in 2014, sets aside a portion of Lottery funds above the Fiscal Year 2008 funding level of $34 million for the Department of Education’s Bond Levy Equalization Fund. This year, the Bond Levy Equalization Fund will receive $3 million, bringing the three-year total to $6.5 million since the law was changed.

We recently completed work designing a new advertising, outdoor and web campaign for Idaho National Laboratory and Hart Communications. Our solution highlights just a few of the amazing research projects underway at INL as well as the laboratory’s positive impact on Idaho’s economy, educational system and our environment.

Here are a few print advertisements:

Photos by Kort Duce.

The total number of students includes 1,754 freshmen among the ranks of new students, the second-largest class after last year’s record size of 1780; and an increase in the number of transfer students, 756 or 3 percent from this time last year.

Among incoming new students is a group of 22 National Merit Scholars, who were in the top 1 percent of their high school class; 13 of the 22 are Idaho residents. There are a total of 81 National Merit Scholars now at the university.

“The University of Idaho is creating a sustainable learning environment statewide,” said President Duane Nellis. “The forward momentum – the third consecutive increase – sustains our long-term, purposeful growth in important areas, such as National Merit Scholars, graduate studies and our regional centers. This balanced growth is the result of an institutional enrollment effort and has positioned the university as a destination for student success.”
Read the full story.

DaviesMoore develops new campaign for University of Idaho
This fall, we’re launching a new look for the University that maintains the I-graphic as the primary branding device and introduces the use of the iconic Administration Building as a consistent design element. Strategically, the campaign is rooted in the University of Idaho’s three brand pillars:

1. A student-centered learning environment
2. Globally competitive research and learning opportunities
3. A connected community

Here’s a sampling of some of the new collateral we’ve developed in concert with a new print, television and Internet campaign:

Hello and Wooh! Guess what time it is? It’s Idaho Million Dollar Raffle time! Where some lucky somebody is guaranteed to win a million big ones from the Idaho Lottery. It’s got great odds, tons of cash prizes including four $25,000 winners … not to mention the sweet million dollar grand prize.

Visit www.idaholottery.com to learn more.

DaviesMoore would like to congratulate Karl Malone on his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ever since the early days of MMG, Karl has played a major part in the growth our little ad agency in Boise, Idaho. Through our work with Malone Outfitters, Malone Properties and North Village Plaza, we have come to know and respect Karl for more than his hall of fame basketball career; he is a savvy businessman, avid outdoorsman and philanthropist.

Karl’s foundation helps children and families in need, including countless scholarship programs. DaviesMoore has had the privilege to work with Karl to make his vision to develop an outdoor mall concept and community center in Ruston, Louisiana called North Village Plaza a reality. We designed and developed their website, create sales collateral, manage events, public relations, as well as other marketing facets of the retail project. 

A two-time NBA MVP and two-time Olympic gold medalist, The Mailman played 19 seasons in the NBA, 18 of which were with the Utah Jazz. He led the Jazz to the NBA Finals in 1996-97 and again in 1997-98. He returned to the Finals in 2003-4 with the Los Angeles Lakers. Karl is the NBA’s second-leading scorer with 36,928 points, and was named one of the “50 Greatest Players in NBA History.”

He is part of a Hall of Fame class that includes Scottie Pippen, LA Lakers owner Jerry Buss, high school coaching great Bob Hurley, Sr., WNBA star Cynthia Cooper and an Idaho Vandal; college and NBA rebounding great, Gus Johnson, who holds a special place in Corner Club lore, having touched a ceiling beam measuring 11′3″.

Thank you Karl for being such an inspiration and congratulations from everyone at DaviesMoore.

By Edward Moore

The Boise advertising community lost one of its pioneers recently with the passing of John Givens. I did not know John personally but did have the pleasure of working with his son, Dan, in my early career in television ad sales. Dan has always carried himself with a certain confidence and je ne sais quoi; and after reading John’s obituary it is easy to understand why.

John was an ad man and the founder, with Ken Davies, of Givens-Davies Advertising.

One of the greatest things about Boise and Idaho is how, if you spend just a little bit of time in the community, you can find yourself connected to one of its pioneers. Who knew that back in 1994, as Dan was “handing over the keys” to his account list at TCI Cablevision to pursue a very successful real estate career, that 15 years later I would be taking the helm of the third iteration of the agency that Dan’s father founded in 1952. It also pleases me to read that John attended the University of Idaho and that he and I, as well as six other DaviesMoore family members, walked the same paths of that beautiful campus.

As I read about John, I am inspired to continue his legacy and I hope and pray that DaviesMoore and the work we do for our clients would make him proud. Thank you John for setting a standard of excellence in advertising, community service and zest for life.

Saturday evening, Dec. 7th, was the Silver Sage (Idaho Chapter) Porsche Club of America’s annual Christmas Party and Charity Auction. This year’s charity was the Women’s & Children’s Alliance (WCA). Ernie’s wife, Mary, is President of the Board for the WCA, along with a variety of Porsche club members organized both a silent and a live auction on behalf of the WCA. The Christmas Party was held at Chandler’s Restaurant in Boise and was attended by over 80 SSPCAers. Ernie Monroe, our VP of Creative Services and Mark Prusynski, both former Presidents of the Club, were the auctioneers. Along with great food, outstanding service from Rex Chandler and his entire crew, everyone had a great time and generously opened their wallets to the tune of approximately $7,500 for the WCA. Additionally, many members brought Christmas gifts for a pre-selected WCA family of seven.

Over this past year, the SSPCA will have raised over $8,500 for the WCA.

Merry Christmas!

No, we’re not going to talk about creative awards.

Instead, DaviesMoore is proud of our ability and confidence to say “no” to our own big budget production concepts when it contradicts strategy - even if it’s hilarious. It’s sometimes hard to scrap a great idea, but sometimes we believe it’s the right thing to do.

Why? Because our first responsibility is to our clients and their ROI. Here are a few ways we do it:

1. Utilize existing campaign and/or brand elements - Not only does this create consistency; it saves time and money (clients love that).
2. Understand what influences human behavior - Each instance is different, but we feel we know how to communicate in a way that creates action. In most cases, that means we’re helping our clients sell stuff.
3. Live the strategy - During all phases of the campaign, the strategy is primary. Never abandon strategy no matter how funny or entertaining the concept. Always ask, “Will it work?” We are faithful to marketing strategy no matter how sexy the creative.
4. Never fall in love with your own creative - Maybe there’s a better way to say it or do it. Even when we think we’ve nailed an execution, we keep going. We always try to remain open to feedback (internal and external). Remember #3.
5. Always strive to be both brilliantly creative and strategically effective - It’s not always possible due to a variety of factors, but we sure get excited when it does. It’s what we live for around here. We love funny ads, as long as they work.

Learn more about our approach to strategic planning and production.

DaviesMoore is proud to belatedly announce the hiring of a new media buyer, JJ O’Dell.

He’s a Vandal. `Nough said.

But just in case you’d like to learn more about JJ, check out his bio.

New Big Jackpots Coming to Idaho

Boise - Idahoans may get the chance to play another multi-million dollar jackpot game this winter. The Idaho State Lottery Commission announced this morning that Mega Millions with Megaplier, the nation’s other big jackpot, multi-state draw game could have tickets available for sale in the Gem State by as early as January 31, 2010.

Tuesday morning, the five-member Idaho State Lottery Commission unanimously approved offering Mega Millions with Megaplier tickets in Idaho. Powerball with PowerPlay, Idaho’s other big jackpot game, will also continue to be sold in Idaho. Pending final agreements and approval between the Mega Millions consortium and the Multi-State Lottery Association (the group that operates Powerball), Idaho could begin selling both games on January 31, 2010.

“Adding Mega Millions with Megaplier to our product lineup means our players will now have the chance to play for two, “always big” multi-million jackpots, four times a week,” said Idaho Lottery Director Jeff Anderson.

Mega Millions with Megaplier, with Tuesday and Friday night draws, will join the Wednesday and Saturday night draw games of Powerball with PowerPlay, Hot Lotto Sizzler, and Wild Card in the Idaho Lottery line-up. The Idaho Lottery will also continue to offer daily games Idaho Pick3 and Double Play Daily.

“This game addition is a win for Idaho,” added Anderson. “It’s a win for our players who enjoy big jackpot games; it’s a win for Idaho businesses who offer Lottery products; and it’s a win for the Idaho Lottery’s primary beneficiaries - public schools and the permanent building fund. Both will realize an increase in dividends from the game.”

While there will be added excitement for more opportunities to play for more frequent big jackpots with the addition of Mega Millions with Megaplier, the Idaho Lottery urges players to play responsibly.

Idaho is one of 33 United States jurisdictions that currently participate in Powerball. Mega Millions (megamillions.com) is the other large, multi-state multi-million dollar game that is currently played in twelve jurisdictions in the United States. Just like Powerball with PowerPlay, tickets cost $1 and players select five white balls from 1 to 56 and one “Mega Ball” from 1 to 46. Mega Millions jackpots begin at $12 million and grow until the jackpot is won. The Idaho version of Mega Millions will feature a “Megaplier” which will multiply non-jackpot winnings.

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DaviesMoore is hard at work developing the Mega Millions launch that will work within the “Draw Games, we’ve got your numbers” campaign (television, radio, billboards, digital boards and banner ads) we launched this fall. Stay tuned …