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 [...]]]> 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.

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 [...]]]> 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.

He’s a Vandal. `Nough said.

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

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 [...]]]> 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.

On October 17, Michael Reagan’s grandpa crossed the final finish line at the age of 97.

Bruce Grove’s enthusiasm and zest for life, his can-do attitude, and his refusal to let age alter his activities or outlook made him really special. He could be used as [...]]]>

On October 17, Michael Reagan’s grandpa crossed the final finish line at the age of 97.

Bruce Grove’s enthusiasm and zest for life, his can-do attitude, and his refusal to let age alter his activities or outlook made him really special. He could be used as a textbook in growing old gracefully - demonstrating how to seize the day, every day (in fact he spoke to high school classes on the subject).

Throughout his career in forestry, which began in 1929, he was highly committed to the work he loved. After he retired in 1978 after forty-nine years as a forester with the U.S. Forest Service and Hoff Lumber Company, he threw himself into many new activities with the gusto previously given his work.

He immediately took several classes at BSU (which irritated him as he was a proud Vandal, but University of Idaho Boise didn’t have a Boise Center then). Mycology, the study of mushrooms, really captured his imagination and gave him a new reason for spending more time in Idaho’s forests.

“I loved weekends with my grandparents in McCall when my brother and I were little,” Michael remembers. “Our grandpa loved the woods. He passed along his passion for hunting morel mushrooms, which has become an annual family tradition in my family today. Well into his eighties, I remember him scaling steep banks to get to the prized fungi.”

Needing a winter activity, Bruce learned to ski at the age of 66 and joined the Prime Timers, a group of seniors who skied together midweek. He was thrilled with skiing - the mountains, the physical challenge, the competition. He relished NASTAR races and took pride in his “Best Crash” trophy. That trophy represented his philosophy of life - to just “go for it” no matter how old you are or what your limitations might be. He continued skiing, sometimes four times a week, until the age of 88 when doctor’s orders forced him to quit.

Following a few summers of playing tennis, (which he started at 67), Bruce found his real passion: race walking. Within a short time, he was a fixture at all the local running races, not only winning his age division, but very frequently being in the top five walkers of all ages. He then began a crusade for senior equality in the races, pushing for age group categories beyond 65+. His tenacity, determination, and letter writing finally resulted in race policy changes.  As he got older, his race times got faster, ultimately walking at nearly an eleven-minute mile pace.  At age 80, he “walked” the Race to Roby Creek beating most casual runners. His times from the Idaho Senior Games shattered National Senior Games qualifying times. As the years piled up, so did the awards. So many ribbons and medals hung from every appendage of a nine-foot sailfish, which he caught in Acapulco. His final race was at age 90.

Pictured with the big fish: Michael Reagan, Bruce Groves, Scott Reagan

“He was a bull in a china shop, but had a heart of gold,” explained Michael’s brother Scott. “If you ever asked for something, he would jump up and get it - sometimes giving himself a slap in the butt to get it in gear.”

One of the Reagan family’s favorite stories involved Bruce’s Ford Pinto, the grandkid’s Star Wars collection and a five-gallon bucket of roofing tar. Scott remembered:

One day, circa 1982, we were going to hang out with Grandpa while he was doing some roof work. We brought all of our Star Wars toys, which consisted of a dozen or so prized characters and an X-Wing and Tie Fighter. Michael and I were happily buckled up in the back (unaware of the tragedy about to unfold or the general danger associated with riding in the back seat of a Ford Pinto hatchback), while our toys were on the floor of the passenger seat. The five-gallon drum of liquid roofing tar got to ride shotgun in the passenger seat. One quick stop and the Pinto along with our Star Wars universe instantly became a rolling tar pit.  Many tears were shed as Grandpa Groves selflessly tried to revert our Storm Troopers from tar-stained-brown back to Princess-Lea-virgin-white.  And Grandpa’s sad, little green Pinto oozed brown goo from then on.

Family stories abound, many illustrating his ‘no problem, can-do’, fearless attitude. Nothing stopped Bruce. He had had a lifetime of perpetual motion and excellence.  Yet when two major strokes slowed his step at 94, he never complained and he refused to quit. Bruce remained active and unfailingly kind, good-natured, witty, and determined.

“He was the definition of passion and persistence,” said Michael. “His example is one I will try to live up to everyday for the rest of my life.”

Read the In Remembrance article featuring Bruce V. Groves in the Idaho Statesman.