| The Communications Group is a full-service regional and national marketing, advertising and public relations firm based in Little Rock, Arkansas, which specializes in strategically oriented, results-driven programs.
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| Message from the President |
Dan Cowling |
NewFoundNation is catchy, yes. But what does it mean? The title was selected with the idea that there has been a paradigm shift in community and economic development. This shift challenges the traditional concepts promoted by community planners and developers. Whether a community is large and urban or small and rural, the ideas readers will find in NewFoundNation.com can work for almost any scale of community development effort.
Our company pioneered the concept of Funded Public Service™ in this region more than 20 years ago. Twenty years ago, the concept of putting power behind an educational initiative using retail approaches was unheard of. Now we have the most experienced team of community development and outreach and education marketing professionals in the region. This is one of our very unique niches. It's not traditional advertising agency stuff by any means.
Our outreach professionals are channeling some of that wisdom and experience into the NewFoundNation blog. The blog explores marketing, communications and human development concepts and strategies that effect social or behavior change to increase the quality of life and place in a community. What you'll read in the blog includes strategies that will help community developers and outreach managers meet the changing demands in their community while making them more effective leaders in the process.
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| CG Picks up Three Accounts in 30 Days |
 Agency president Dan Cowling said Clean Line Energy Partners retained the firm to provide community outreach and public relations for a renewable wind energy transmission project slated for Arkansas and Oklahoma. The Communications Group has experience working with energy transmission firms in the region, including Texas Gas Transmission of Owensboro, Ky., Boardwalk Pipelines and GulfSouth Pipelines, both of Houston.  The ad agency beat eight regional and state firms to win the Arkansas Soybean Promotion Board's marketing campaign account. The board is dedicated to providing soybean producers in Arkansas an organization through which they can work for the improvement of the soybean industry. The upcoming marketing campaign will focus on the enormous impact soybeans have on the Arkansas economy, promote uses for soybeans and encourage interest among youth about careers in agriculture.  Campaign for Healthier Families is a program of the Division of Medical Services of the Arkansas Department of Human Services that includes the Healthy Baby program. Healthy Baby was built in response to Arkansas' ongoing challenge with premature births and infant mortality. The prenatal outreach program was designed by The Communications Group in 1991 as The Campaign for Healthier Babies. Healthy Baby focuses on using media and community outreach to encourage pregnant women and new mothers to get into prenatal care early and make good health choices throughout for their infants. The program was recently put up for bid under mandatory state purchasing guidelines that require contracts to be rebid every seven years. |
| Translation Please...Annual Report Translated into Three Languages |
Annual reports are complicated little beasts, but yes, we love them. Our account service and creative team produces the award-winning annual report each year for industry-leading motor manufacturer Baldor Electric (NYSE:BEZ). This year's report went way beyond nationwide and was translated and printed by the agency in three additional languages - Chinese, French and Spanish.
Next time you run into our production director, Dane Cowling, ask him how to say "match print" in Chinese. |
| What the Heck is a Tweet Up? by @Kneelmore |
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There is a group that is quickly gaining momentum in Little Rock. It's called LRTweetup and participants gather on a monthly basis at different eateries and bars. What is it? Well, it's kind of hard to describe, but I'll give it a shot. At any given gathering, 30 to 40 Tweeters (you know, those people who speak in 140-character sound bites via Twitter) are there and they, well, they tweet. Here is what their website says:
"We are the nerve center of the Central Arkansas Twitter community. We are a connection catalyst. We are a community. Our mission is to help you build personal and professional connections.
"We are also a new breed of civic group. We support local charities through fund-raising and awareness campaigns and we are deeply committed to giving back to Central Arkansas.
"#LRtweetup is about people and that means it is about you. So whether you are a social media veteran or new to Twitter you're already at home with #LRtweetup.
"Our Twitter hashtag is #LRtweetup and you can follow us on Twitter @LRtweetup.
"We are the next generation of community organizations. We are LRtweetup."
From my perspective, it's about connectivity and networking. All of us "follow" each other on Twitter continually. We are resources for the group. We are business referrals to each other. We are friends. If you haven't tried Twitter™, I would encourage you to do so. Just go to www.twitter.com and follow the instructions. There is a ton of info on the web about how to do it. If you want to follow me, you can search for @kneelmore. That's my handle. Try a tweet or two. You might like it - Neal Moore. |
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ARKids Summer Safety Series |
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Our public relations team was on the road again. Leading the effort was PR specialist Melody Hubbell who managed a summer safety series of events for the Department of Human Services' ARKids First program. The series was the result of a partnership with the Arkansas State Library system and public libraries throughout the state. Parents and children are able to pick up safety materials at each ARKids First Summer event. |
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five children (infancy to age 17) has had one or more emergency room visits during a 12-month period. Medicaid patients are more likely to frequent emergency rooms than those with private health insurance. The educational materials and events are aimed at keeping kids safe during the summer and encouraging parents of already enrolled kids to utilize ARKids benefits for well-child doctor visits.
Radio Disney's "Rockin' Road Show" gets kids at the White County Regional Public Library on their feet and moving to a ARKids First summer safety party.  |
All public library branches in the state's system will had summer safety educational packets available for children who registered for free summer reading programs. The events focused on educating kids and their parents about summer safety through fun and interactive activities with Radio Disney. |
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Featured Ad: Stepping Up to the Plate |
 The copy says: When it comes to working with the community and doing our part to help deserving organizations, we don't hesitate to step up to the plate. Our pro bono work has included the Broyles Award, the First Tee of Central Arkansas, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the UALR Trojans. Like you, we love sports in Arkansas. |
It's been a busy summer. Read more about our staff's activities and adventures.
 Rex Nelson, our senior vice president for government relations and public outreach, recently was asked by former U.S. Sen. David Pryor to serve on the board of advisors for the David and Barbara Pryor Center for Arkansas Oral and Visual History at the University of Arkansas. When Rex was the Washington bureau chief for the Arkansas Democrat from 1986-89, he covered the senator on a daily basis. The board of advisors includes prominent Arkansans such as University of Arkansas Chancellor David Gearhart of Fayetteville, former U.S. Sen. Kaneaster Hodges of Newport, Tyson Foods executive Archie Schaffer of Springdale and Little Rock attorney Ark Monroe.
Rex is known for his love and knowledge of the state's history. He often addresses the state's history in his blog, www.RexNelsonSouthernFried.com, and in his weekly column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Rex also writes a feature known as "Arkansas Institutions" for each issue of Roby Brock's Talk Business Quarterly magazine.
The Pryor Center was created in 1999 at the urging of David Pryor. Originally known as the Arkansas Center for Oral and Visual History, the center has the mission of documenting the cultural heritage of Arkansas through recorded interviews with Arkansans, photographs and other means.
Neal worked with Amy Barnes to recruit and integrate students into a pro bono project for the local golf for kids program. The award was given at the school's annual awards luncheon.
 Lisa Bondurant, Senior Vice President and director of public relations, recently got a rescue puppy that weighs 75 pounds and made herself at home by chewing up $1,000 worth of carpet within her first week at the Bondurant house.  Tips for keeping your dog from chewing are greatly appreciated. Send your tips to Lisa at lbondurant@comgroup.com or find her on Facebook.
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Must-Read Blogs from our Staff: |
It's the modern day version of trading baseball cards: we tell you some of our staff picks for must-read blogs.
Arkansas Blog on the Arkansas Times website. " It's typically very current, very local and not very sugar-coated." - Melody Hubbell, PR Specialist
Dilbert.com/blog - "All truth is contained in comics. Also he has a degree in economics as well as engineering experience."
What are some of your must-read blogs? Drop us a line and let us know. |
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Thank you for your interest in The Communications Group.
Dan Cowling, President and Principal
400 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 1391
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
501-376-8722
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