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Archive for the ‘Startups’ Category


Take a Stand

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

The Richardson House is the first private rental home in the Tahoe Basin to work with The BEAR League to incorporate Bear Aware principles into our rental contract.  If our guests act in an irresponsible manner (leaving food out overnight, leaving trash outside – open, taunting bears for photos and the like) they will receive a $250 fine.  The majority of this fine will go back to The BEAR League.  Not only do we want to ensure our guests are good neighbors, we feel it’s important to wholeheartedly support The BEAR League and their incredible efforts to ensure a safe and cohesive environment for both the people and bears living together in the mountains.

Our contract:

Dear Richardson House Guest,

Please enjoy all the beautiful gifts nature has to offer. Our neighborhood hosts beautiful birds, chipmunks, squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, deer, coyotes, and one of our favorite creatures – “Ben,” the black bear.

Ben, like all of our area bears, established our neighborhood as his stomping ground many years ago.  As Ben is quite shy, he likes to roam around at night, when all is quiet and calm.  He is, however, a sly one and can sense as much as a stick of gum in your car.  In an effort to look after our valued guests – and our neighborhood bear –we ask that you practice “Bear Aware” rules of conduct while in our home:

  • Prior to retiring in the evening, please be sure all outdoor spaces are free of food and garbage (porch, yard, and driveway).  In addition, make sure all windows on the first floor are closed and locked.
  • All garbage needs to be placed in the bear box garbage (raccoons also love a late night snack and tend to make quite a mess).   To ensure a proper closure, make sure you hear the latch lock.
  • Turn gas BBQ to high for five minutes to burn all food particles after use.
  • Maintain a “food free” vehicle when parked anywhere in the Sierra Nevada area.

Since Ben does not rely on The Richardson House (due to your good practices and those before and after you), we have no reason to fear his presence.  To ensure community safety, The Richardson House imposes a $250 fine on any guests not adhering to “Bear Aware” practices.  This fee will be immediately charged on your account if our house manager, caretaker, owner, or neighbors witness such errors.

If you hear Ben sneaking around in the wee hours of the evening, and if you feel, for any reason, uncomfortable or uncertain about his presence, The BEAR League is available to you 24-hours a day: 530-525-7297.  In addition, your house caretaker resides in the carriage house behind you and will be quick to assist with ANY issue or concern you may have.

If you encounter any bear while in our area, do not be afraid or submissive.  Let him know you are there; make eye contact but do not stare; pick-up small children and keep them calm; and most importantly, appreciate the experience and move on with respect and self confidence.

Thank you for being our guest and a great neighbor while enjoying The Richardson House.

Sincerely,

Chelsea Walterscheid
House Manager
chelsea@therichardsonhouse.com

Posted in Career Advice, Startups | No Comments »

“Minority Report” Style Advertising is Right Around the Corner

Tuesday, March 16th, 2010

During a recent visit to Tokyo, the first phrase echoed by my son in a far away land was, “Wow, there’s so much technology.”  This is coming from a young man who spends most of his school day working from a laptop and is consumed with a variety of technical mediums that include Nintendo, iTouch and Wii.

I must admit, he’s right.  LED screens are everywhere, selling products and promoting restaurants.  Even the local museums display dark booths that once held cashiers, only to be replaced by computer kiosks.   The technology is so vast that you need a user’s manual to navigate the toilet (no joke).

Now, according to a recent CNN Japan story, “Ads that Watch You” advertising is on the move – once again.  Imagine stopping to take a look at an advertisement, all the while the advertisement is looking at you.  The following is from a CNN Japan transcript:

“Here is how this works. When you walk up to the ad, a camera captures your image. The computer figures out if you are a man or a woman and your age. Meanwhile, an age and gender-specific ad rolls. This shows that I’m in my 30s and I like seasonal pasta. The computer then determines how interested you are, how long you stay. That data is then recorded for the company. NEC engineer Junko Amagai says the facial recognition technology is accurate to within 10 years of your actual age, and the next-gen system they are testing out is even more age accurate.”  CNN Business 360

It sounds as though we can expect testing to begin in the United States this spring.  As a marketer, I suspect this new technology will continue to reinvent modern media.  As an individual, I can only hope Christian Dior will not ‘guess’ my age to be older.  Hopefully the techie’s behind the beta’s will remember the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.”

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Posted in Social Media, Startups | 1 Comment »

End of Trails, 2009

Tuesday, September 22nd, 2009

By Scott Thompson, Truckee Times

By Scott Thompson, Truckee Times

What a weekend!  Trails and Vistas 2009 proved to be yet another enchanted weekend for over 700 individuals.  Our talented, dedicated and eclectic artists put on a seemingly effortless performance in a variety of elements – ensuring a great time for all.  If you weren’t able to join us this year, don’t worry, September 11-12, 2010 is right around the corner.

From a planning perspective, we’re proud to report that we exceeded the majority of our goals.  Those included:

  • A sell-out event, third year in a row.
  • Enhanced communications to both confirmed attendees and prospective attendees, utilizing social media as an added marketing tool.
  • Tactical and responsive planning by our new “working” Board of Directors.
  • The addition of an email based research component to ensure successful planning and marketing for 2010.
  • A merchandising program for our artists the weekend of the event, to help promote and sell their merchandise / CD’s.
  • An increase in practice hikes for trail leaders, to help accentuate attendee experiences.
  • Successful private donor development, to help offset decrease in grants.

    Photo by Scott Thompson

    Photo by Scott Thompson

The Reno Gazette Journal published a great story today, enjoy.

Posted in Recent Projects, Startups | No Comments »