Family Day at the Italian Grotto Club, Dearborn, MI 2008

Next week will be 32 years since Elvis’s death. It shook the nation and, in particular, the girls from the marketing research office where I was working at the time. I was not an Elvis fan but remember the day he died.

My “job” was as a summer intern coding questionnaires in the Consumer Research division at AC Nielsen. This work was a nightmare for a right-brainer who felt was compelled to add a personal own spin to what was meant to be a straightforward procedure. Although having AC Nielsen on my resume landed me my first real job (at Colgate Palmolive), coding questionnaires was really the worst. One hot steamy morning my boss Barb called me in her office. I use to dread being these calls never knowing whether our meeting would involve a complement or a reprimand.

Back then it was okay to smoke at work. Barb worked in a glass office – the walls were stained with nicotine and so were her fingernails. Barb smoked like a chimney. I remember that my eyes always watered from her still smoldering butts piled in the ashtray. On the morning that Elvis died, Barb called to let me know that because many of the girls were out, grief-stricken, I had to pick up some extra responsibilities. It was a tragic day for our nation and for my “all girl” office. All I recall was that the day was hectic and Barb breaking up water cooler conversations of teary-eyed coders lamenting over Elvis’ tragic death. I really tried to understand what they all felt and I didn’t.

A couple of years ago, I attended an Elvis Impersonator event commemorating 30 years since his death. The event was held in Dearborn and there was a small group of devoted attendees. I took photos in my own way trying to share the enthusiasm of these fans; they really were commemorating one of the greatest even after 30 years.

Event planning using quality photographic images custom to your organization’s event is an effective marketing strategy to capture and convey your organization’s beliefs, values and goals. What is the impression you want to deliver to your readers? Do you have images of people and events to show in your marketing efforts?  To learn more on enhancing marketing effectiveness contact janice@milhemimages.com. To see more images like the one below visit www.milhemphoto.com