Eastern Washington University’s “Admissions Brochure,” Shriners Hospitals for Children’s “Face Off Advertising Campaign,” and RESCUE! Pest Control Products’ “StinkBugSmackdown.com” were the big winners at the 18th Annual Spark Awards, presented last week at the Lincoln Center.

The awards are presented to area agencies and organizations by the Spokane Regional Marketing and Communications Association (Spokane MarCom).

More than 70 entries covering publications, feature stories, web design and media relations campaigns were submitted.

Top entries that received the Brightest Spark awards were:

•  “EWU Admissions Brochure” – EWU Marketing & Communications
•  “Face Off Advertising Campaign” – Shriners Hospitals for Children
•  “StinkBugSmackdown.com” – RESCUE! Pest Control Products

A full list of all winners presented by Spokane Marcom is at this link.

The next development meeting organized by the Spokane Regional Marketing and Communications Association features powerhouse media figure Shawne Duperon.

The association, which goes by Spokane MarCom, for short, will host Duperon, a six-time Emmy Award broadcaster and media lecturer. She will discuss working with the media more effectively.

The event runs from 7 to 11 a.m. Feb. 1 at the Lincoln Center, 1316 N. Lincoln St. It includes breakfast. To register or get more details, visit www.SpokaneMarCom.org. (Rates are lower for members and for students.)

Her bio at ShawneTV.com, notes she  is an expert speaker who travels widely to address businesses and media professionals and discuss how communication affects attitudes and outcomes.

The MarCom announcement said Duperon will focus on:

•  Interview techniques that have you and the reporter looking exquisite. (Really, that's what it says.)
•  How to not sound like a commercial and have editors run screaming the other way,
•  How to handle any hostile questions.

The weekly lineup of events and morning sessions include the following:

• Dec. 4,  a conversation with Chris Majer, hosted by Greater Spokane Inc. At the GSI offices downtown, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.  Cost of tickets: $25 for members. Majer played a key role in raising funds and building support for the new and expanded Mobius Science Center. He's listed as the founder and CEO of that nonprofit education center.
• Dec. 5, GSI sponsors another of its regular “Meet Your Legislators” sessions. This Wednesday evening event is at the Davenport Hotel, and includes visits by Rep. Timm Ormsby (D - Spokane), Sen. Mike Padden (R-Spokane Valley) and Rep. J.T. Wilcox (R-Yelm). The session runs from 3 to 5 p.m, followed by 5:15 p.m. reception. Cost is $50 for members, $80 for others. Register here.
    
• Dec. 7, Spokane MarCom Group sponsors a 7 a.m.-9 a.m. “branding your business” session at the Lincoln Center, featuring John Bryant and Mark Irvin describing their vision for Spokane's No-Li Brewhouse. To register, go to the group site, www.SpokaneMarCom.org. Advance ticket purchase is suggested. 

The event includes a breakfast, and costs $20 for members at the door, $30 for non-members, $5 for student members and $15 for student non-members.

Three area groups and their ad agencies won the top awards in the recent Spark Awards, presented by Spokane Regional MarCom Association, made up of area marketing and public relations professionals.

About 80 different Spark awards were presented to groups, businesses and associations for creative work. This was the 15th year the Spark Awards were presented, said MarCom Event Chair Leslie White Hebert of Coffman Engineers.    

The three top “Brightest Spark” awards went to:

• GONZAGA UNIVERSITY and Spokane agency Magner Sanborn, for the spring 2009 fundraising campaign “Share Inspiration.”   The fundraising effort, with a strong emphasis on social media and e-mail marketing, was cited also for the Dussault Award, which recognizes a campaign that “enhances the vitality and vibrancy of the community,” according to a citation from a group of Seattle judges who made that selection.

• The CITY OF SPOKANE, with Coeur d’Alene agency Hanna & Associates, for a water conservation campaign for citizens called “Slow the Flow.”

• THE SPOKANE REGIONAL CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU, along with Spokane agency Klundt | Hosmer, for the social media campaign “SpoTweetDeals.”