From sign language to insurance, Baby Fair helps parents

Like hundreds of other young couples walking through the Spokane Convention Center on Sunday, Jason and Becky Sander had their eyes opened.

A year ago, the Sanders were living in Alaska, where Jason Sander, an Air Force captain, was assigned. After being transferred to Fairchild Air Force Base, the Sanders said, they needed a quick introduction to local services for families with young children.

They found just that at the ninth-annual Spokane Baby Fair, a for-profit event promoted by Clear Channel Communications Corp. The company owns several radio stations in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

“It seemed like a good way to see what Spokane has to offer,” said Becky Sander, who is expecting the couple’s third child in August.

The Sanders and about 1,600 other adults at Sunday’s fair found vendors offering traditional education and health products, along with several providing services not usually found at an event like this.

Two Spokane companies that teach toddlers and parents how to communicate through sign language had booths in the convention center. Both companies – My Little Signer and Signs With Me – sold videos and handed out pamphlets on the benefits of teaching sign language to children as young as 6 months old.

Also on hand were a couple of major insurance firms eager to explain the importance of health and life coverage for couples just starting a family.

“We really did see this as a great opportunity to talk to young parents and gain some name recognition,” said Rachel Cazier, who runs a Northwestern Mutual Financial Network agency in Coeur d’Alene.

Cazier, a 2004 business major from Gonzaga University, spent $600 on a booth, another $120 on materials plus other costs to have an assistant on hand during Sunday’s fair.

The payoff, in her view, was a list of 200 people who want more information on life insurance plans offered by her company.

To many parents visiting her booth, Cazier preached the importance of a life insurance policy not just for parents but for children as well.

Those whole-life policies for youngsters can lock in a lifetime coverage plan before any medical conditions arise that may affect coverage and insurance costs.

Another insurance company, Allstate, put together two booths during the fair. One agent, Craig Davis, handed out literature on home and life insurance plans.

But the biggest attraction, Davis said, was a DNA safety kit the company was giving out. Each kit included a fingerprint pad and a container for holding a clipping of a child’s hair.

“We gave away 250 of those kits in two hours,” Davis said.

Ronell Bracy, the event coordinator for Clear Channel Communications, said the company continues to hold the fair for two reasons.

“It’s a good way for us to help promote the various businesses and nonprofits in this area that work with families.”

It also is, she said, a way for Clear Channel to establish closer ties with advertisers who will buy airtime on the company’s stations.

“Certainly, that’s another key reason we do it. We want to understand those businesses better and develop even better relationships with them.”