Mark's Very Short, Very Much Edited, Year-in-Review

Mark's 2008 in Review: Work Highlights

***MGAPR continued to provide special events and travel planning to 88.5FM/WFCR and its AM broadcast service, 640AM/WNNZ. (for 22 years -- yikes, time flies !!!) MGAPR assisted the stations by producing annual performances of "The Capitol Steps" and a reading/booksigning with best-selling author/memoirist Augusten Burroughs, whose "A Wolf At The Table" is set in our region. We organized a Santa Fe Opera trip (which will be repeated in 2009). MGAPR also helped the station partner with local non-profit cultural organizations via event co-sponsorships.

***MGAPR partnered with the Mike Thornton Agency to assist with marketing and publicity for New England performances by The Capitol Steps in Vermont and Cambridge/Boston.

***MGAPR worked with Cross-Culture Journeys in Amherst on several projects, including press and publicity for its international tours, copy for its website and newsletters, and efforts to enhance its partnerships with public broadcasting stations and other non-profit institutions.

***Other projects included serving on the Editorial Board of the Northfield Mount Hermon School's award-winning NMH Magazine; editing (for the 11th year) an online newsletter that launched during my early days at AOL; teaching a marketing/public relations workshop for my colleaue Brenda Garton at Western New England College; providing coffee and copy for resumes and cover letters for several unemployed colleagues; and strategic planning for several clients.

Mark's 2008 in Review: Play

***I spent many hours iced-caffeinating and tanning--for the latter, I made daily trips to the condo pool, where I edited the poolside gossip newsletter, organized a couple of dinner outings, and a picnic evening for some summer Shakespeare.

***I worked with classmates on organizing my Northfield Mount Hermon class reunion, and managed a great early-June weekend with my prep school buddies. I was re-elected class secretary and to the next reunion committee (scheduled for 2013). It is comforting to know that our class remains eternally youthful, and a tad scary to see us progressing to the front of the line for the parade--where the oldest classes march first.

***My best friend in Berlin (and former roomate from my Manhattan days) came to the USA for a week. We ran around New York City and took in a performance of Patti LuPone in "Gypsy". Other memorable theatre trips included "The Little Dog Laughed" at Hartford's TheaterWorks, "Xanadu" with Cheyenne Jackson on Broadway, "South Pacific" at Lincoln Center, and a great local production of "The Miracle Worker" in which my neighbor's daughter took on the role of Anne Sullivan with a performance that was really incredible.

People That Highlighted My Year

***I've been given a great opportunity to collaborate with some talented creative people; 2008 was no exception. It was a joy to work with Greg Jones at Cannes Associates, an event production coordination group; designers Susan Bergeron-West at Sirius Design, Kevin Brady at LSHD, and Michael Kusek at Communication Angle. I've had a great group of colleagues at WFCR, who always make my performance and travel projects look good.

***Two good buddies kept me grounded and focused. One, a buddy from work is making a remarkable recovery from a stem cell transplant to cure his lymphoma. His treatments have been successful. He's been extremely brave throughout his journey. We, along with an entourage of friends, get together for not-frequent-enough lunches and laughter. I'm glad they continued in 2008 and will move forward in 2009. Another buddy was abruptly laid off by his company in July. I helped him format his resume, his cover letters, and his thank you letters; I kept him caffeinated in the process and played cheerleader; I was more excited than he was, when he began a new (and better ) job this month.

***My Dad, who had a tough time after my Mom died in 2006, met a family friend who had been widowed at about the same time. They've become the neighborhood's fun couple, and I sometimes get to go along for the ride.

So, thanks to all who made 2008 memorable, and here's hopes that 2009 shines.

Mark