Field Notes Inside an Integrated Communications Agency

The ‘Canes came out with their new alternate jerseys yesterday. They held a press conference for the big roll-out on center ice. All black and not even a real hurricane warning logo on the front – but the symbol for a tropical storm. I’m certainly not rushing out for milk, bread, ice and beer.

Their explanation? ‘The symbol is what’s displayed when a possible hurricane is 36 hours from hitting shore.’ I smell that we’re about 36 hours away from Jim Rutherford taking his team somewhere that stays nice and cold year-round.

 The company that gave us one of the world's most horrific environmental disasters is now serving up another spectacle -- this one colored green rather than muck-black.  Two decades after the Valdez spill, a corporate fight is spilling out of Exxon's boardroom.  

As reported by The New York Times, the Rockefeller family wants to strip Rex W. Tillerson of his position as chairman because of perceived foot-dragging on sustainability issues.

It's encouraging to see business titans battling to determine how to be strategically, effectively, profitably green.  Thomas "The World is Flat" Friedman indicated the green revolution won't have really started until people stop talking happy and start throwing elbows.  At that point we'll know something big is at stake.  Dressing down a a board chairman looks pretty big from here. 

What does Exxon do next?  Probably, the media attention means it has to get more out front on sustainability.  Chalk one up for the Rockefellers and the planet.

Having notched a devastating defeat in the NC primary, Hillary Clinton now needs to figure out how to lose like a winner.  She might just find a mentor in our own Clay Aiken.  The carrot-topped crooner turned a second-place "American Idol" finish into a first-rate career move.  Can Hillary do the same as it becomes clear she won't be the top "Democratic Idol" come convention time? 

My advice is for her to stay in the race a little longer, but to soften her tone.  Keep Obama on his toes.  He desperately needs a sparring partner, as his sputtering performances over the last two months make plain.  But don't draw blood. 

Then, once the superdelegates begin their group march toward Obama, Hill ought to graciously withdraw and move quickly into her next incarnation -- Obama campaigner, Senate superpower and globe-trotting diplomat.  Now as for Bill (who's still the coolest Democrat alive), that's a whole other question ...  

Yes, I said a million! And yes, I'm that enthusiastic about my latest project -a campaign Web site for Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC's Million Step March.

As of today, you can join the march at www.betterhealthnc.com. BCBSNC is encouraging North Carolinians to be physically active while their march team walks across the state - literally. Even more, you can join the Million Step Challenge online and track the number of steps you take throughout the campaign. There's even a nifty counter on the site to track the number of steps we take collectively, as a state.

I, for one, am proud to have worked on a project that will touch so many people in such a positive way. In fact, I may even get up and walk around the building right now!

Thanks to my teammates who made this site possible. And thanks to my client for enabling me to do work that matters.

House Bill 267 requires that all North Carolina businesses with alcohol permits sort and have collected all glass, plastics and cans. Furthermore, any new businesses wishing to obtain alcohol permits must provide proof of contracted service to have recycling picked up. I salute such a huge step in the direction of sustainability. Business owners are sure to feel the pinch, however, and there is little doubt that consumers will share in that discomfort. It's important that the General Assembly run with the ball it's picked up and not drop it. Currently only 5 of 100 counties are offering to collect businesses' recyclables. Only 51 are going to allow businesses to drop off at community collection centers. Hopefully this burden will continue to be eased. As the old adage goes, you can certainly catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Senate Bill 862 - Smoke-free UNC - serves to:

"Allow regulation of smoking on the campuses of the UNC Health Care System, the facilities of the East Carolina School of Medicine and Physicians Practice Plan, and the buildings and grounds of the constituent institutions of the University of North Carolina."

To clarify, 'constituent institutions' means all member schools in the University of North Carolina system, and 'regulation' is defined as the prohibiting of smoking inside and within 100 linear feet of any building on the campus of any aforementioned institution. Legislation like this, and programs such as the North Carolina Health Wellness Trust Fund, are helping to shape and articulate national opinions on a number of important issues, from the economics of health care to the responsibility required of all of us in order to affect change. North Carolina is clearly ready to honor its legacy on Tobacco Road with smart, progressive decisions that will help safeguard its future.

Both pieces of legislation deserve kudos, and both have me feeling pretty great about Capstrat, and about my work that matters. To read more about new NC legislation ringing in with the new year, try these tips:

• Download the PDF . WARNING! EXTREMELY DRY READ!

• Grab your nearest Google search bar and type: "effective january 1, 2008" legislation inurl:ncleg. Takes you straight to the meaty bits. Supplement this search with additional keywords ('recycling,' for example) to further narrow the search. 

And if you see something you don't like, or otherwise have a strong opinion about, track down your representative and voice it.