You’ve seen brass Vlogs before (Mii & Wii, Training with a Legend), but this is a kind of prequel–the first one Randy, Video Editor, ever made. In it you’ll meet Dan, Graphic Designer, and Mark (we don’t know who he is, but rest assured, we’re determined to track him down and get him the help he so obviously needs).
Without further ado …
Adding a little humor to your Monday,–Jennie
We recently got to catch up with Mary Osborne, pro surfer, former Surf Girls star and May 2006 cover story. Mary says things are going great, this past week she won a Pro Longboard Association event in Ventura, California. She had one thing to say about the contest–”Wahooo!!!”
Surfing competitively isn’t the only thing Mary’s been up to; she filled us in on two other projects she’s immersed herself in. First off, Mary will be hosting an All Girls Surf Camp in August in association with Ventura Makos Surf Camp.
Then in October, Mary is slated to be a featured surfer aboard The Surf Cruise Cup, a cruise that’s all about surfing. Joining her will be three-time longboard champion Colin McPhillips, and Robert “Wingnut” Weaver–who starred in two Endless Summer movies, as well as the amazing 2003 surf documentary Step Into Liquid.
“[The] Surf Cruise Cup is going to be a blast. I recommend all families, surfers and music lovers join in,” Mary says.
The boat will set sail on a week-long trip to prime surf spots in Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlan and Puerto Vallarta. Check out this poster (PDF).
Be sure to check back here at the brass Blog for more past cover story updates.
–Peter
If you’re looking for a way to get more involved with brass, look no further. There are a lot of ways: you can share the news, let us know what you think, tells us about inspiring young adults you know of, or even write for the magazine! Check it out, get involved, and help bring info about money and real world stuff™ to young adults across the country.
Sharebrass
We now have a one-stop resource for you to stay involved with our current efforts here at brass. Sharebrass.com has just launched and will be the showcase for the latest news, products, and happenings from brass|MEDIA. With Gen Y in a financial crisis, we literally cannot afford to wait on spreading information about money and real world stuff™. We need change makers like all of you to visit sharebrass.com and help us spread the word.
Our current effort to change the world is brass|TV – a documentary style show which, using feature stories, short-form segments, and interstitials mixes relevant information about money with the straightforward, younger voice brass is known for. Using the Action Center on sharebrass.com, you can help us spread the word about brass|TV through a variety of channels, all with the goal of getting brass|TV picked up by a major television network.
Tell us what you think!
The reader survey we offered recently isn’t the only time you can chime in. You can tell us what you think anytime by visiting brassmagazine.com/feedback. Did you like the cover? What do you think about our website? Does brass need more cowbell? We want to know!
Someone who rocks
We’re always looking for inspiring young adults for the cover of brass|MAGAZINE. If you know or know of someone you think is inspiring, tell us about them. Send an email to editor@brassmedia.com or visit brassmagazine.com/suggest_a_topic, and we’ll check it out.
Write for brass
We’re always looking for young writers interested in contributing to brass. Sign up at brassmagazine.com/contribute to get contributor emails with available article assignments and to start pitching your own ideas.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
–Jennie
You read in this issue’s Take Two column all about William Wrigley Jr. Company (NYSE: WWY). You might also have read that Wrigley has agreed to be purchased by Mars, Inc. with a little help from Warren Buffett. This announcement came after we went to press (Murphy’s Law, anyone?), so we asked the writers of the Take Two article what they thought about this new development.
Charles Worthman
Mars, Inc. recently agreed to buy William Wrigley Jr. Co. for approximately $23 billion, which equates to 4.1x revenue and 18.4x EBITDA. As per the Take Two column this May, this could be considered expensive. Yet it might not be expensive should Mars be able to reduce expenses via synergies.
Second, the merger with Mars will help head off competitive threats by giving the company more power to negotiate with vendors and by using Mars distribution channels and other resources.
Third, while growth is still an issue it becomes less so in a private company that might be content to simply milk the produce line without dealing with shareholders.
Finally, while brand loyalty is not as high in gums, Wrigley still could face competitive threats but will have more scale and more fire power to fight these threats especially on pricing.
Chris Lahiji
Whoa, what a turn of events.
Mars and Wrigley are teaming up to make the largest confection factory in the world, and one of the world’s greatest investors, Warren Buffet is financing a piece of it.
This is a great move because as the developing world is getting wealthier and wealthier, hygiene becomes important, and the cheapest way of improving your hygiene is by having great breath.
Seriously though, gum is anti-recessionary and so is candy.
Good move.
Thanks guys!
-Jennie
As promised in the May issue of brass|MAGAZINE, here’s the entertaining follow-up to the brass Team Member profile on Special Projects guy, Zack Marker. It’s also the second installation of our brass Vlog and Randy is back in action. For those of you that have yet to check out Zack’s full profile on page 1 of our latest issue, I’ll catch you up:
brass staffer Zack, 23, is a lover of good food who is known for posting pics of his culinary creations on Facebook. When he’s not on camera in the Video Department or sneaking treats from the break room, he runs to keep his eating habit from becoming a weight problem. This past weekend he ran his third marathon. Here’s a sneak peek at his rigorous training regime:
Are you on Facebook? Do you realize that the site has more than 70 million active users? There are more than 14 million photos uploaded daily and more than 6 million active user groups.
But you probably already know this. What you may not know is that brass is on Facebook. Check out our Page with lots of photos, feeds, notes, videos, contests and prizes. You can connect with other readers, contributors and brass staffers. Be sure to post your favorite articles, links, and even articles YOU contributed in our Posted Items. Leave your thoughts on our Wall and get talking in our Discussions. It’s where YOU get to connect with all that is brass! Become a Fan and share the page with others!
Speaking of prizes, the first person to post on our wall and mention this blog post gets one of our cool T-shirts! (That link is to a pic sent in from one of our last T-shirt winners–thanks for posting Mike!)
If you’re not familiar with Facebook, check out what founder/CEO Bryan Sims has to say about social networking sites. Thanks for reading and for sharing the news!
- Jennie
Big news brass fans: The latest issue is online and in the mail. As I speak, a massive truck is pulling up outside my window with just a “few” of the over 550,000 mags that will head out around the country. (I’m seriously hoping that truck doesn’t run over my boss’ car…yikes!)
Just in time for National Volunteer Week!
As it turns out, the release coincides with National Volunteer Week and we’re especially proud of this issue. Our cover story, At Your Service: The making of a firefighter, features 24-year-old Dan Murray of the Seattle Fire Department. While he is just one of over a million dedicated paid and volunteer firefighters in the U.S., he is also part of the elite 1.23 percent that made the cut for the Seattle Fire Department (SFD) – a place even more competitive to get into than Harvard. And it turns out, about 72% of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers, which is exactly where Dan got his start. Check out the story online and be sure to view the full story and photos by using the PDF link in the top right corner. Still want more? Take a peek at photos from the cover shoot we’ve posted.
And to get you into the spirit of National Volunteer Week, one of our May feature stories, Kick Start Your Heart, will get you hitting the pavement for a good cause. On Wednesday, brass interns Jens and Susie blogged about how they got involved in volunteering during their college days this week and offer up some tips for you.
Take Three
You might have heard that Warren Buffett and Mars, Inc. are teaming up to purchase Wrigley, the company featured in this issue’s Take Two column. Stay tuned next week when we’ll have an update and see what our two stock columnists, Chris and Charles, think about this new development.
That’s the update for now. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to check out all the new May issue, get inspired, and find a way to get involved this month. (Oh yeah, and be sure to let us know what you think.) Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!
- Sarah
You deal with feedback all day long from teachers, bosses, and parents. Now it’s your turn to speak up. Everyone’s got something to say and we want you to say it in the brass|MAGAZINE READER SURVEY. It’s cool for you in two ways: First, filling out the survey gives you a chance to win $1,000. And second, it gives you a chance to tell us what you really think about brass|MAGAZINE. Straight from your mouth to our ears… figuratively speaking, of course. All it takes is five to ten minutes to participate in the brass|MAGAZINE READER SURVEY. It’s quick and easy. Just head here or click the image below, complete the survey, and don’t forget to register for your chance to win $1,000 in cash.
We want to hear everything! Topics you want us to cover or want us to shut up about? Do you like the design or find it lacking in little porcelain gnomes? We want to know!
So check it out already. The deadline for survey submissions is March 31, 2007.
Seeing as it’s Monday, I thought I’d post a little pick-me-up for the start of your week. You deserve it–especially if your week, like mine, is shaping up to be veeerrrry long. (At least there was the always entertaining staff meeting and free brownies–thanks Jennie!)
Take a peek at the video below. We think it’s worth the 3 minutes and 44 seconds to watch what brass staffer Randy did when we set him loose with the video equipment…
Have you ever heard of a man named Max Yasgur? If you have, then you might guess what’s coming. If you haven’t, I’ll give you a little background.
Max Yasgur was a farmer near Bethel, New York. Neither one would have been important if it weren’t for the fact that Yasgur let the hippies throw a concert on his farm in 1969. You may have heard about it in your history class–Woodstock.
Now, the home of Woodstock is up for sale. The place includes the original homestead (Yasgur’s house, a farmhouse, a barn, and over 103 acres.) If only I had $8 million…Note to self: host something historical on my parent’s farm (they really have one), wait a few decades, then sell it for millions and retire. Brass-stock…brass-a-palooza…anyone?
Speaking of this outrageous idea for a massive brass sing-along, our CEO caught one of our staffers last night who might be interested on video. He’s even got a pop-star nickname here at brass (thanks for being such a good sport Marky Mark).
- Jennie
