By Rick Griffin
Clint August, weekday afternoon host on KGB-FM 101.5, will host the 16th annual May Ride, a motorcycle ride fundraiser on Armed Forces Day, next Saturday, May 19, at Biggs Harley Davidson in San Marcos.
All registration fees will be donated to Home Front San Diego, a nonprofit that serves military families. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the ride begins at 9:30 a.m. Cost to ride the 45-mile route is $20 per rider, or $30 for a rider and passenger. The ride fee includes a pancake breakfast and lunch (for the first 600 riders).
The afternoon after-ride party is expected to draw several thousand people. Admission is free to the party. Activities will include live music, vendors, raffles, a car and bike show, Lucha Libre wrestling, BMX stunts, and a kids zone and play area.
“It’s a ride, music festival and party all rolled into one,” said August, who has worked in local radio since April 1998. “The music and kids zone at the after-party is for everyone, whether you ride or not. Families will love it. We have a great group of core people who help make this happen every year. The link that holds all of us together is the love and appreciation that we have for our men and women in uniform, both past and present.”
Over the past 16 years, August estimates, the event has raised nearly $100,000. During the past 20 years, he was worked at Channel 93.3, 91X, Rock 105.3 and KGB-FM.
For more information, visit www.MayRide.com, or call (858) 442-2733.
Taxpayers Association Announces Media Watchdog Award Nominees
The San Diego County Taxpayers Association, a watchdog organization that promotes accountable, cost-effective and efficient government, has announced nominees for its 2018 Media Watchdog awards. The awards recognize journalistic efforts that expose misuse of taxpayer dollars. Media Watchdog awards are among SDCTA’s Golden Watchdog and Fleece Awards that recognize the best and worst in local government spending, decision making and efficiency.
This year’s Media Watchdog nominees include: Lisa Halverstadt, Voice of San Diego, for coverage of hepatitis A; NBC 7 Responds Team for coverage of San Diego water bill spikes; Mario Koran and Ashly McGlone, Voice of San Diego, for coverage of sexual misconduct cases in San Diego school districts; and Morgan Cook, San Diego Union-Tribune, for coverage of Rep. Duncan Hunter.
The taxpayers association will present the awards on Thursday, May 17 at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel.
Interactive Day 2018 to Draw Digital Leaders
The 14th annual Interactive Day San Diego will be held from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 18, in downtown San Diego. This year’s theme is “Collide with Tomorrow.”
Presented by SDX, the event features information about the newest industry trends and best techniques from the top marketing and tech leaders in the field, as well as a great opportunity to mingle with many of the region’s smartest and most innovative strategists, story-tellers and social media mavens. Four tracks will be offered, titled “Influence,” “Inspire,” “Intelligence” and “Innovate.”
Cost to attend is $449 for members of SDX and the American Advertising Federation , $549 for nonmembers and $349 for students.
Speakers include: Brandon Farbstein, Ten Feet Tall; Dhani Jones, Qey Capital Partners; Josh Higgins, Facebook; Lisen Stromberg , The 3% Movement; Ryan Detert, Influential; Ryan Mulvany, Quiverr, an Amazon Agency; Mike Duda, Bullish; Josh Greenberg, Tool North America; Jenny Thomassian, Google; Mara Lecocq, Secret Code; and Cherry Parks, Qualcomm.
Opening and closing keynotes will take place at the Balboa Theatre. Exhibitors, food and entertainment will be located on J Street, between 9th and 10th avenues. For more details, visit www.interactiveday.com or call SDX at (619) 255-2281.
Direct Marketers Learn About Brand Audits
SD Direct will host “Five Steps to Knockout Competition with a Brand Audit” from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, at UCSD Extension, Room 317, at 6256 Greenwich Drive. The speaker will be Brian Lischer, CEO and creative director of Igntye, a San Diego-based branding agency specializing in brand strategy, identity and storytelling. Discussion topics will include what’s included in a brand audit, the tangible benefits, how to conduct an audit, who should be involved and the ideal time.
Cost to attend is $20 for members, $40 for guests and $12 for students. To RSVP, visit www.sddirect.org. Lischer founded his firm in 2013. His articles have been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur, Huffington Post and Brand Quarterly. A graduate of UC San Diego, he is a leading voice on the psychology of branding.
Rick Griffin is a San Diego-based public relations and marketing consultant. His MarketInk column appears weekly on Mondays in Times of San Diego.
