What's in a name? Call them photographers; call them writers. Call them publicists; call them press box assistants. Call them calf scramble promoters; call them crowd surveyors. "If you want something done, just call on this committee!" said Melissa Hernlund, Communications - Editorial staff coordinator. How can one committee accomplish so much? Chairman Mary Jane Albert's abilities to coordinate her 143 committee members into several distinct subcommittees, combined with tight scheduling, long hours and hard work, constitute the recipe for success.
Originally named the Industrial Editors Committee, having evolved from the Calf Scramble Committee in the early 1940s, it became known as the Communications Committee in 1975. In 1988, it was divided into two committees: the Communications-Editorial Committee and the Communications-Broadcast Committee. The one thing that has never changed is the focus on assisting in the Show's marketing and promotional efforts. During July and September, Albert's committee begins the season with several days of telephone surveying for the Show's research efforts. Approximately 2,000 surveys furnish detailed information that is keyed into the Show's computerized database from which demographic details for sponsorships, entertainer selection and other projects are drawn. "This information is vital to our marketing department," said Hernlund. In January, working directly with the marketing department, the committee sends out more than 1,100 pre-Show press releases on livestock show entrants to radio stations, newspapers and television stations across the state. The "stuffing party" also includes sending computer runs for entries of each 4-H club and FFA chapter across the state and pre-Show brochures, to newspapers throughout Texas. Quilt winners also receive their own press releases in January, which are mailed to the county ambassadors with photographs, taken by committee photographers. After three years of serving as officer in charge, Bill Teague has dubbed the Communications-Editorial Committee members "quiet heroes" for their behind-the-scenes service. "The calf scramble boys and girls are just a few who benefit by having press releases and photographs sent to each of their hometown newspapers," said Teague. "Each night, five committeemen work in the press box as hosts to assist members of the media. Not only do we help them with their seating, but we also are there to answer their questions and relate what's going on," explained Albert. She also said that one committeeman assists Johnnie Westerhaus of the marketing department on the production stand located on the Astrodome arena floor by helping with writing down times of events, answering the phones and two-way radios, and anything else to help. The photographers are busiest during the calf scramble each night, shooting the action-filled event for press releases. Photographers take arena shots that will be given to the donors. They provided more than 500 pictures this year, with duplicates of each going to the calf scramble winners. "Some of our best times are enjoyed down in the arena - it is never dull," Albert chuckled. "We even give a 'Gold Cup Award' to our committeeman who relates the best story of happenings on the arena floor." Crowd surveys taken at three Astrodome entrances and two ramps provide further research data for the marketing department. This year, 16 committee members, working every performance, completed between 4,000 and 5,000 surveys as the public found its way into the Astrodome. Albert said, "Not everyone wants to stop and talk; most of them are in a hurry to get inside and see the show, so it takes very personable committee members to extract this information." "Agreeable, dependable and tireless" just begin to describe the Communications-Editorial Committee members. They epitomize everything that Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo volunteers represent. They truly are "quiet heroes."
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