Santas Anonymous - Dad would have simply said... "Thank You Edmonton!"

I was lucky to be born a Forbes.

I was lucky to have Jerry Forbes as my Father.

Murray McIntyre 'Jerry' Forbes

I was lucky to watch the amazing growth of his 'baby' - 630 CHED's Santas Anonymous - as I grew up as a 5 year old here in 1955 and watched year after year to see how it has blossomed to where it sits today as (his line) "part of the social fabric of Edmonton."

Being very young in the 50's I have little recollection of the early years of Santas Anonymous but as I grew up Christmas was a pretty special time of the year in the Forbes household .

Brothers Gord, Gerry and I all followed Dad into the radio business and all were geographically separated from both of our parents in Edmonton and Toronto for most of our lives.

However when we were all fortunate enough to be under one roof with Dad Santas Anonymous was very much part of our gatherings.

Often Dad would be on the phone (his line) 'directing traffic' to the crew - station personnel at their 107th street downtown location - the Chief Elf Gary Draeger for the many years he handled Santas - and/or just friends and people we don't even know phoning the house with stories.

To this day I can see Dad in 'his chair' - fire crackling - a glass of Cutty Sark in his hand - pipe firmly in his lips as above - and some Dinah Washington on the 'record player' waiting for that final phone call that said "it's done Jer - we did it again!'

What started in that downtown building with approximately 300 toys has now grown to around 25,000 toys annually.  It is one of the biggest toy donation programs 'in the world!'

Three generations of Edmontonians have now been part of the experience of bundling up in the cold weather (and some years have had MAJOR blizzards) - often with their children and now grand children in hand - getting their green garbage bags full of toys; addresses and directions and heading out on delivery day.

Joel Forbes standing by the streets named after Dad in Riverbend.

Over the years, as CHED was sold by Moffat Communications - they moved out of the downtown core on to Roper Road - joining CISN, FRESH FM, and i880 news under the Corus banner.




Also, over the years, a few other 'key' people have had the reins of Santas Anonymous including Debbie Walker and now Lana Norland.

Both have taken the program to new heights; both have had several major challenges to keep the program as successful as it is today.

Currently there is a group of us who have been working on building a permanent home for Santas Anonymous, which would include several other community groups all working under one roof.

This will be dedicated to my late Father and his work with Santas Anonymous and be called The Jerry Forbes Centre for Community Spirit.  

Information is here:  http://jerryforbescentre.ca

Dad passed away at just 58 years of age in September of 1981 but every December he is 'very much alive' as 630 CHED airs his legendary 'A Creature was Stirring' that honours the true champions of Santas Anonymous - YOU - the volunteers and people who deliver presents to needy families in our city.

Here's a great video of how the entire program has worked over all these years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--T8_e6J16Q

And here's the Creature "audio."   http://santasanonymous.ca/galleries-media/audio-video/

Each September approximately 2,500 Edmonton motorcyclists host an annual Santas Toy Run and thousands of toys, and dollars, are donated to the cause.  http://edmontonmotorcycletoyrun.info

Edmonton Santas Toy Run - Capilano Mall

The cash donated during the Toy Run  is used to buy 'supplies' for Santas Anonymous - ie. Scotch tape, wrapping paper, etc.

The Toy Run is culminated at Hawrelak Park where bikers from every walk of life - from Hell's Angels to Grandma's gather.

Each and every Christmas I take a few personal moments to find a quiet corner and 'reflect' on this amazing event.    There is no way to measure my pride; nor of how wonderful it is that my children also enjoy the benefit of the name Forbes - and how his 'giving back to the community' is very much a part of their daily lives.

Every year I enjoy hearing his 'A Creature was Stirring' on 630 CHED - which is likely the longest running piece of creative on Canadian Radio.  I've searched high and low through industry sites and simply can't find anything that has run on any radio station in Canada year after year for close to 45 plus years.

Finally...I'm asked often "What would your Dad say if he were alive today ?"

My answer is very simple - honest - and respectful!

He'd simply say............................. "THANK YOU EDMONTON!"



                                     Merry Christmas from the Forbes Family!

---
The list of people to thank is far too long to list - however special thanks goes out to the family of Gary Draeger; Bob McCord for Production of 'A Creature was Stirring'; Corus Radio for keeping the memory of Dad alive all these years; the people of Edmonton who deliver the programs; and all the volunteers who help out in one way or the other year after year. 

---

Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree 2014

Dec 18 thru 21st, 2014 - Jubilee Auditorium


TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW 

Here's the full information for this years wonderful 
Christmas show.  

---

John Cameron Entertainment is pleased to announce that tickets for this years Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree performances (Dec 18-21st at the Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium) are about to go on sale and this year there are two different ways to access tickets.

First off, you can sign up to the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree newsletter and you will receive an exclusive pre-sale opportunity Oct 15-17th to purchase tickets prior to them going on sale to the General Public.

Go to www.edmontonsingingchristmastree.com and click on the FAQ link.

Simply sign up and shortly you will receive an email invitation to buy 'any ticket to any show' with a unique pre sale code and direct link to Ticketmaster.   It's a great way to sit wherever you desire with family and friends at this wonderful Christmas show.

Tickets then officially go on sale to the general public on Saturday October 18th through TICKETMASTER or via the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree website.

SHOWTIMES this year are:

Thursday, December 18, 7 p.m.

Friday, December 19, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 20, 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 21, 2 p.m.

Tickets are once again priced at just $30 to $65.

This years show features our legendary 35-foot singing Christmas tree adorned with thousands of glimmering lights, filled with 150 heart-felt singers, all accompanied by a live orchestra and some of the finest entertainment in Alberta - including the hottest voice in current country music...

Brett Kissel

Brett is enjoying a huge year after the release of his Warner Records CD 'Started with a Song' having won several industry awards including a pretigous Juno Award.  Currently he is on tour across Canada opening for country superstar Brad Paisley.

John Cameron states: "We're so pleased to have Brett join us this year.  Allready we are getting lots of requests for tickets to see the show and having Brett perform with us will truly be spectacular." 

Proceeds from the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree are distributed to several local charities through the Edmonton Singing Christmas Tree Foundation, and since moving into the Jubilee Auditorium five years ago more than $700,000 has been directed to Santas Anonymous; the Christmas Bureau; the Edmonton Food Bank, and the Edmonton Public School Board Foundation in support of music programs.

This years show is 'proudly' presented by Bill and Grace Knight!

For tickets, go to www.ticketmaster.ca or access the ESCT website - www.edmontonsingingchristmastree.com 

Follow us on Instagram, edmsingingxmastree - or on Twitter @edmsingingtree - and LIKE our Facebook page. 

For more information please contact:   

Marty Forbes

mforbes07@shaw.ca

780 905 7860

Edmonton Bikers "Making Noise for Santas Anonymous"

There's been an ongoing  contraversy here about motorcycle noise.  Granted there is a debate about whether bikers noise is a safety factor (if you can hear me you can see me) or just some clown who wants to be the loudest jerk on two wheels.

Either way I can safely bet there were precious few complaints today (Sept 28) when more than 2,000 bikers started their engines and left the Capilano Mall parking lot on their way to Hawrelak Park in their quest to help children at Christmas.

During the last Sunday each September, since 1984, the motorcycle community meets at the Mall for their annual toy run to assist 630 CHED Santas Anonymous.

Virtually every type of two wheel (and now three wheel) vehicle shows up at the ride, many adorned with gifts that will be distributed to Edmonton's needy at Christmas this year.  

Little 50cc Honda Cubs - the brand new Polaris Slingshot (picture) - Bombardier Spyders - Scooters - and they're all being ridden by men, women, war veterans, Hells Angels, and even some of the 'elite' fund raising business people in our city - the likes of Quick Cards Lyle Best.

There are millions of dollars worth of fine metal at this event every year....


....and as Head Elf Lana Nordland understates "yes this is a very pricey parking lot!"

Bikers that don't bring toys contribute either through purchasing 50/50 tickets and/or by picking up this years 'custom' t-shirt as modelled here by my nephew Joel Forbes who drove in from Golden, BC for his first Toy Run.

This weekend is huge for Santas Anonymous with a large influx of toys and cash to officially start this years campaign.  The toys will be now be delivered to a warehouse at Northgate Industries and readied for 'volunteers' who will come wrap and designate the toys to the proper age group.

The bikers do a short route around the city and eventually end up at Hawrelak Park where the gathering is entertained by a classic rock band - enjoy find food from some of Edmonton's finest Food Trucks - and enjoy 'bonding with your brothers' no matter which walk of life you are from.



Fathers and Grandfathers.
Mothers and Grandmothers.
Kids and Grandkids all attend.


One group walked up to the volunteers holding the cash donation bins putting $20 bills in several of them.


When the volunteer said "thanks" they said "hang on...there's way more coming."


The cash is needed as much as the toys - paying for scotch tape, Christmas wrapping, and other needs for the annual campaign - which now donates over 25,000 toys in Edmonton.

It's an annual event for the Forbes Family.

If you know me that statement is obvious.  If you don't know me the reason it is so close to me is that my late father Jerry Forbes started Santas Anonymous in 1955.

Unfortunately Dad passed away in September in 1981 and obviously had no knowledge of this event and how it has become a very important part of the annual Santas Anonymous campaign.

However, as I get home and think about this day, I can vividly see him in my mind with an all too familiar look when he awaited the call from the likes of the late Gary Draeger saying "another year is done Jer...we did good." 

The fire place is going - the NFL is on the tv - there's a Cutty Sark scotch in his hand and he's likely enjoying the 'pride' of yet another campaign knowing that the citizens of Edmonton have made Santas Anonymous part of the "social fabric" of this city.

So - 'thank you' Edmonton motorcycle riders one and all.

Today, with the sound of 2,000 bikes starting up and heading towards Hawrelak, you get no apology from me for any 'noise' we make because it's damn well worthwhile!


                           Enjoy a few more pictures here from today's event.  

The Grinch (left) shows up every year with his dog dressed up too.



My Edmonton bike (right) is a 2009 Yamaha FJR 1300.  I keep
a Honda Gold Wing in Arizona.

Things I heard or overheard at HIVIO in San Diego

Hivio (means Hive in Spanish) is an annual 'non conference' in San Diego, California put on by Mark Ramsey.

Non-conference means it's by 'invite only' - as he gathers a wide variety of people from media from around the world to discuss current and future trends in radio, television, and new media.

As Mark states "....gather a 'hive' of smart people and amazing speakers to see, discuss, and develop big ideas and rising trends in on-demand, radio, content, social, mobile, and technology that will shake up all audio entertainment and information platforms."

http://hivio.com   (full session link here)

I proudly made the cut and highly enjoyed an 8 hour whirlwind day of high energy thoughts; positive thinking; innovative ideas; and interesting comments from not just Mark and his special guests but from the people I chatted with or simply stood beside waiting to introduce myself.

It's generally agreed that both radio and television are undergoing a huge paradgm shift in consumption mostly from technology but also from the dramaticaly changing habits of a new generation (that is often followed by the older generation).

Through consolodation companies have gotten larger and less mobile - and usually less 'innovative.'  I'm not criticizing just expressing my opinion.

It's awfully hard to roll out new platforms and ideas when you control 100 plus properties in various market sizes (remember how long it took/is taking to roll out HD?)

Here are some of the thoughts and comments from Hivio 2014.

Media/new media:  "It's a hodge podge.  We've confused the customer/listener/viewer."

"You don't fall in love with the distribution channel.  You fall in love with the content."

"Old media is losing consumption to 'everything' digital.  There's a huge platform of choice now."

"As brands become meda - media become brands."  (Describing how Red Bull does 'all' their own promotion/advertising/marketing through extreme sports tied to their target demographic)

"Take control of your own stream.  Go big or go home."

"It's all about storytelling in marketing.  The 30 second commercial is dead!"

"Make radio fun again.  How many 'did you hear' moments. "

"Podcasts taking over...listeners trained to 'on demand' with video...big trend to hear the best stuff."

"Music services adding personality...Pandora, iTunes, etc.  (distribution vehicle)"

"It's not about beating another station...it's about being a great radio station."

"Emotion - get in their heads!"  (discussing the positive commercials out there - ie. Dove type)

PD from large Austalian corporation "We used to come to North America often to listen and get ideas.  We stopped coming a few years ago."

"Invest in your own brand.  Be your own media."  (Referencing podcastone - Adam Corolla)

PD's/Talent:  "Look for companies willing to innovate and try new things.  Most often these days that's in a smaller market and a smaller company willing to learn from mistakes."

Question from Audience:  "Where's the farm team these days?  There's nowhere to learn on the fly anymore and noone to teach at those levels."

*Note: I'm working on an application to the CRTC with the Broadcast Educators Assoc of Canada to address this - more to follow - http://www.beac.ca

"Google hang outs are big for Next Gen's - they travel in packs."

Podcastone had 97 million downloads/listeners last month - quote from agency speaker "nobody has pitched me on a podcast!"  (Opportunity)

"You don't run commercials on a podcast - you integrate the commercial into the podcast - and the best ones are honest testimonials from the hosts."

Austalia again: "Our number one focus is talent."  Note:  Hammish and Andy work for this company - and hold multiple platforms in media - radio, tv, Youtube, etc.

Question to Aussie PD:  "What's the best promotion they ever did?"

A:  "They dropped a car out of an airplane and right on the target - the clients logo in a field.  Huge video exposure."

"Your social media accounts are part of your branding...if you don't or can't say it on the air don't...."  (Note: Most senior management are not even ON most SM platforms and few know of some of the crap that gets sent out under their brands.)

"With Social Media it's all about the share - or RT."

"Make sure your Social Media is mobile friendly - amazing how many sites/apps crap out."

"Make sure your Social Media is compatible with all platforms (and releases....some are cut when companies upgrade)"

Robert Rose:  "We need to again create 'delight' for our audiences.

"Share your audio in bite size pieces"  (Television does this best - who doesn't want to watch 24 after that short promo?)"

"The battlefield is the car dash. There is great change on the horizon."

"Downloading is dying a fast death - it's a streaming world now."

Final guest:  Randall the Honeybear...."Honeybear don't give a shit!"  (Youtube it...)

"I wouldn't want to be selling transmitters in 5 years."

"We've completed devalued the talent now - telling them people turn the station dial when they come on.  PPM is a creativity killer."

"We shop for talent in the Comedy Clubs - that's where you find the best storytellers these days."

From Twitter:  @hiviosd

Podcastone - "it might be tough to sell, but providing a network of shows and personalities enables podcastone to (package.)

"Remember that youtube is more than just a free place to host video - use the social platform."  (More monthly views than NBC/CBS/ABC/Fox combined.)

"Can't lives on won't street."   (Try new things.  More is learned through correcting mistakes than not trying)

"Building your email list is not about extending your marketing reach.  It's about being more engaged with your user."

"You're not in the radio business.  You're in the content curation and creation business."

"Pandora is now selling 'channels' and National clients are buying/programming their own feeds."

The wrap:

It's pretty obvious to see that change is going to continue in a rapidly evolving media/new media world.

To me it's not a 'them versus us' scenario which seems to come up every time I get into a discussion with current media folks.

Yes I'm into digital.  Yes I'm into creativity.  Yes I'm happy I lived through the greatest era in media (hence the invite) but the sooner RADIO has a full media plan to 'co-ordinate' and 'integrate' Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Vine, Instagram, Text, into their operation - constantly assessed from the top down - constantly evolving - then the quicker I think the 'rebuild' is going to take place.

And I don't mean built by your 'digital kid' but by Management, the PD, Promo, and Sales people.

Social Media should be the 'loop' that brings the listener/viewer back to Traditonal Media.  

When you remind me via your SM platforms that 'something I'm interested in' is coming on then I schedule the tune in.

"On demand" in television is beginning to shape "on demand" in radio.

We all don't live under YOUR schedule and still want to see - listen - and enjoy your best work but more and more so now 'on our own time frame - and on our own platform."

For businesses out there you too 'must' get caught up to mobile technology and the impact it is having on your current and future customers.

The best time to plant a tree is...'today'...and the same goes for Social Media.

It doesn't need to be completed 'tomorrow' but get on a platform that works for you, start to develop it, 'engage' with your customers and you too will benefit from the shifting viewing, reading, and listening habits that are going on currently.

It was a thrill to be part of such a progressive media/new media gathering and most of the innovation and creativity seems to be coming from 'outside' the business - but it matters not.

Media is media.

I'm passionate about it from the past.

I'm more passionate for the future - but only in the hands of 'creators.'

Marty Forbes
Radiowise Inc.

about.me/forbesmarty

*San Diego is a stunningly beautiful city...highly worth spending a few days here.*

Graves Disease - the Family Perspective

It's my turn to hurt.

If I don't express my thoughts today in print surely I will be on a Pyschiatrists couch trying to explain to him or her what the effects are of what our family has gone through these past few years with our daughter Rayanne's fight against Graves Disease.

Today is surgery number six....but before I discuss that, some history.

About three years ago Rayanne's body seemingly turned backwards and upside down.  

She was hot when it was cold - she was freezing on a hot summer day.  

She couldn't sleep during the night and then couldn't wake up during the day.

That happy go lucky attitude she usually displayed on a daily basis disappeared and her moods were simply down most of the time.  

It was nearly impossible for her to work during this time period but thankfully her employer understood (a medical clinic) and made arrangements for some tests.

I took Rayanne to the hospital for those first tests and when she came out holding a chart in her hands she said...'Dad I have Graves Disease!'

It didn't hit me immediately because I had no idea what Graves was and certainly didn't understand what affect it would have on her and eventually 'us.'

Maybe a few pills would do the trick...and some normal sleep.

Once at home it was off to Web MD, Wickipedia, and Google to try to learn as much as we could about this thing called Graves Disease.

Very simply it's shocking and severe.

Graves hits young females - mostly - and it attacks the various parts of the body ''continously.'

Since the start of these symptoms Rayanne has been rushed to the hospital by ambulance five times with her heart racing at over 200 bpm.  This happens without notice and, in fact, about fifteen minutes after simply sitting with us watching television normally.

There is no warning.

She has had her thyroid out, her gall bladder too, a double hernia, and three extremely painful operations on her eyes as Graves inflames the muscle and fat behind your eyeballs and painfully pushes them out of their sockets.

This, cosmetically alone, causes immense strain as well as attracts horrible comments from insensitive people who seem to enjoy mocking others who are, in their opinions, not 'normal.'

Currently she is experiencing muscle inflamation around her heart. It 'hurts' to simply wake up.

Last year, a side affect of taking daily heart and thyroid pills, and other related medication, she was forced to endure massive dental work to repair cavities in fourteen teeth due to the pills sucking the saliva out of her mouth.

Today is operation number six. 

It's the sixth time Kim, Lauren and I have sat worrying in the Hospital waiting room. 

Six days of countless hours waiting, and wondering.

And six times when we have walked in to the recovery room, post surgery, and felt the immense 'shot through our heart' simply watching Rayanne in severe pain from the surgery.

And with the eyes fully bandaged you can't even cry...so we do!

The hard part of this disease is simply understanding it. 

Some people can deal with it by simply taking pills. Some adapt with minor surgery.

Others, like Rayanne, continue to think it is all over only to be hit hard again and start to suffer all over again in another area of the body.  She is in the 'highest' category possible in Graves lingo.

My wife and I have tried to figure out if there us any genetic connection from either side of our families in the past and we can't. 

Where the hell did this come from and more importantly..why?  

Why our little girl ?

There was no hint of how this came into our lives.  

As well there is no such thing as a Graves Disease Doctor.

You start with your GP...move on to a specialist...then on to the closest expert in that particular area of the body..ie heart, thyroid, eyes, etc. so in each and every case you are in a long waiting line for attention and literally hear several differing opinions on what she/we should do for the particular pain she is having to deal with at the time.

It's extremely confusing, causes an immense amount of stress, and obviously...frustration.

The concern that 'depression' may strike is crippling.  Thank god for Facebook and Twitter so that we can monitor her thoughts and react quickly if deemed necessary.

And let me state that we will go to the end of the world for Rayanne and gladly spend our very last penny to make sure that she gets the very best possible medical care possible and we will do whatever we can to help her get back to some form of 'normal' in her life.

This is not looking for sympathy.  

Through this adventure Rayanne has been a pilar of strength - far stronger than her Dad.

She is determined to fight.  

She is relentless in studying this, learning more about Graves, passing her knowledge along and helping others.

It has helped all of us get through it.

She has never felt sorry for herself once or blamed others.

Though I can tell you honestly that I have silently cried on the inside when she told me about reaction from 'others'....and especially the girls making fun of her eyes in bars, clubs and restaurants.

Ditto the guys she dated who bailed on her after the third date.  I say third because she never tells them a thing about Graves until the third date to measure their character...which is obvious when they don 't even respond to her calls or texts after that revelation.

Their loss - you don't know what an amazing person you left behind boys.

One girl seems to like to tweet her hate.

'Get over it' she says. 'Sympathy whore' was the lowest thing I have ever seen stated by her...and to this person I hope you never have to go through 'anything' with your children like we have with ours.  I truly feel sorry for you. 

I'm not a spiteful person but on days like this you will never know how deep that cuts - and you should know it.

So today I hurt.

Big time!

I feel guilt. 

I feel angry.

How could 'my' child go through this?

How can I make her pain go away?

How can I help my wife and daughter Lauren deal with this indivudally too because this isn't just Rayannes disease - it's all our disease.

No matter how old your children are they will always remain a todler in your mind...and it simply 

isn't fair...they don 't deserve this hurt.

Rayanne is now home.  She, again, is in immense pain from this surgery.

As we drove home in heart thumping silence the pain is immense.

Hers physical.  Ours emotional.

She will look like somebody beat the hell out of her for about two weeks all the while living like a 'blind person' for three or four days.

She will miss a pay check again for over a month.  

She can't do what she loves to do the most...writing her community column for the Examiner and helping the 'kids' over at YESS.

But she will recover. 

She will be stronger.

She will tell others.

She will start to raise money for her Graves Foundation.

She will try to live as normal a life as she possibly can and wait for Graves to yet strike again somewhere in her body.

And she will deal with it again with strength and determination.

Graves. Will. Not. Win.

The one scary thing she has said to me that simply broke my heart was 'Dad I don't think I'm going to live a long life!' 

I hope she is wrong...very wrong for all of us.

The world needs people like Rayanne Doreen Forbes in it.

So today...I hurt...Kim hurts...Lauren hurts....and I had to tell somebody....thanks for all your kind comments on social media...but mostly...

                                                 ...Thanks for understanding!

Rayanne's blog:  http://www.rayannesthoughts.blogspot.ca

Sincere thanks to the Doctors and Nurses who have helped us cope with Graves Disease. You indeed are very special people. And to every family who has to endure such horrible medical scenarios my deepest respect. The only upside is you become incredibly tight as a family!