Special event planning must be in the genes. My cousin Adrienne sent this photo showing her inside track involvement for Eeyore's birthday celebration in Austin last weekend.

Her landlord (Bob – r) created this bronze statue in honor of the big event. Pictured here are (left to right): Michelle Drake, Lauren O’Connell, John O’Connell, Adrienne Arter and Bob Coffee with Eeyore.

The new Advertising Age Marketing & Media Digital Fact Pack tracks the top 3 online activities as:

• Used email -- 70%
• Obtained latest news/current events -- 40%
• Made an online purchase for personal use - 34% (57% change since 2002)

Learn more on blog user stats, most unique visitors and highest ad venenue by site here.

West Michigan PRSA hosts the annual PRoof PRemieres award ceremony, a "red carpet" awards ceremony honoring the area's best in public relations, at the University Club/Press Club of Grand Rapids, April 19. Don't miss this star-studded event. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. Contact WMPRSA or email admin@wmprsa.org for ticket price and other details. Reserve your space by Wednesday, April 11.

With snow and temperatures falling just days before the annual Easter egg hunt, I needed a laugh. Now coyotes are visting Quiznos in Chicago, and the PR team is all over it, with TV stories, articles in USA Today and more. They even did right by donating dollars to the Chicago Animal Care and Control shelter where their guest, Adrian, stayed before being released in a wildlife refuge. No doubt, just a quick detour before finding the nearest Quiznos restaurant.

From Media Post's Marketing Daily: After the unusual event, the company quickly issued a press release quoting Steve Provost, Quiznos' Executive Vice President/Corporate Marketing Officer, as saying: "We've certainly been looking to expand our customer base and appeal to different demographics, and it appears that we have hit a chord with the animal kingdom. This has never happened before; we can only think that [the coyote] must have been attracted to our new Prime Rib on Garlic Bread and its above-average portions of meat. One thing is for sure, this coyote clearly has excellent taste."

Should Your Company Be Blogging? Sign up now for Ad Club of West Michigan's April 18 event, featuring Laurie Mayers of MS&L Digital, Manning Selvage and Lee's interactive group. Located in downtown Grand Rapids at the BOB, the lunch program is $32 for nonmembers, $25 for members and $17 for students. To reserve, call 616-459-9196.

Why RFPs Should RIP. Amen to that!

Bob Greenberg asserts in ADWEEK that the standard business pitch model is broken. How else do you explain why companies grind agencies and themselves through the pitching process, make a selection -- then put the business out for a bid again just a year later? From the start, it doesn't make for great relationships.

Many creative resources are bypassed in this process as well -- they haven't the time or staff to spend, developing new concepts and filling out tedious proposal forms. Instead, they're doing what they do best -- turning out great work for their existing clients.