Now, I may not be the most photogenic chap in the world, (I know I'm more like a Klingon without the bumps), but I can get me some screen time. I've had my mug plastered on more TV screens than Mr. Nielsen would care to know.
It's not just for my insatiable desire for attention, (that is well documented among family and friends), but I have one of the personalities that isn't afraid to shine with a camera light on. You give me a "1, 2, 3... Go!" and I'll chew scenery and tape like it's a free buffet. Match that with something that I'm passionate about, and I'll find a way to get the job done.
In the spring of this year, a sub-committee in the American House of Representatives was mulling over a bill titled House Resolution 669, "The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act." As written, H.R. 669 would have made it illegal to breed, sell, trade, import, and export any nonnative animal, including many common in the U.S. pet trade such as ferrets, parrots and iguanas. It would have eliminated owning virtually all pet fish and even hamsters, gerbils, and guinea pigs.
The outrage was palpable and Amber and I were leading the charge. We saw H.R. 669 as a direct threat to our iggies, Dorian and Caliban. I also have two other reptiles, Ulysses and Gobo, and have parented numerous lizards and snakes since a very young age. I love reptiles and will tell anyone I know how wonderful they make as pets. I also preach responsible pet ownership, and have lectured more than my fair share of wayward teens who wanted a Burmese python because, "It looks cool," or "It'll get so big!"
Point is, Amber and I were upset, and we wanted to take action. We called the local news, and within hours, they were at her house and doing a live report! We pushed the buttons, made the call, and got results. News stations, especially on the community level, love localizing national stories, personalizing them for the viewer at home. Capitalizing on that, we got coverage for a story that people needed to be informed about.
It wasn't hype, it was our passion, so it didn't come off as cheap or sensationalistic. I didn't get a big(ger) head because of it (although Dorian strutted around as king of the castle for days after). We got the coverage because we believed in what we were doing, and we certainly believe in what the Tourism Authority of Thailand is trying to do. Sure it's a contest and we want to win because there's this awesome prize, but we also want to let people know what an amazing place Chiang Mai is and why they should go. We don't need fancy backgrounds in video production or industry insiders to help us do it. Our news story was seen by 300,000 people, and we got that by making the calls ourselves. Garnering media attention for Chiang Mai? We'll do that better than anyone.
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