What the World Needs Now

War. Famine. COVID-19. Isolation. Addiction. Inflation. Recession. The news around the world (and around the corner) seems bleaker by the day. And to top it all off, Mercury is in retrograde, which means we all have a collective excuse to be mean to friends, family, and bad drivers.
Oftentimes, we feel helpless against the onslaught of terrible things. Our brilliant HR Manager Mollie Banks took a moment last week to remind us that we all (friends, family, and co-workers) have been through a dramatic and traumatic time since March 2020. Through thick and thin, she reminded us that we have each other. We all need to care for each other a little more. We need to cheer up. We need to buck up. Sadly, there is no magic cure…or is there?
I’ve given this a lot of thought recently. I’ve done some self-reflection and some research. In the face of these complex issues, there’s not much we can do. I can’t call Putin and tell him “You’ve got to stop what you’re doing, Vlad.” But I can try to make those around me smile, laugh, or just forget about the problems. (Even if I get a groan and an eye roll emoji back in a text).
What the world needs now are more Dad Jokes.
“How is a dad joke different from a regular joke?” you may ask.
“It’s apparent.” *Ba dum dum tss*
Although the term “dad joke” didn’t officially enter dictionaries until 2014, it’s apparently a world-wide phenomenon. In Korea, the art of the dad joke is known as ajae geagu, and in Japan, oyagi gaygu. Dad jokes are told everywhere. Some are funny. Most are not.
But they have a purpose. The joke teller might laugh more than the receiver. You can tell most dad jokes (not all) to a child…and that’s a good idea. Try to engage the child in conversation, and they’ll understand a few things; you care enough to make them laugh, you’ll engage them in a conversation, and you’ll take precious moments away from the phone or tablet you’ve been using as an electronic babysitter.
Dad Jokes may not be the cure of all evils, but at least it’s a wholesome start. I know these things for certain: we all need a mental break, we all need to relax a little more, we all need diversions from the bad news, and we all need to communicate better. So I leave you with this; tell a joke, make a pun, recite a schoolyard limerick, or share a funny story this week with a friend or family member that needs to hear it. You’ll get a laugh, a smile, a groan, or an eye roll. Even if the joke falls flat, you’ve succeeded.
MONDAY:
NATIONAL HUMAN RESOURCE PROFESSIONAL DAY
What would we do without our HR & Operations Manager Mollie Banks? Just last week, she gave our agency a much-needed mental health chat to remind us of resources and research that let us know we’re in this craziness together. When she’s not giving perfect pep talks, she’s hosting our Question Wednesdays and catching us up on the latest neurological news. Thank you for being YOU, Mollie B.

TUESDAY:
SCOUTING FOR A SHOOT
On Tuesday, Creative Director Art Webb and Account Manager Marita Cardenas hit the road for a quick trip to Chesapeake. They spent most of the morning and afternoon scouting around for spots to hold an upcoming photoshoot for our client Chesapeake Economic Development. Here’s a sneak peek of what these two were up to:

WEDNESDAY:
FIELD TRIP TO THE FAIR
On Wednesday, some of the Madison+Main-iacs took a field trip to Image360 to get a behind-the-scenes tour of their facility before all of us headed to the State Fair of Virginia to celebrate our 17th anniversary as an agency. We spent the day riding fair rides, eating fried food and funnel cakes, and celebrating another great year together.
DYK: It’s National North Carolina Day? Our client Realo Drugs, based in New Bern, provides North Carolina with dedicated customer care. Speaking of New Bern, they’ll be at the New Bern Home Expo in November — showing families how their family can help them with their care needs. If you find yourself in the area, stop by their booths to meet their team!


THURSDAY:
BOURBON HERITAGE MONTH
September is Bourbon Heritage Month, and our client A. Smith Bowman Distillery has some ideas of how you can celebrate with them. Enjoy complimentary tours and tastings at The Distillery and bring a bottle of your favorite spirit home with you. They’ll also be hosting the 2022 Whiskey and Wood Artisan Festival in October where you can meet the makers behind locally crafted works of art and sample a variety of their award-winning whiskeys. Bring the whole family and find some awesome art to take home!

FRIDAY:
JAVA JOY AND THE OUTDOOR EXPO
On Friday, we surprised the entire team with gift cards for coffee in honor of International Coffee Day tomorrow. They’ve “bean” working so hard and deserve the extra ‘cup of Joe. Words cannot “espresso” how much we appreciate their dedication to our agency and our clients. Truly, it means a “latte.”
After all of the hard work their team and ours put into this, it’s finally here! Our client Green Top is hosting their Outdoor Expo this weekend, which is the Mid-Atlantic’s largest outdoor retailer show. This free, family friendly event hosts even more vendors and attractions than before with more than 225 of the biggest manufacturers from the outdoor industry’s most loved brands. They’ve even set up 75,000 square feet of tents in front of the store to keep you dry and warm. Don’t miss out on all of the fun!

A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Green Top Outdoor Expo
10150 Lakeridge Pkwy.
Ashland, VA 23005
October 1 | 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
October 2 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Green Top is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year with its biggest outdoor retail expo ever — the largest in the Mid-Atlantic! More than 225 vendors, product demos, live music, kids activities, a DockDogs canine aquatics competition, show specials, prize drawings, and much more. Free admission and parking! Check it out.
Whiskey and Wood Artisan Festival
A. Smith Bowman Distillery
1 Bowman Dr.
Fredericksburg, VA 22408
October 14-15
A. Smith Bowman Distillery is hosting the 2022 Whiskey and Wood Artisan Festival next month! The Fredericksburg Area Workers Guild will be showing off their creations — wood, glass, furniture, home decor, and more will be available for purchase. Keep an eye out for more details!
Ghost Walk
Visitor and Education Center
30 Ingalls Rd.
Fort Monroe, VA 23651
October 21-23 | 6-9 p.m.
Join Fort Monroe Authority for their Ghost Walk! They’ll be hosting walking tours to explore some of the unexplainable phenomena surrounding historic Fort Monroe. Get your ticket today!
“There’s no shortage of remarkable ideas, what’s missing is the will to execute them.” — Seth Goodin