"The Art of Robert Reynolds: Quiet Journey"

Two retired Cal Poly professors, both recognized as masters in their fields, have teamed up to produce a book full of art depicting some of the most beautiful regions of California.

Art Professor Emeritus Robert Reynolds and Journalism Professor Emeritus Jim Hayes collaborated for “The Art of Robert Reynolds: Quiet Journey,” a 176-page hardbound book now available at online through Cal Poly’s El Corral Bookstore at www.elcorralbookstore.com/books. The book is also a benefit project for the Cal Poly Alumni Association. Copies are available by order online, and on sale at El Corral and at Cal Poly Downtown, and by phone at (805) 756-1161. “Quiet Journey” showcases 178 of Reynolds’ paintings of scenes from Central Coast and the California Sierras, alongside written musings by both Hayes and Reynolds.

Help us market this book!

A band of Cal Poly Journalism alumni have come together to voluntarily help market this book. Proceeds will benefit Cal Poly.

This ad hoc effort is being coordinated by Mark Looker (1976) and Ellen Pensky (1975) with the full blessings and wise guidance of Jim Hayes.

Here are the basic facts:

• 5,000 copies of "Quiet Journey" have been published.

• Copies are being sold at $79 each to benefit the Cal Poly Alumni Association.

• The book went on sale in November 2006 and to date approximately 400 copies have been sold. (For those of you J grads who are not big on math skills, that means less than 10% of the books have been sold!)

Why should we give a damn about this book?

Because Jim Hayes helped produce a pretty nice book and he's a pretty nice guy -- even if he did put "See Me" red marks all over your basic news writing copy!  And Bob Reynolds is a great artist whose work captures what we love best -- the beautiful scenes of the Central Coast.

Where will the money raised go?

Funds will support Cal Poly activities, through the Alumni Association.

Front, from left, Bob Reynolds and Jim Hayes. Back, from left, Kim Gannon, director of Alumni Relations, Ellen Pensky, Mark Looker.

Marketing Ideas

Here are the ideas we have so far--email Mark Looker and add your ideas:

• Are there any Cal Poly alumni who own/operate wine gift basket fulfillment houses that can offer the book? Melanie Bedwell

• Are these books available in all of the Central Coast winery tasting room gift shops? Melanie Bedwell

• Could we put the book on eBay with search phrases about perfect gift for those who love the Central Coast? Kathy Beasley

• Could we raffle off one of Bob's paintings, with each person who buys a book getting one "chance" in the drawing? Kathy Beasley

• Could each alumni chapter purchase a dozen copies and sell them at alumni events, like the golf tournament, etc.?  Claudia Buck

• Could the College of Liberal Arts - through the graphics department - send out a color flyer in alumni newsletters? It's a steep price for a book, so you've got a bit of an uphill climb convincing buyers. But a well-designed advertising appeal could work. I would think the Graphics Dept., which is where Reynolds got his start at Poly, could get some muscle behind this. Claudia Buck

• How about marketing the book as a senior project for one of journalism's PR students? Or the student-run PR agency could take it on as a client? Claudia Buck

• Produce a marketing video and place it on YouTube, directing interested buyers to website Mark Looker

• Buy the books at discount from the Alumni Association and sell them as a fundraiser for the College of Liberal Arts, which houses the journalism and graphic arts department. Mark Looker

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Who the heck are you people?

The Cal Poly Guerilla "Quiet Journey" Marketing Team includes:

• Mark Looker, owner, Looker Communications, Modesto, CA mllooker@ainet.com

• Claudia Buck, Sacramento Bee and Paul Page, Page Graphics, Sacramento buckpage@sbcglobal.net

• Bill Mattos, President, Calif. Poultry Federation, Modesto, CA  califpoultry@cs.com

• Ellen Pensky, owner, Bumblebee Marketing Services, Pleasanton epensky@comcast.net

• Susan French and Rich Arnold  french@covad.net

• Melanie Bedwell, Information Officer, DCA Office Of Public Affairs, California Office of Privacy Protection, Sacramento Melanie_Bedwell@dca.ca.gov 

• Francis Squire, Marketing Director, West Hills College, Coalinga, FrancesSquire@westhillscollege.com

• Gary and Deborah Beall, Communications Specialist, UC Davis, gabeall@ucdavis.edu

• Jay Alling jay@kihonmedia.com

• Kathy Beasley, The Write Connection, Sacramento  kathleen.beasley@sbcglobal.net

• Mike and Rita Claverie Bohl bigmike@softcom.net

• Mike and Diane Conway, Mike - Public Information Officer, City of Merced,  mfcmerced@aol.com

• Mark and Jenny Midtgaard Derry mderry@garlic.com

What else can we do to help?

Forward this page to other friends or alumni and ask them to either buy the book or contribute their marketing ideas. Copy this url and paste into an email message today!

http://www.lookercomm.com/quietjourney.htm

This is truly a grassroots effort and its success depends on you.