SPEED DATING FOR PINK RIBBONS : IN A NUTSHELL OR A TIME CAPSULE

I'm still trying to figure this thing out.  I know I blogged about this event the end of February, but I am still trying to hunt down some press from a past event......  Speed dating for The Pink Ribbon.  After seeing Pink Ribbons Inc, this "event" is even more distressing today then when I first read about it.

Seriously?  I MUST call Bullshit on this one.  I'm a tad nauseated by the whole thing.

"Undivided attention of the top editors looking for PINK BREAST CANCER PRODUCTS ALL IN ONE DAY."

I have a few questions.

• The cost to participate is $2500.00.  Is any of THAT money being donated ANYWHERE or is this an event to take cause marketing and make money on marketing for cause marketing.  Kind of a double insult?
• All products must financially support breast cancer awareness, treatment or research.  To that, I'd like to ask, with my newly acquired understanding of the sheer stupidity of some (most? all?) of the this cause marketing and pinkwashing, how transparent must these organizations be in disclosing their financial support?  Are they maxing out at $10,000?  Are they promoting products containing possible carcinogens?  Are these products "acceptable" for this event?
• Is it REALLY necessary to use pink frying pans and a 1950's June Cleaver-ish pink apron to demonstrate product ideas.  For me, nothing highlights the reality of altered bodies and fried brains than pans in which to fry said brains and a pink apron to cover the mess.

I'm starting to get really really REALLY pissed off at the ever increasing ways people are finding to make money by raping the Pink Ribbon.  Women are dying.  Men, too.  Why is this okay?  I'd really like an answer.  I'd really like to see some outrage.  I can't be the only one who finds this exceptionally distasteful.  To whom might I write?  Which editors will be attending? What media outlets?  I'd like to be sure to let everyone know which organizations are continuing to help fuel this pink circus so we might boycott their magazines or TV shows or whatEVER.  I'm lacing up my pink boxing gloves for this one.  And then, I'm tossing the gloves into the time capsule.  It's insulting.

Only 18 BRANDS will be selected to participate.  Come early to assure your spot.  And again, may I remind the brains behind these operations.  We are NOT a brand.  We are not a marketable commodity.  We are women who had the misfortune of developing breast cancer through NO FAULT of our own.  And you are looking to profit because of our misfortune?  How about this:  Think Before You Pink.  That would be a great start.

Join us for the most unique kind of media event...speed pitching™

Where else can you get the undivided attention of the top editors & producers looking forpink breast cancer products all in one day?
No place. This is it.

Only 18 brands will be selected to participate.
Submit your product for consideration before it's too late.

For more information about our events visit us at
NewProductEvents

Here's how it works.    You get two fast-paced, media-packed 90-minute sessions where you will move through the room pitching your product face-to -face to individual media representatives.   You will rotate every 5 minutes from media table to media table.   No other  media event is designed to give every brand this one-on-one pitchingexperience. No distractions, no crowds, no desperate  attempts  to get the media to stop at your booth. This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to impress top media outlets for their product review editorials. All  you need to  bring is one sample to demonstrate, because the media will take home a fantastic, pre-prepared tote bag with your product and product literature.   All products must financially support breast cancer awareness, treatment or research. Please submit a statement as to how your product complies. We are looking for products from every category: Fashion & Accessories     Health & Fitness Tech & Gadgets Home & Garden Kitchen & Food And more!  Cost to participate:  $2,500 Exhibitors will receive a gift card for the Hilton Marketplace restaurant for breakfast or lunch on the day of the event. Refund & Cancellation Policy: Registration Fees & Payments: Registration fees must be paid in full upon selection. Exhibitor fee includes participating in the event.  The exhibitor fee does not cover other expenses, including but not limited to shipping, travel, Internet access, or equipment rentals. Withdrawals & Refunds: Due to the need for brand and product diversity, once an exhibitor registers other brands are turned away, therefore refunds are not given for withdrawals from the event.  Event Cancellation: Should the event be cancelled due to circumstances beyond the control of New Product Events, including, but not limited to, labor strikes, terrorism, earthquakes, fire, and weather conditions, exhibitors will be refunded 50% of the registration fee. For circumstances outside of those listed above, New Product Events reserves the right to cancel any event at any time prior to the event. Should New Product Events cancel an event, a full refund will be made to the exhibitors for the amount paid to New Product Events at the time of the cancellation.  Media outlets mentioned as part of the media panel are based on firm commitments on behalf of the media attendees.  New Product Events reserves the right to replace media attendees as necessary. Loss, Theft or Damage: New Product Events is not liable or responsible for loss, damage or theft of the exhibitor’s products or equipment at the event or in transit.

Register Now!

In keeping with a commitment I made to WEGO Health to post 30 entries in 30 days with the help of a list of prompts, the very first prompt is about a time capsule......  

My time capsule?  A box with covered with pink ribbons.  Inside the box?  My pink ribbon pepper spray, a pink handgun, a few other positively ludicrous items adorned with ribbons, a copy of a lawsuit For The Cure, every blog post written by Rachel Moro, a few of my favorite prior posts, a copy of Gayle Sulik's book Pink Ribbon Blues, the DVD of Pink Ribbons Inc, my mom's treatment records from 1987 and mine from 2006 (zero progress) and THIS blog post.

My fantasy?  When my great grandchildren open the capsule they are bewildered.  I will watch from another dimension as they say, "What are all these pink ribbons?"  and then, "Cancer?  What is CANCER?"  and finally, "What the hell was she so pissed off about?"

Dream until your dreams come true....... Or, more accurately, FIGHT for change and Be the reason those dreams come true.