I know it’s been ages since we’ve blogged, but, duh, we were kinda busy. With the President. Yeah, that one.

The White House called Barbara during our Public Policy Preview Days to say that the President would like to visit the show. Arrangements were made. And on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 31, President Obama toured The Washington Auto Show’s “Advanced Technology SuperHighway,” our 65,000-square-foot exhibit of innovations in safety and sustainability. The display was enhanced a bit as we included some additional vehicles in the area for the President’s visit.

Barbara Pomerance, Washington Auto Show Director of Communications and Media Relations, and Gerard Murphy, WANADA President, review the "Advanced Technology SuperHighway" ahead of President Obama's visit.

Here is Mr. President, checking out a Chevy wrapped in Americana artwork. He’s talking with Ed Welburn, GM’s Vice President of Global Design, with WANADA President Gerard Murphy looking on.

It was the first time a current U.S. President ever visited our show. For some perspective, the 2012 show marked The Washington Auto Show’s 70th edition.

The President appeared to have a blast, climbing into car after car, revealing that megawatt grin.

Here he is in the Ford C-MAX Energi, which was named Green Car Journal’s 2012 Green Car Vision Award™ winner on Thursday, Jan. 27, the Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Preview Day at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

The President checks out the Ford C-MAX Energi, named Green Car Journal's 2012 Green Car Vision Award™ winner at the Washington Auto Show.

Of course, there were many other highlights, especially a “Welcome Home Troops!” tribute that took place that evening. Held in partnership with the USO of Metropolitan Washington, the program offered active-duty and retired military personnel free admission to the show and a private reception celebrating them and their families. Headlining the evening event was an appearance by J.R. Martinez, the wounded Iraq war veteran who won the last season of Dancing with the Stars. Martinez, who has become an inspirational speaker, told a rapt audience that veterans can continue to fulfill the call to serve America beyond the battlefield. For his part, his words are his weapons, Martinez said, and his scars are his uniform.

Adding to the star power was an appearance by former U.S. Marine and WWE® Legend Sgt. Slaughter™. Both men signed autographs at the show after the private reception.

And what’s a party without music? Nearly everyone was thumping a boot or shaking a hip to the tunes belted out by the world-class Downrange pop ensemble from the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own.”

Servicemen and women and their families were also treated to hundreds of mini-cupcakes, generously donated by the cult-favorite Georgetown Cupcake, which has supported our troops with shipments of deliciousness overseas.

Of course, these are just glimpses into the show’s bevy of special programming to strengthen and recognize the industry. A hallmark of that effort is our Public Policy Preview Days, which include our Capitol Hill Policy Summit, produced in partnership with National Journal, and many press conferences featuring luminaries from industry and government. This year’s speakers included U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, keynoter Dave Zuchowski, Executive Vice President of Sales for Hyundai Motor America and GM President Mark Reuss. High-profile guests including Georgia’s own Congressman John Lewis (D-Ga.) continued to visit the show throughout its 10-day public run, where we launched new promotions like “Cram the (Nissan) Cube” among area universities and a “Battle of the Bands” contest along with our crowd favorite — “The Price is Right” giveaway of a Hyundai Sonata and a trip to attend the show’s live taping in Los Angeles.

For a fuller perspective, click below on links to the newsletters published during the show by its producer and our longtime client, the Washington Area New Automobile Dealers Association (WANADA).

http://wanada.org/files/Bulletin_04_2012.pdf

http://wanada.org/files/Bulletin_05_2012.pdf

And now that we’ve caught our breath, we’ll start planning for 2013.

Next month, Barbara and the senior leadership will head to Geneva to meet with industry executives and take in the 82nd International Motor Show as we continue to build a more creative, innovative and meaningful Washington Auto Show.

Naturally, it’s the grand pooh-bah of domestic auto shows, replete with tons of debuts, entertainment and, of course, media.

Here is a glimpse of the excitement, courtesy of Barbara Pomerance, who is on site with the leadership of The Washington Auto Show. I’m skipping captions as the pics are self-explanatory.

Park At My House crosses the pond tomorrow to launch in D.C., Boston and New York. The company is seeded by BMW’s i Ventures, a newly-formed venture capital fund investing in mobile technologies.

We want to wish you all a very happy, healthy, fulfilling and safe New Year!

As we approach New Year’s Eve, please remember the message of our client, TEAM Georgia, to designate a driver and get your party home safe. TEAM Georgia’s Safe Holiday Program provides tips on safe celebrations and information to get a free ride home from Checker Cab or a free ride for you and your vehicle at AAA/Tow to Go. Let’s all work together to protect ourselves and each other.

For details on TEAM Georgia’s Safe Holiday campaign, please visit TEAM Georgia on the web right here.

And while you’re there, please note that it’s not too late to make your year-end, tax-deductible donation!  Just click on the “Donate” button in the right margin, and you will be directed to TEAM Georgia’s PayPal account.

Thanks for your support. Here’s wishing you the most magical and happy year yet!

Sincerely,

Barbara, Rachel, Bonnie, Judy and Meghan.

The department store has announced it will be piloting EV charging stations in 33 of its locations — a show of “commitment to advancing environmental solutions in a meaningful and tangible way for our customers,” said John Worthington, Kohl’s chief administrative officer, in the company’s press release. “Not only are these stations an added shopper convenience, they also encourage environmental responsibility among our shoppers. We will continue to explore additional locations to pilot charging stations at our stores nationwide.”

Kohls is partnering on the pilot with ECOtality and Coulomb Technologies, each of whom have received DOE funding for EV infrastructure projects. Here’s the full press release for more details:

http://tinyurl.com/87kjfzp

Here’s more on the TED Prize for 2012 and details on how the $100,000 prize will be invested in developing this idea. http://www.tedprize.org/announcing-the-2012-ted-prize-winner/

We thought we’d share this interesting story on female consumers as the new middlemen, so to speak. The rise of resale has inspired women to look seriously at the multiple returns on investments in consumer goods. It’s a silver lining to recessionista spending. I’d like to think, too, it’s a sign of considering the lifecycle of a product and making more responsible and sustainable purchases. In any case, women making smart use of their considerable purchasing power is great news. Here is more news on that trend:

http://tinyurl.com/7pdt4zg

Also, our friends at LittlePinkBook.com, a daily tip sheet for professional women, have just released their top 10 women in business for 2011. It’s a must read:

http://littlepinkbook.com/little-pink-book/resources/pink-list/top-women-business

Today marked the launch of TEAM Georgia’s annual Safe Holiday Campaign, which encourages our community to celebrate the holidays responsibly. Sponsored by 11Alive, Budweiser, AAA Auto Club South, Checker Cab, WSB Radio and supported by the Georgia Restaurant Association, Safe Holiday offers partygoers tips for safe celebrations and free rides home through Checker Cab and Budweiser/AAA Tow to Go.

Here’s the story from 11Alive:

http://www.11alive.com/Life/Community/215551/25/TEAM-Georgia-launches-2011-Safe-Holiday

David Shepardson of The Detroit News has the story.