For the fifth year running, Trampoline Branding committed its time and resources to creating the collateral pieces for the Autism Golf Ball, an amazing annual fundraiser. This year, as Account Manger for the AGB, I was honoured to attend the event this past Saturday night at the Cunard Centre.

In addition to the usual components – mini-golf, wonderful food and drinks, networking and dancing – this year’s gala had an added element: an elaborate murder mystery, complete with golf-themed suspects. As a self-confessed junkie of Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot, it was something I really enjoyed!

The murder mystery element presented a unique situation in terms of branding. In creating the concept, it was important that it be eye-catching and create buzz, but it was equally important that it represent both the Provincial Autism Centre and AGB brands. The pieces that were created, from the poster to the program to the event signage, addressed this well. The unique illustration, admirably undertaken again this year by Jason Munger, did much to achieve this.

The ad space that trampoline was allotted in the program gave us an opportunity to flog our wares. Designed to give patrons a little chuckle and remind them of the murder mystery, it was very well received.

There is a preponderance of networking events that people in this city have the opportunity to attend. So what sets this one apart? AGB brands itself as a different kind of networking opportunity and has been described as “not your usual rubber chicken dinner”, a glowing review by anyone’s standards. I also had opportunity to speak with a woman whose line of work is fundraising who was there doing some “reconnaissance work” (and volunteering). She singled out the lack of a formal dinner as a primary strength for the event; patrons’ time spent walking around and networking is greatly increased.

As exciting as the evening was, and in all seriousness, $80,000 was raised for the Provincial Autism Centre. In addition to this, a record number of tickets were sold; I’d like to think in some small part due to our efforts.

A Cape Breton gal born and bred, Erin traded in the tar ponds of Sydney for the windswept marshes of Sackville, N.B. where she received her Bachelor of Commerce, Major in Marketing from Mount Allison University. In addition to her formal education, Erin enrolled in the school of life and has travelled overseas extensively, living in both Scotland and The Netherlands. With respect to her work at trampoline, as the old adage goes, "if Erin doesn't know, it ain't worth knowing." In her spare time, Erin owns and operates Step Lively School of Dance, and waits for Adam to propose.