R.I.P. Eddie

Our industry lost another great soul on Monday and I felt the need to honor his memory with a few personal comments.

I knew Ed "Eddie" Kastelz from back in my JMK Advertising days....mid 80's, I was just out of college, and newly engaged. He was our "film" go to guy at National Correct Color. (Back when there were film guys.) I haven't seen him or talked to him much over the last 20 years since I left the agency business and moved into paper....but whenever I heard that very distinctive voice (if you knew him, you know the one I mean) at an industry event or wherever, it brought a huge smile to my face. He was a great guy. A person I aspired to be like when I grew up....okay so he was only 16 years older...but when you are 22 and he is 38, he seems a lot older. He was fun, he was family oriented and he was a great "film" guy. I remember how smiles came easily to him, and he was always talking about his family. There was always some funny story or another to relate.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to talk to him on the phone, kind of by accident, and he was the same 'ole Eddie---yukking it up and talking about his family, this time his ever growing brood of grand children. He was so proud of them. I can only imagine how sad they are to have lost him at age 63.

That 16 year age difference between us doesn't seem so big now. Makes me think about living in the "now" and not the ... "when I retire someday I'll" ...mentality. He was too young. He had so much more to give. We will miss you Eddie. Rest in Peace.

Check out the three latest additions to the popular series called Down To Earth: A Practical Look At Environmental Issues and Trends from International Paper. Each issue explores a different topic in support of using paper. There are currently seven issues available, including the popular: Are Pixels Greener Than Paper (the facts might surprise you), How Does Using Paper Lead To More Trees (strange concept, huh?) and the newest one called Is it Worth Printing? Great information, well presented...it might just help you get an "add on" print project to that new website you are designing! Let us know if you need copies.

Sustainability Made Simple(r)

Sustainability is a journey, not a destination.

Last week I was asked to do a presentation at the Kendall Green Council Speaker Series. I pulled together some current information that focuses on the papermaking industry and its sustainability practices. This presentation includes a look back to the late 80's when the idea of recycled paper first surfaced in the industry, a look at what mills are doing today to be sustainable, and more specifically what you as an end user or designer can do to promote sustainability. I found out some very interesting facts! If you think a presentation of this sort might assist you (or one of your clients) in achieving an environmental goal of sustainability in communications, please give me a call. I'd be more than happy to bring it to you. 676-3965 x 242