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The Tribes of Toy Nation: The EnthusiastsJuly 24, 2008
Having started as a game inventor, Mary now helps other inventors through her Discovergames.com website and her Inventor Forum. Mary is also involved with the American Library Association, the city of Chicago and many other civic and private sector arenas in the support of toy and game play as an important element in creating better and smarter citizens. Below is an interview I conducted with Mary: Richard: Mary, Why are you so passionate about play? Mary: Because play is important. We’ve lost sight of the importance of real face-to-face play. For example, a recent study found women and men of every race, age, and education level has fewer friends than in 1985. The study called the sharp declines startling. Such weakened bonds of friendship means people have fewer places to go in times of trouble and that puts more pressure on immediate family. Play crosses race, gender, and ethnic lines as well as promotes social skills, team building, leadership and social equality. It increases test scores and IQ in our young and delays the onset of Alzheimer’s in our old. So, not only is it a fun way to get to know people or know them better, it is good for our souls, minds and hearts. What Are You Doing to Promote Play? Mary: Six years ago I founded the Chicago Toy and Game Fair to promote play to the public. This year it is at Navy Pier on November 22nd and 23rd and information about attending and exhibiting can be found at www.chitag.com. We are working with the Toy Industry Association, City of Chicago, Navy Pier, American Library Association, CARES Mentoring Movement and others to make this the best Fair ever. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is our Honorary Chairperson. Richard: Getting Mayor Daley involved is quite a coup. How did you make that happen? Mary: Last year the City of Chicago sponsored “The Art of Play” which sponsored hundreds of play events encompassing the entire city of Chicago throughout the summer. This resulted from an idea we had put forth to Mayor Daley. As it turned out it was one of the city’s most successful programs ever. Richard: I tremble to ask this but are you doing anything else to support play? Mary: We have started working with schools and libraries on bringing play to the kids. This resulted in a newsletter that reaches over 250,000 educators and librarians and a new website to anchor the newsletter, www.gamesforeducators.com. We have also started a fundraising program using games with Out of the Box Publishing and other companies – “the fun fundraiser without calories!” In addition, we are working on an exciting project to bring games and game clubs into every school and library in the US. I am also working with a number of companies to re-up Coke’s “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing in Perfect Harmony” song, but substituting ‘Sing’ with ‘Play’. This project would promote libraries as a place to play. Libraries are becoming community centers and one of their initiatives is to bring toys and games into the library. I am on the American Library Association’s “Libraries, Literacy and Games Ad Hoc Committee.” Richard: Tell me about your work with inventors. Mary: I started www.DiscoverGames.com 10 years ago to help other game inventors. I found a need for this after inventing a few games and toys myself and finding little information for inventors. The website is packed with free information for inventors and if they wish to join as a member, we’ll help promote their products around the world. In the two days proceeding ChiTAG, we host the “Toy and Game Inventor Expo”. Two days packed with useful topics by top industry leaders from Hasbro, Mattel, Buffalo Games, TIA, Go! The Game Store and many others. Attendees and speakers will have an opportunity to actually mingle and have fun while learning about the industry. More information can be found at www.toyandgameinventors.com. This year we are hosting a “Toy and Game Inventor Dinner” November 21st honoring Jeffrey Breslow for Lifetime Achievement. We will also be honoring a “Toy Inventor of the Year”, a “Game Inventor of the Year” and a “Rookie Inventor of the Year.” Information about the “Toy and Game Inventor Expo’ can be found at www.toyandgameinventors.com. I am looking forward to the day I see our toy and game inventors on the cover of the Rolling Stone. Richard: You may get there first. Thank you Mary.
Posted by Richard Gottlieb on July 24, 2008 | Comments (14)
July 25, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts mhirtle commented: Great interview!
July 25, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts OrlandoPat commented: I agree with Mike's sentiment: great interview! It's amazing all the things that Mary is doing for the game industry.
July 25, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts JuanDelanoService commented: Great Interview. Mary is one of the positively enthusiastic supporters of the game industry. ChiTag Fair has been a pleasure for us to help sponsor. We look forward to helping her with the "Toy and Game inventor's Expo". Mary is always out trying to help just about anyone in our industry. She has been a pleasure for us to deal with over the last couple of years. Keep up the good work! Juan Mendez, Delano Service.
July 25, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Kim Vandenbroucke commented: I agree with Mike, Pat and Juan -- Mary is a gem within the industry! I've known Mary for just over a year and I'm astonished with her ability to have an idea that will benefit not only the industry but society at large and have the drive to execute it, no matter how big or difficult the project may be. We are all indebted to her for her hard work and dedication to promoting games and play. Mary, thank you and keep up the good work!!
July 25, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Carina, author of the annual "10 Best T commented: I have had the pleasure of working with Mary on several projects, including the creation of the game, Loteria Mix, fashioned after the classic "Loteria" game, which maintains its Latino flavor and incorporates images from the US. Mary has the vision, the energy and the skills to take an idea from inception to fruition... although she is way too humble to ever take the credit she is due. I am excited that, after years of struggle and sacrifice she is beginning to get the recognition she deserves as an industry leader. I am particularly impacted by her desire to be inclusive, to reach out to different ethnic groups and to form bridges to people of different ethnicities i.e. including training on How to Reach the Latino Market and How to Manage the Latino Workforce in CHITAG and also by making tickets to CHITAG available to not-for-profits who serve minority populations at a discounted price. I am always learning from Mary and proud to be affiliated with her.
July 28, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Donald McNeill commented: We have had great pleasure in working with Mary at many shows and now further on her indredible new ideas at www.gamesforeductors.com. Mary is non stop with enthusiasm and effort in accomplishing her goals and even an artcile such as this does not do her efforts justice. We are looking forward to working with Mary on her ideas for the future!
July 28, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Donald McNeill commented: We have had great pleasure in working with Mary at many shows and now further on her indredible new ideas at www.gamesforeductors.com. Mary is non stop with enthusiasm and effort in accomplishing her goals and even an artcile such as this does not do her efforts justice. We are looking forward to working with Mary on her ideas for the future!
July 29, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Jenny Levine commented: I'm thrilled to be working with Mary on a variety of partnerships. Her energy and enthusiasm are contagious, and she's been invaluable in helping us build National Gaming Day @ your library, which will take place in libraries across the country on Saturday, November 15, 2008 (more info to be available at www.ilovelibraries.org/games soon). I'm looking forward to working with Mary on even more ambitious plans in the future!
July 29, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Tracy Dudkieiwcz commented: Great Interview! I have known Mary for over 10 years, and her enthusiasm and passion for play is making a huge difference in lives of many. Through her work with ALA, the City of Chicago, inventors, toy companies, CARES Mentoring and the list goes on and on... Mary reminds us of the importance of play in our lives and in our children's lives. As she said in your interview, "play crosses race, gender and ethnic lines, as well as promotes social skills, team building, leadership and social equality."
July 31, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Richard Gill commented: Mary is doing the work that many in the industry should be doing - helping to promote good healthy social interaction, face to face between kids and families. Social skills are being lost every day and we need more "Mary's" to help reverse the trend!!
August 1, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts W. Eric Martin commented: Ha, good timing with the interview. I just heard from Mary that Tim Walsh, co-designer of TriBond, will be Master of Ceremonies at the Toy and Game Inventor of the Year Award Dinner on Nov. 21 and every attendee will receive a copy of his book, Timeless Toys – and one of my columnists on Boardgame News just published a long profile of Tim Walsh that talks about his achievements. Sounds like a good choice to lead this event!
August 4, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Mary Kay Russell commented: Bravo! Richard, thanks so much for bringing us this interview! Mary is amazing -- a true visionary with incredible passion who works tirelessly and selflessly. It’s a pleasure to know her!
October 6, 2008
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Arenacards commented: Glad I found this site. Mary C. seems to be the hero for the struggling inventor. A near death experience has made me search for other companies to carry on the torch for Duncandimensions.com after 11 years of dog eat dog competition, I'm ready to let the hungrier companies market or buy out our games, ARENA, SHAPES and American Roulette! Thanks everyone, it's been a great decade!
August 6, 2009
In response to: The Tribes of Toy Nation: The Enthusiasts Christina commented:
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