body to represent and promote the sector in the Island's business circles.

All interested professionals are invited to attend the Bermuda Association of Marketing's inaugural meeting Wednesday night at the Hamilton Princess.

Business professionals and educators will listen to an international speaker discuss how marketing in general can be assured of winning a seat at the boardroom table.

Society for Marketing Professional Services in North America high-profile member Jim Durham -- who is president of his own strategic marketing company will speak on the importance of marketing as a business tool.

The organisers of BAM's first official event want to see marketing acknowledged as a serious career option for all future Bermudian school leavers.

BAM chairwoman Karla de Sousa said businesses could win by placing marketing at the centre of decisions and those that did were the ones most likely to succeed in the 21st century.

Bringing together those who worked in the marketing industry on the Island was the "way forward'', she said.

"We want to create a resource by pooling the expertise, experiences and contacts of these people to help future generations make an informed choice about their career options in business.'' She said the BAM meeting on Wednesday evening in the Hamilton Princess's Adam Lounge would be a "think-tank'' and those attending would be asked how they would like to see BAM move forward.

BAM's six founding members -- each from a different strand of the marketing profession -- want the group to evolve into a resource for those following careers in the sector.

Bermuda school graduates should also benefit from having more information on the industry at their fingertips.

She said the group was hoping to protect the interests of members and to encourage an exchange of ideas and information. It would also work to highlight the advantages and promote the use of marketing in the business community.

"(In developing BAM) we hope students and companies alike will benefit from a better understanding of the role of marketing and how it needs to be taken seriously as a business tool.

"BAM is concerned that when students look at their options and say, choose a business studies course, marketing, in all its roles is given a poor showing.

Quite simply, that is wrong.

"Increasingly, boardrooms across the world are making way for marketing professionals who are able to guide their companies through various changes and upheavals providing tailored solutions to specific problems.'' Members from all sorts of marketing backgrounds including sales, public relations, corporate communications, printing and publishing were welcome.

"The wider the cross section the better we will be able to manage specific issues.'' Ms de Sousa said BAM was looking for pro-active involvement from its members and would be keen to hear about any issues facing those already in marketing posts.

Pre-registration is encouraged and replies can be sent to email custserve ybga.bm or by faxing 296-0560 with name, company name, position, telephone, facsimile and e-mail contact details.

BUSINESS BUC