Outreach & Communication
Discussion Summary of October 10th Meeting
Attendance
Anna Goodman Hoover, UK KWRRI
Brian Dennis, LFUCG PI
Richard Boone, LFUCG (on behalf of Steve Feese)
Tom Webb, LFUCG
Kandris Wunderlich , UK TFCE
Amanda Abnee Gumbert, UK Cooperative Extension Service
1) Anna expressed regrets from Lisa Deffendall (FCPS) that she was unable to attend the meeting; however, unforeseen events related to Superintendent's bicycle accident required her presence in the office. Anna shared on Lisa's behalf that a recent Dumpster Dive at one of the schools had been a featured article on the FCPS website home page. In addition, the last four issues of Stu's News have featured a number environmentally-related articles and green-event information:
http://www.fcps.net/news/stu/0607/4.htm#Calendar
http://www.fcps.net/news/stu/0607/3.htm#Article3
http://www.fcps.net/news/stu/0607/3.htm#Article6
(Notice about September's Recycling Challenge)
http://www.fcps.net/news/stu/0607/2.htm#Calendar
http://www.fcps.net/news/stu/0607/1.htm#Article5
2) Anna provided an overview of National Aluminum Recycling Challenge promotion efforts at the three founding partners, which included media releases, PSAs, feature stories on GTV3 programs, and an extensive flyer campaign. Richard and Tom discussed unofficial preliminary numbers from the recycling centers. LFUCG Recycling Center saw an increase of 10% (+2000 lbs) during the campaign, while one of the two local buy-back centers saw an increase of 44% (+3500 lbs) . Numbers are still not in from the second local buy-back center, so final community-wide calculations have not been completed.
WHAT WORKED
• Tom believes “shotgun effect” of and repeated exposure to PSAs, flyers, and GTV programming were valuable
• Amanda commented on the high quality of Brian's flyer design
• Anna noted LFUCG's coordination with Insight to obtain prime placement for PSAs
WHAT DIDN'T WORK
• The short timeline - longer lead time next year will allow for more active, sustained engagement among the partnering organizations, as well as for broader, prolonged community-wide exposure
WHAT WE LEARNED
• Maintaining high visibility for recycling efforts should be a year-round process – perhaps partnering organizations could feature a shared monthly recycling tip on their websites
ACTION ITEMS
• Richard and Steve will notify Tom of final numbers as they become available in order to meet the late-October contest reporting deadline
• Tom will draft a media release about increased recycling as a result of the contest and campaign
• Anna and Brian will assist with media release revisions
• Brian and LFUCG PI will issue media release
• Anna will get release to FCPS, UKPR, and Ag Comm for issuance from each office
3) Amanda provided an overview of the Water/Stormwater Team's ongoing efforts. A number of the projects involve community education about watersheds, drainage, non-point source pollution, etc.
A) Plans are in the works for watershed basin signage . Originally, the team intended highway signage but now feels that a more immediate impact could be made with signage in area parks. Anna noted that the establishment of the first watershed sign could provide a nice media opportunity to bring leadership from the partnering organizations together for a formal unveiling.
B) The Water/Stormwater Team has access to print ads and PSAs on non-point source pollution that have already been developed by the Commonwealth Water Education Project (CWEP). The team specifically plans to use these ads in local publications like The Southsider and The Chevy Chaser, as well as in neighborhood association newsletters. The group currently lacks the financial means for strategic placement and is seeking both drop-in placement for immediate use and alternate sources of funding for paid placements in the future. It was noted that BPGC teams could face challenges in applying for some grants, as the BPGC currently has not been incorporated into a formal organizational entity that would be recognized by many grantors. This issue could be raised with the steering committee during ongoing discussions regarding the creation of by-laws and organizational structure.
C) Amanda noted that the team already has had some success encouraging the partnering organizations to adopt internal low- or no-phosphorous fertilizer policies.
D) Amanda stated that initial Water Team efforts – including a possible clean-up day – could be focused around the Cane Run watershed, which is shared by Fayette and Scott Counties.
E) Amanda recommended that O&C team members review a current North Carolina water education campaign that features interesting publicity pieces.
ACTION ITEMS
• Amanda will notify the O&C team of the expected installation time and location of the first watershed basin sign
• Upon receipt of this information, Anna, Brian, Tom, Lisa, and other O&C team members will work together to find a date and time that would allow senior leadership from the partnering institutions to be present for a formal unveiling
• Amanda will contact O&C member Kristin Ingwell Goode (with Smiley Pete Publishing) to discuss print ad options
4) Kandris announced that the Education Team will kick off professional development for teachers in February , with a focus on energy issues. Anna suggested that program planners visit the Kentucky Research Consortium for Energy & the Environment website to help identify potential speakers for the energy PD sessions. Kandris also noted that the March professional development session focus will switch to Sustainable Foods .
5) Tom recommended that the BPGC develop a Listserv that could be joined through the BPGC website and would encourage community-wide discussion of BPGC issues.
ACTION ITEM
• Amanda and Anna will work together to develop a Listserv and make joining it a highly visible component of the official BPGC website
NEXT MEETING Tuesday, November 7 th ** @ 2pm, McConnell Springs
Please note that the date has changed due to space availability issues at McConnell Springs.
--Anna Goodman Hoover, Team Leader
Discussion Summary of August 22nd Meeting
1) It was announced that Anna Goodman Hoover will begin serving as Outreach and Communication chair effective immediately but that Amy Sohner will continue to be active on the team. Anna indicated a desire to recruit more media representation to the team.
2) A discussion of the minutes from the last meeting noted a few changes that need to be made in reference to GreenLex.org and its potential relationship with the BPGC. It was explained that the director of GreenLex.org is particularly interested in developing a regional environmental web portal, which could offer a possible point of collaboration between the two entities.
3) Anna provided an overview of the August 10th and 11th conference, including press coverage and audience feedback. Approximately 100 individuals attended during the course of the conference, coverage occurred in the Lexington Herald-Leader and on WUKY-FM and WEKU-FM. Attendee response was generally positive.
4) Tom Webb and Steve Feese from LFUCG discussed the national Mayors’ Cash for Cans initiative, Lexington’s participation, and the BPGC Outreach Committee’s role. Points included in the discussion:
A) Lexington officially signed up as “City of Lexington (Partnership for a Green Community)”
- Because September coverage is difficult due to media deadlines and election coverage, this year’s focus will be on internal organizational participation at LFUCG, UK, FCPS
- GTV3 and Insight are handling television promos/PSAs and additional coverage
- UK has existing recycling programs that can be tapped into
- FCPS and UK have bottle contracts, which reduces possible aluminum recycling opportunities
- Three recycling locations in Lexington: the LFUCG Recycling Center and two buy-back centers; all recyclables through all locations during the time frame will be counted toward the contest
- Ultimate goal: long-term behavior change
- Promote it as a beginning
- How should we focus promotion/what needs to be done?
- Additional discussion noted that the use of UK volunteer docents at the Recycling Education Center for FCPS tours could be a highly visible Partnership effort in which all three of the founding Partners are active
- PRIDE now has 32 schools participating in its upcoming recycling education rather than the original 10 schools. Wastebuster School certifications and the Recycling Education Center will be outcomes of PRIDE’s efforts. Gas prices have proven deterrent to recycling center field trips – currently $90 per bus within Fayette County.
- Could we make September “Recycle Aluminum Month”? National Aluminum Recycling Challenge is official contest name.
- Unity of Message for Simplicity. CanStruction? “Yes, We Can!”
- Draft Verbiage for first page:
Yes, We Can… Help Lexington win the National Aluminum Recycling Challenge!
Yes, We Can… Recycle more drinking cans from September 15-30 than other cities!
Yes, We Can… Win the CanTest!
- Second page of email/draft release should outline one to three positive benefits of recycling, e.g. “Recycling One Can 1) saves enough energy to run a television for four hours, 2) creates XXX jobs in Kentucky, 3) saves XXX years of landfill space.” Second page should also contain a paragraph with a brief Partnership history that includes info about the original proclamation.
Executive Summary of Partnership organization, goals, and conference will go to leadership in the next couple of weeks and project approvals should follow thereafter.
Social Marketing discussion tabled until next meeting.
NEXT MEETING Tuesday October 10 @ 2pm, McConnell Springs
--Anna Goodman Hoover, Team Leader