We're entered, now what?
Congratulations to all of you who have submitted your applications for the America in Bloom 2010 program. For returning cities, it's a piece of cake! Revisit your entry from last year, and update it!
For new towns, you'll receive a very nice info packet from the AIB office. Be sure to read it all, and mark the due dates for the various things on your calendar.
Some tips for everyone:
- If you don't already have one, order a copy of the Best Ideas book from AIB at www.americainbloom.org. It contains some of the best ideas implemented by participating towns during that past nine years. Many of them can be easily implemented by volunteers. You'll get lots of inspiration from this book.
- Create your community profile book. New this year is a Word template for creating your community profile book. You'll receive it from the office. The book is limited to 50 pages. This will save you tons of time. You can add photos, and be creative with the layout, but you need to keep the book to the 50 pages. Also, you can save it as a pdf and email it to your judges before they arrive! If you're a returning town, be sure to highlight your new projects. Start thinking about the book now, and start taking pictures. Before and after photos are really effective. Also pictures of people working on projects. While you're at it, think of other uses for your photos - perhaps the local newspaper, town website, city hall?
- The best way to start your planning is by strategically using the evaluation form. Go through it line by line and with your committee, think about your efforts in each area. If you don't know the answer, assign some "investigative reporting" to your committee.
- Remember to delegate. Entering America in Bloom is a big project, and it's much more fun when you share the work with others. Think about have a subcommittee for each of the eight criteria that are evaluated, plus another committee for PR, one for fundraising, etc.
- Plan to attend the symposium. Save the dates of September 30 through October 2 for the national educational symposium and awards which will be in St. Louis. We're going to have some dynamic speakers and exciting tours. The hotel, the Hilton at the Ballpark, has just had a $45 million remodel and is right downtown. There are parks adjacent, you can walk to the famous Arch, and go to a baseball game at the stadium next door.
And now a photo of my boss, who's really excited about this year's contest.
For new towns, you'll receive a very nice info packet from the AIB office. Be sure to read it all, and mark the due dates for the various things on your calendar.
Some tips for everyone:
- If you don't already have one, order a copy of the Best Ideas book from AIB at www.americainbloom.org. It contains some of the best ideas implemented by participating towns during that past nine years. Many of them can be easily implemented by volunteers. You'll get lots of inspiration from this book.
- Create your community profile book. New this year is a Word template for creating your community profile book. You'll receive it from the office. The book is limited to 50 pages. This will save you tons of time. You can add photos, and be creative with the layout, but you need to keep the book to the 50 pages. Also, you can save it as a pdf and email it to your judges before they arrive! If you're a returning town, be sure to highlight your new projects. Start thinking about the book now, and start taking pictures. Before and after photos are really effective. Also pictures of people working on projects. While you're at it, think of other uses for your photos - perhaps the local newspaper, town website, city hall?
- The best way to start your planning is by strategically using the evaluation form. Go through it line by line and with your committee, think about your efforts in each area. If you don't know the answer, assign some "investigative reporting" to your committee.
- Remember to delegate. Entering America in Bloom is a big project, and it's much more fun when you share the work with others. Think about have a subcommittee for each of the eight criteria that are evaluated, plus another committee for PR, one for fundraising, etc.
- Plan to attend the symposium. Save the dates of September 30 through October 2 for the national educational symposium and awards which will be in St. Louis. We're going to have some dynamic speakers and exciting tours. The hotel, the Hilton at the Ballpark, has just had a $45 million remodel and is right downtown. There are parks adjacent, you can walk to the famous Arch, and go to a baseball game at the stadium next door.
And now a photo of my boss, who's really excited about this year's contest.
Posts
