City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/625396
www.urban-forestry.com 27 Dynamic community partnerships can be the fuel needed to propel educational forestry campaigns and programs with additional resources and vehicles for distri- bution. However, the best par tners are not always the most obvious. Consider thinking past your typical suppor ters to businesses, retailers, enter tainment venues, and beyond. Community forestry programs need suppor t and business- es need to suppor t programs that elevate their position as environmental leaders. When my firm launched the Kentucky Roots Campaign with the Nor thern Kentucky Urban & Community Forestry Council (NKUCFC) and Campaign Co-Chairs Rachel Comte and Jenny Gulick, one of our most successful par tnerships was forged with a speedway nestled amid a lovely com- munity forest. Instead of simply buying adver tising, we invited the speed- way owner to help us educate his patrons on the value of trees and their care. After learning more about why trees are dying in Nor thern Kentucky and the impor tance of getting homeowners to better care for the trees on their proper ty, he became a campaign champion. He cut our adver tising fee in half and gave us the added value of addressing the crowd over the loud speaker, setting up a table with our campaign materials at the track entrance, and shooting our t-shir ts out of his cannon into the crowd. Why? Our message touched a nerve and he wanted to do something now to "protect the planet" for his grandchil- dren. The speedway is and will continue to be a champion of Kentucky Roots! From there, we approached Duke Energy of Kentucky and Ohio. In my experience, the best strategy with large cor- porations or utilities is to enter through their community relations depar tment. These are the people charged with the task of community service and suppor t, so they're seeking oppor tunities to align themselves with a charity or a cause. That's where I star ted and succeeded with Duke Energy. The first meeting with Duke Energy included our Kentucky Roots Campaign Co-Chair Jenny Gulick and myself. We came armed with our campaign materials, providing additional credibility, and a clear vision of our mission. Developing Creative Community Forestry Partnerships The Kentucky Roots Example by Kari Logan, VP Public Relations, CEL Marketing/PR/Design, www.celpr.com Educating folks at the Florence, Kentucky Speedway. Photo Courtesy CEL Marketing/PR/Design Kentucky Roots Campaign Co-Chair Rachel Comte talks with a visi- tor to a KY Roots booth at a baseball game. Photo by Jenny Gulick