Creating a Successful Event
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GETTING STARTED
This year's National Landscape Architecture Month focuses on discovering landscape architecture through a nationwide effort at the chapter level to help bring information about the landscape architecture profession to the American public.
During April, chapters should organize a local event, or participate and/or co-sponsor an existing event in your area that helps to educate the public about an aspect of landscape architecture.
Suggested activities could include:
- School Career Day: Contact local schools by writing a letter to the principal or guidance counselor. See if the chapter can schedule a career day or be a part of one that might already be scheduled. Chapters will be able to receive complimentary Landscape Architecture magazines again this year as a giveaway for children.
- Designing a Dog Park: The Idaho/Montana chapter worked last year with fourth and fifth grade classes to design a dog park for the City of Coeur d' Alene. The project involves not only weekly interactions with the students for more than two months, but also a serious introduction to landscape architecture for the students and to the design process as well. Chapters can modify this plan to make it shorter if necessary. Start now by contacting a school or school system. The lesson plan for this is available online.
- Making a Green Roof Model: This project is great for elementary school children and will introduce them to green roofs. Chapters can help them create their own model that will actually grow. This also allows them to use their creativity by choosing what kind of building they would want to put their green roof on. Start now by contacting a school or school system. The instructions for this are available online.
Many other ideas for chapter activities can be found in our archives.
You should begin planning for your activity as early as possible to ensure adequate time to reach out to the public, your members, and the media. Once your event is scheduled, begin planning your media outreach accordingly. See the "Working with the Media" section for tips on how to garner coverage for your event.
Don't forget to include information about your event on your chapter's website and include a hotlink to the national ASLA Landscape Architecture Month website. Send information on your event to Jim Lapides, manager of public relations, so it can be included on the national ASLA website.
SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE AND MEDIA ADVISORY
Edit the sample news release and/or media advisory as appropriate and send it out. Email or faxing is best. If you need a media list for your chapter or just general PR advice, please contact Jim Lapides, manager of public relations at jlapides@asla.org or 202-215-2371.
Helpful Tips:
- Invite public officials, such as the Mayor, city council members, and school board members to join you.
- Call key members of the local media, including television and newspaper reporters, and invite them to participate as well. Be pushy — this is a great feature story and photo opportunity. Local morning shows in particular are always on the lookout for this type of story.
- Plan to take along digital or disposable cameras for photo opportunities. Include the photos with your news release.
- For more helpful hints, visit our "Working with the Media" section.
INCLUDE THE NATIONAL LOGO
National Landscape Architecture Month logos are available for download in both ".tif" and ".jpg" formats. Click here to choose the logo you'd like to use and incorporate on your website, newsletters, direct mail, etc.
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NATIONAL LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE MONTH AD
Download this National Landscape Architecture Month ad for use on chapter websites, e-newsletters, and other promotional materials.
Download the LA Month Ad (pdf) (Right click, select 'Save file/target As' to download full sized image). |
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