Main Street Public Relations in the Information Age powerpoint available

Stephanie Redman and I have been speaking about Public Relations for Main Street organizations several times in the last few months. We did a day long PR presentation for the Nebraska Main Street managers, a half day PR presentation for Kansas and Wyoming Main Street Managers, and most recently a 75 minute version for attendees at the National Trust Main Street Center annual conference held in Chicago this past week. We were delighted to have an overflow crowd with people sitting in the aisles and in the hallway outside of our conference session.

We billed the conference session this way in the preliminary conference brochure:

Every Main Street organization needs to build a positive public image through good public relations (P.R.). Learn how to shift from haphazard P.R. efforts to a strategy that puts the organization in a positive public spotlight. This interactive session covers the benefits of positive public relations efforts, effective P.R. methods and tools, and public relations strategy development. We’ll review how to use media lists, social networking sites, press releases, interviews, and press conferences and other tools to steer the news your way. Learn how Main Streetgroups are using blogs, web sites, and social media to bring attention to their programs and reach younger people. Participants leave the workshop with a “quick-and-dirty” P.R. plan to use immediately.

We have already posted the top ten tips for Main Street in the Information Age on this blog and on our Advanced Organization Academy blog. We encourage you to visit it www.advancedorganizationacademy.blogspot.com to learn about the variety of sessions we can provide.

The handouts include the PowerPoint show as well as an exercise to develop a public relations plan, some thoughts about an ideal web site for Main Street organizations, and other great background materials.

If you are interested in seeing the 75 minute, illustrated PowerPoint session, please contact me at donna@heritageconsultinginc.com or stephanie.redman@gmail.com for a complimentary copy.

Funeral Museum on Death's Door according to NY Times

I have been by but never went into Museum of Funeral Customs in all the years I traveled from Chicago to Springfield for Illinois Main Street busienss. The site referred to in this article, is managed by the Illinois Funeral Director’s Association. Like many small museums it is struggling with low attendance and they are considering closing. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/us/09funeral.html

Program in New England Studies announced for 2009

A good friend Ken Turino runs the Program in New England Studies, which is organized by Historic New England. The program sounds especially interesting this year. Here are the promotional materials and a schedule.

THE HISTORIC NEW ENGLAND

PROGRAM IN NEW ENGLAND STUDIES

Monday - Saturday, June 15 - 20, 2009

Monday, June 15 SEVENTEENTH CENTURY MASSACHUSETTS BAY

9:30 am Breakfast/Registration at the Harrison Gray Otis House

10:00 Welcome and Orientation

10:15 Lecture: How Colonial New England Became Britain’s Pottery Barn

Cary Carson, Vice President, Research Division (retired) Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

11:30 Lecture: Seventeenth-Century Joinery at the River and the Bay

Phil Zea, President, Historic Deerfield, Inc.

12:30 pm Lunch: Boxed Lunch Provided

1:00 Leave for Saugus and Salem

Tour of Boardman House, Saugus, c. 1687, and

Tour of Gedney House, Salem, 1665,

Abbott Lowell Cummings, Former Director, Historic New England and Cary Carson

4:30 Return to Boston

6:00 Lecture/Reception

Lecture: America’s Kitchens

Nancy Carlisle, Curator, Historic New England

Tuesday, June 16 SEVENTEENTH/EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY: PISCATAQUA

7:45 am Depart Boston for Portsmouth, New Hampshire

9:00 Lecture: Eighteenth-Century Architecture

James L. Garvin, State Architectural Historian, New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources

10:30 Lecture: New England House and Home

Jane C. Nylander, Historic New England, President Emerita

12:00 pm Lunch at Langdon House, 1784

1:00 Tour: Governor Langdon House, 1784

Elizabeth Farish, Regional Site Manager

2:30 Tour: Warner House, Portsmouth, NH, c. 1716

Richard Candee, Professor Emeritus, American and New England Studies,

Boston University

3:15 Depart for Kittery Point, ME

3:45 Tour: Lady Pepperrell House, Kittery Point, ME, 1760

Joseph Cornish

4:45 Depart for Portsmouth

5:00 Reception at the home of Jane C. Nylander and Richard C. Nylander

6:30 Return to Boston

Wednesday, June 17 EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY

Begin at the Harrison Gray Otis House

9:15am Lecture: The Height of Elegance or “Ridiculous, Twisted Merchandise?:” Materials, Style and Design in 18^th Century American Furniture

Joshua Lane, Curator of Furniture and Academic Programs, Historic Deerfield, Inc.

10:30 Tour of Otis House, 1796

Richard Nylander, Historic New England, Curator Emeritus

12:30 Box Lunch provided

1:15 Depart for Haverhill Collections and Conservation Center

2:30 Workshop/Tour at Haverhill Collections and Conservation Center

Joshua Lane, and Nancy Carlisle

5:00 Depart for Boston

6:30 Optional Walking Tour of Beacon Hill

Leah Walczak, Otis House Site Manager

Thursday, June 18 THE NINETEENTH-CENTURY

Begin at Harrison Gray Otis House

9:00 am Lecture: The Architecture and Landscape of Federal New England

J. Ritchie Garrison, Director, Winterthur Program in Early American Material Culture, University of Delaware

10:00 Lecture: Federal Furniture in New England

Thomas C. Michie, Senior Curator of European Decorative Arts and Sculpture, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

11:00 Depart Boston for Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, Mass.

12:00 pm Tour of Pierce Nichols House, Salem, MA

1:00 Lunch at the historic Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA

2:00 Tour: Gardner-Pingree House, Salem, MA, 1804

Dean Lahikainen, Curator of American Decorative Arts, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA

3:00 Tour /Free time at the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA

4:00 Return to Boston

5:00 Tour of Historic New England’s Library and Archives

Lorna Condon, Curator of Library and Archives, Historic New England

Friday, June 19 VICTORIAN ERA

8:00am Depart Otis for Woodstock, CT

10:00 Lecture: Wild and Colorful: American Victorian Architecture, 1840-1890

Richard Guy Wilson, Chair, Department of Architectural History, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia

11:00 Lecture: Victorian Furniture: Design Run Amok or Inspired Creativity?

Nancy Carlisle, Curator, Historic New England

12:00 pm Box Lunch at Roseland Cottage, provided

1:00 Tour: Roseland Cottage, 1846

Roseland Site Manager and Staff

2:30 Depart Woodstock, CT for Lincoln, MA

3:30 Tour: Historic New England’s Codman House

Richard Nylander and Ben Haavik

5:00 Return to Boston

6:00 Reception at the home of Nancy Carlisle

Saturday, June 20 COLONIAL REVIVAL

Begin at Harrison Gray Otis House

9:00am Lecture: Imagining Old-Time Domesticity: Colonial Revival Interiors and Furnishings

Cheryl Robertson, Independent Scholar, Museum Consultant, and Design Historian

10:00 Lecture: Creating a History for New England’s Architecture: The Colonial Revival from the Civil War to the First World War

Kevin D. Murphy, Professor and Executive Officer, Ph.D. Program in Art History, CUNY Graduate Center, New York

11:00 Depart Boston for Essex, Mass.

12:00 pm Box lunch provided

12:30 Tour: Cogswell’s Grant, 1728,

Richard C. Nylander, Curator Emeritus and Nancy C. Carlisle, Curator, Historic New England

2:00 Depart for Gloucester

2:30 Tour: Beauport, Sleeper McCann House, 1910

Richard C. Nylander and Nancy C. Carlisle

4:00 Reception on Beauport Terrace

5:30 Depart for Boston: End of Program

Preserved for a price, parks on endanged list according to AP wire

This article published in the Chicago Tribune on March 2, 2009 illustrates the overwhelming problems facing governmental owned historic sites situated on park land. The article includes references to some of the state owned historic sites in Illinois closed by then Governor Rod Blagojevich, now being considered for reopening by Governor Pat Quinn. Thanks to Jan Grimes, Director of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency for alerting me about the article.

Preserved for a price, parks on endangered list

By TRAVIS REED Associated Press Writer
5:53 PM CST, March 2, 2009
MIAMI - The economic downturn has forced states around the country to shutter historic sites and reduce visiting hours for parks. But in Florida, Illinois, California and a few other places, closures have been forestalled after outcries from the public and budget-juggling by officials.

Still, funding shortfalls threaten public access at 69 recreation and historic sites nationwide, including the oldest building in Idaho, a sacred Native American ancestral village in Arizona and a Washington kayak launch point into the Puget Sound.

Money from the stimulus bill could help. That’s what made the difference in Florida, where Gov. Charlie Crist determined planned closures of 19 sites would not be necessary if the state gets the proposed $12 billion in federal stimulus money.

The threatened cuts in Florida would have stretched from a Panhandle park with a rare coastal dune lake, wildflowers and migratory birds to a former Keys quarry with cross-sections of ancient fossilized coral. The sites were targeted because they have fewer visitors and less revenue than the rest of the 160-park system. Nine didn’t charge any entry fee, and five that did raised less than $4,000 last year.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn just reopened seven parks that his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, had closed. But 12 historic sites around the state remain shuttered. They include a re-creation of the farmstead where Lincoln’s parents lived after moving to Illinois, the Vandalia Statehouse where he started as a state legislator and the Dana-Thomas House, built by Frank Lloyd Wright more than 100 years ago.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dropped California’s plans to close 48 parks after outraging environmentalists, some residents and politicians, deciding instead to increase fees slightly.

States that aren’t closing parks and historic sites are raising fees, cutting services or both. When every expense is questioned, parks and recreation — like family vacations — can be an easy target. Unfortunately, the cuts come as more families are turning to state parks to save on their own expenses.

“A lot of our constituents now can’t afford to go too far from home, and they do need somewhere they can get away and just relax and take advantage of the great outdoors,” said Shirley K. Turner, a state senator from New Jersey.

In her state, Gov. Jon Corzine proposed closing nine state parks to help balance the budget. The areas were saved by committing $9 million in beach protection money.

“It’s utilized not just by adults but a lot of children,” Turner said. “We can’t afford to lose that. It helps psychologically as well as physically, and there’s so much stress now.”

Some states, like Ohio, plan to save cash by shutting down certain destinations for just a week. It will close 14 historic sites starting March 28, a furlough sparing $191,000.

Even in states that aren’t considering closures, access will be limited and staff and service cuts likely.

Grass mowing and bathroom cleaning might be less frequent in Pennsylvania parks because of staff cuts.

New York expanded winter park closures and began months ago shutting down most parks at night for the winter. Consumer costs could be doubled in some cases there, and entry fees exceeding $200 are proposed for the Empire State Games amateur sports program.

Georgia’s park division is operating at a 23 percent staff vacancy rate. The state is moving to close or transfer operations of state golf courses and swimming pools.

Nevada could close as many as 10 of its 25 state parks seasonally, and lock up two sites that already have access problems.

Michigan hopes to raise $1.9 million by raising annual park stickers by $4 to $28 and day passes by $1 to $7.

Idaho can no longer afford the $300,000 it spent last year on Old Mission State Park, home of the 155-year-old Cataldo Mission. It hopes the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, which owns the site, or concerned nearby community members can pony up.

Hawaii is at a crossroads with a park system sorely in need of repair. The state will either close as many as five state parks or pour $240 million into a “Recreational Renaissance,” which would upgrade parks, harbors, beaches and piers crumbling into the ocean.

Three parks in Arizona have already been closed temporarily and eight more face potential temporary closure. Grants there that funded law enforcement patrols on the Colorado river are being suspended and canceled, and even a $3,500 re-enactment of a Civil War battle at Picacho Peak State Park has been called off.

Sometimes, budget cuts in other areas have untended consequences for parks. In Kansas, the cost-cutting closure of three prisons that housed 160 inmates is expected to drastically affect maintenance. Inmates worked more than 81,000 hours last year on everything from cleaning to paving roads and installing cabins last year.

And business owners in many areas count on the attractions for traffic.

Washingtonhas proposed closing two parks and transferring 13 more to other governments — if they can find anyone to take them on. If not, places like nearby Lyle and Brooks Memorial Park, a 700-acre, year-round camping site that helps drive traffic into Goldendale, Wash., could suffer.

“I can’t help but think it would affect us somewhat, even if it just means the guy at the grocery store isn’t selling as much stuff, so he’s not coming to eat,” said Maren McGowan, a photographer who co-owns The Glass Onion cafe and gallery in Goldendale with her husband.

“It does mean there are people that go there that won’t be in this area. If they’re just trying to get where they’re going and it’s not here, they might not want to eat here.”

Preservation Plan for Philadelphia web site announced

A client, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, has just launched their new web site www.preservephiladelphia.org. This web site goes along with the multi-year effort to prepare Philadelphia’s first ever, Preservation Plan.

The Preserve Philadelphia web site tells it best:

The Preservation Alliance has initiated a campaign to preserve the historic character of Philadelphia’s neighborhoods and their landmark buildings. The campaign invites all residents of Philadelphia to contribute to the creation of a Preservation Plan for Philadelphia and to support the first-ever citywide survey of historic resources. The first phase of the Preservation Plan is now underway; it has three components:

A strategic preservation plan based on public and professional input;
A statement of historic significance defining important themes in the history of the physical development of the city; and
A methodology for conducting a citywide survey using the latest in contemporary technology.

The web site contains all of the reports and materials developed as part of the Preservation Plan. My work for the Preservation Alliance was to facilitate a series of 14 focus groups of preservationists. A summary report on this work can be found on the new web site at http://www.preservephiladelphia.org/files/FOCUS_GROUP_FINAL_REPORT.pdf
Another series of focused conversations were concluded last month. Look for another summary report about the February 2009 follow up discussions with the same audience later this month

Perils and Promise of Cyber Volunteering powerpoint available NOW

Timothy Bishop, the Executive Director of the Ellensburg Downtown Association in Washington State and I developed a training program for the National Trust Main Street Center program called "Perils and Promise of Cyber Volunteerism." The description of the session read:

Cyber volunteerism is being hyped by many nonprofits as being the next big wave, but how can you integrate these off site volunteers into a healthy on site volunteer program for Main Street? Learn about the perils and promise of this new form of volunteerism, and how and why you should tap into this opportunity. Hear from two veterans about how to produce more volunteer work and target a new generation. Learn about some experiments being undertaken by Main Street organizations, best practices for cyber volunteers and the best tasks that can be completed via the Internet to support your overall work plan.

We would be delighted to send this fascinating presentation to you which includes additional bonus handout materials such as:

Articles about cyber volunteers
Sample job descriptions for cyber volunteers
Sample training assignment to complete before placement
List of best practices
Bibliography

The PowerPoint and handout materials are available now for no charge by contacting donna@heritageconsultinginc.com

Top Ten Tips for Public Relations in the Information Age

This tip sheet was developed by Stephanie Redman and me for our Advanced Organization Academy series of workshops. This handout was provided at our session "Main Street PR and the Information Age" at the National Trust Main Street Center conference in Chicago, IL. The complete presentation, in PDF form is available on the Advanced Organization Academy blog www.advancedorganizationacademy.blogspot.com.


Top Ten Things to Remember about
Public Relations for Main Street Organizations

10. Don’t rely on just one form of media for your P.R. effort. Mix up your Public Relations activities to reach a variety of audiences and age groups. Incorporate verbal, visual, and written P.R. tools, and use electronic tools – even if you personally don’t find them appealing. Post your newsletters, annual reports, press releases, and media kits on your website. Post appropriate press releases to your blog or your MySpace or Facebook page. Use active presentations to keep key groups informed about Main Street. Call local reporters to “pitch” story ideas rather than just emailing press releases or waiting for their coverage.


9. Don’t send out a poorly written press release. Releases should be engaging, informative, and succinct. Learn to write a good press release, or find a volunteer who can.


8. Get to know local reporters and editors. Get acquainted with your local and regional media contacts. Watch the local news and/or listen to local radio so you know who should be on your media contact list. Read local reporters’ stories so you can comment about their work. Call them regularly to pitch Main Street story ideas.


7. Compile an up-to-date list of Main Street contacts. During a crisis or even the regular course of events, you must have current contact information for board, committee, and staff members’ phone, fax, cell, email, and home addresses – as well as contact information for your attorney, accountant, and insurance agent. Keep a copy in the office, at home, and in the glove compartment of your car, and make sure all board members have the same information.


6. Produce a newsletter and make the most of it. Post your hardcopy newsletter to your website; post stories from the newsletter to your blog or MySpace or Facebook page. If you use an electronic newsletter, send individual stories out more frequently at a lower cost than a printed newsletter.


5. Be prepared for the hard questions. Every time you talk to a reporter (really, every time), ask yourself “What would be the worst question they could ask, and how should I respond?” By thinking this through before you make the call, send out a press release, or respond to a reporter’s phone call, you will be more confident and persuasive in your interview. And if you need more time to develop a response, just ask if you can call them back in 10 or 15 minutes.


4. Be prepared to pay for publicity. Good relationships with area media will generate a lot of coverage, but not everything you want to publicize is coverage-worthy. For example, a retail promotion event won’t likely be covered as a news story. Buy some advertising from your local media throughout the year, even if they are co-op ads volunteer thank-you ads. A little “give” to your media helps to ensure their continued good will.


3. Use your press releases in many media. “Repurpose” your press releases in various ways to capture more attention for the Main Street. Revise the release and post it on your blog. Make it into a bulletin for your MySpace and Facebook pages; “recycle” the release in your printed newsletter. Post your news on your local Craigslist Groups section.


2. Have a Public Relations plan and actually use it! Follow the steps outlined in our presentation and handouts to develop a P.R. Plan for Main Street with your Organization Committee. (Promotion can also develop a P.R. plan for the district). Then work the plan! Even if you only conduct two or three P.R. activities regularly, your organization will be more visible and credible.


1. Make sure Public Relations for Main Street is someone’s job. No matter the size or maturity of your Main Street effort, P.R. needs to be someone’s responsibility. Whether coordinated by staff or a volunteer(s), P.R. must be a priority for the organization and thus be delegated to a person or group of people – likely the Organization Committee – to implement.


Contact us to learn more about our Advanced Organization Academy trainings, consultations and workshops: donna@heritageconsultinginc.com or view our blog. www.advancedorganizationacademy.blogspot.com

50 E-ways for Committee E-effectiveness PowerPoint available NOW

Diane Williams and I made a presentation at the National Trust Main Street Center's annual conference this year around its theme Main Street 2.0. This workshop is one of the six we have developed for our training series Accelerating Downtown Organizations. You can learn more about our workshops at www.acceleratingdowntownorganizations.blogspot.com

Our session at the Main Street conference was attended by more than 100 people. We provided our top recommendations for free or cheap on-line tools that the four traditional Main Street Committees could use to boost their effectiveness. While these tools and the Main Street towns that use them, are varied, the list is meant for beginners, who are just "placing their toe" in the social media and web site pool.

If you would like to get a copy of this 75 slide, fully illustrated Power Point presentation at no charge, contact me at donna@heritageconsultinginc.com, or visit our blog www.acceleratingdowntownorganizations.blogspot.com to learn more.