Anniversary Celebration 2008

Next meetings:

Tues. April 22, 10-1 at HGIC
Tues. May 20, 10-1 at HGIC

“Team 30” for the MG 30th Anniversary Celebration is up and running

In 1978, the first Maryland MG program was launched in Carroll County. That means we are celebrating our 30th anniversary this year!! Wow, we’d better get busy because this is a golden opportunity to:

raise the program’s visibility- we want everyone to know who we are and what we do. This is also a chance to attract new recruits.
educate the public, especially with new and important messages (e.g. ecologically gardening and natural resource stewardship.)
recognize and celebrate our accomplishments and have FUN!

A good group of volunteers and staffers started meeting last June to get the ball rolling. We are now gathering a lot of steam and could use more help. This is going to be a memorable, state-wide effort and we need a large number of volunteers to be part of the action.

What we need is lots of help from around the state. Please let us know if you can work on one of the committees or would like to work on any particular function (but perhaps not work on larger committees. You could work at night or on your own schedule). Some of these functions would be:

videographer
organize any one aspect of the day of Excellence (May 2008) (see below)
organize an event or two in your county that would become part of our official statewide list of events.
writer
event planners

We have divided this effort into 3 work teams- 1. Day of Excellence (May 2008); 2. Communications; 3. Events around state that we will promote statewide.

1.   Day of Excellence- (May 2008- exact date TBA - also called MG Annual Training Day)
o   Night events
o   Food
o   Silent auction- objects, unusual plants
o   Trade show
o   Keynote & presenters
o   Video of MG history
o   Fun/skits
o   Room host
o   Site selection
o   Shirt selection

2. Communications

Put together historical/promotional videos and power points
Write press releases and news stories with a hook
Get photographer now to take pictures for use next year.
Maintain contact management database
Coordinate with other work teams
Contact with media
Print, tv radio
Community newsletters
Contact with legislators
Promotional items- bumper sticker, shirts, patches- coordinate with marketing/promotion committee

3. Events around the state

Ask MG’s and coordinators to come up with events/tours
One person for program will identify really good programs and public events that we can be highlighted on MG website and reported on by the media.

If you can volunteer in any specific or general way, please let Robin (rmhessey@umd.edu; 410-531-1754) know and we will try and plug you in, or come to the next planning event at HGIC.

For more information, contact Robin Hessey

Last updated: 04/1/2008