Hey everyone,

Sorry for the lull in emails but I needed to get some info the Minneapolis Parks and Rec board (MPRB) before we could go forward with the Earth Day Street Team action items.  Just an FYI, for action items for the group, I am going to bold the information so you can easily find it in my massive email.

There are a couple pressing things regarding the event that need to be be done in the next few weeks.  Our big job right now is getting the word out to neighborhood businesses/associations/groups to let them know the event is coming up.  We have started this a couple ways.

1) I made a facebook event to allow people to get the basic invite information.  I'd love it if you passed on an invite to your friends.  Word of mouth really helps (Rob, can you send it out to the SG group as well?). 

We decided not to do an evite as it was very cumbersome to manage invites and send information out.  Hopefully, facebook will do a better job.  We will still have to email information out but at least FB is a start.  So, I'd encourage you to join the Facebook event and send out to friends.  Check out the following link. 

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=61149861393&ref=mf

2) Arik from MPRB notified me that the posters and the solicitation letters are done.  I have electronic version of the letter (see attached) and will be printing here at my work.  I will also get a hold of the final posters to make some packages to distribute to our Street Team.

I had mentioned that the big effort in terms of man hours is going around the neighborhood and giving letters/poster for businesses to hang up.  It took Tom and I a couple nights last year but I am anticipating that it will be much faster with more volunteers.  I'd like to figure out a time that we could get together and hit the area distribute these materials.  

Could you all send me a quick email to let me know what you are willing to do and possible schedule for passing out posters/letters? bo.johnston@gmail.com

 

3)  I have a detailed email list from the clean up last year (I asked participants to put down contact information if they wanted to be notified about the clean up in the future).  I'd like to get a email ready to go to send to this entire list.  My plan is to hit them twice, once in the next week and another just before the event (and try to keep from spamming anyone too much). 

I think Tom or Adam and myself will be heading up the email distribution and I'll be sending info to the Street Team group for proofreading.  More info coming later.

4) A couple things to report back from our meeting.  I asked Arik about the biohazard stuff for needles and what not and he said they are going to keep with the same mentality as last year (mark on map and pick up later by City staff).  He thought it could be a liability thing with trained volunteers..  Bummer...

Russelle, I also asked about the possibility of a Rain Garden idea.  He mentioned they are focusing primarily on the clean up.  The rain garden would have to be something done another time outside of the clean up.  He did, however, say that they would entertain the notion of Rain Garden eduction (talking about how to make ones own rain garden) at the Clean Up.  They are always looking for educational programs.  You interested?

4) Any other ideas for sending out information?  Tom had some ideas at our Street Team meeting but I am drawing a blank right now. 

That is it for now.  Let me know if you have any comments or questions.

Thanks, Bo