Synergy in Public Communication or How Stray Dogs, Invasive Species and 8th Graders can Improve your Outreach Efforts

摘要

The Richmond, Virginia Stormwater Utility uses multiple methods for community outreach tornhave timely and effective Stormwater Public Education. The Utility continues to employrntraditional methods of communicating with the public such as bill inserts, public servicernannouncements and community and neighborhood meetings; however, we have added anrnadditional component to our program that has proven to be very successful. This new approachrninvolves partnering with Community groups in joint events that offer the Utility an opportunityrnto realize synergistic results while targeting messages to specific groups. This targeted approachrnallows us to piggy back our Stormwater education message with an already popular event. Thernpaper will cover outreach efforts to Animal Sheltering and Welfare groups that include a PetrnWaste Pick up gift for each adoption; to Public Schools for a “Build a Rain Barrel” projectrnoffering stormwater education and an artistic component by having the students both build andrndecorate rain barrels and to Community Volunteer and Environmental Groups to sharerneducational information with the public.This paper will show that these innovative practices helprnthe utility bring our message of improving stormwater quality to targeted community groups.