Organizing A Water Trails Cleanup

Publicity

Because community campaigns live or die on publicity and promotion, enlist the local newspaper editor and radio or TV station managers. Once you have your planning group, write out your specific objectives. Outline what will be done, who will do it, and the specific results you want to achieve.

Getting The Word Out

Good publicity is the best way to attract volunteers and reinforce the idea that the river is a community resource.

• Increase the visibility of the water trail cleanup by tying it to an existing event such as a local festival or an athletic event.

• Coordinate with the organizers of that event to do joint publicity.

• Send a simple press release to local newspapers, radio and television stations.

  • Follow up with a phone call.

• Get the event published on on-line calendars

• Get a local celebrity to co-chair the event.

• Get posters printed to advertise the cleanup and display them in busy locations.

• Neighborhood associations, local churches, school clubs and other civic organizations will often advertise community events in their newsletters or bulletins at no cost.

• Submit the cleanup information with plenty of time to make the publications’ deadlines.

Publicity Coordinator

As publicity coordinator of the cleanup, you should work with the committee to develop and complete a set of program plans outlining the methods your organization will use to generate awareness and motivate volunteers.