Watch for Me NC 2014 Share Meeting: and to Make an Impact€¦ · Cary (Wake County) Apex (Wake...

Watch for Me NC 2014 Share Meeting:

Partners and Strategies to Make an Impact

July 16,  2014

Meeting Agenda

• Roll Call• Housekeeping items and reminders• Part I: The Role of Partners in Campaign Activities

– Material/message dissemination partners/strategies– Enforcement partners/strategies– School‐based partners/strategies

• Part II: Status Updates 

Law Enforcement Training Status

Training date Location Partner communities represented in attendance (includes cities, towns, higher ed, SHP)

April 4 Kill Devil Hills Outer Banks (Dare County)July 8  Apex Raleigh (Wake County)

Cary (Wake County)Apex (Wake County)

July 10 Greenville New Bern (Craven County)Greenville (Pitt County)

Edenton (Chowan County)

July 22 Greensboro Danbury (Stokes County)Greensboro (Guilford County)Chapel Hill (Orange County)Carrboro (Orange County)

July 29 Boone Boone (Watauga County)July 30 Cullowhee Sylva (Jackson County)Aug 6 Wilmington Wilmington (New Hanover County)

Material Order Status

• Ads/radio spots have been purchased. Set to run in early August.

• Materials are ordered. NCDOT to mail packages the week of August 4‐8.

• NCDOT will only ship to ONE address per local government/university agency. 

• Deliveries will include bike lights, safety bracelets, bumper stickers, rack cards, posters, and banners.  Be ready with storage space. 

Action Items for All POCs

1. By COB tomorrow: email Nancy (pullen@hsrc.unc.edu) with number of agencies needing sandwich boards.  

2. Register for enforcement trainings: http://www.watchformenc.org/training‐calendar/

3. By July 30: email Nancy (pullen@hsrc.unc.edu) with shipping address(es) for materials.

4. Next share meeting: August 19 from 10am ‐ 12pm5. Submit forms to Laura (sandt@hsrc.unc.edu) after 

enforcement events.6. Email James (james@hsrc.unc.edu) if you did NOT 

receive the test listserv email re: webinars.7. Plan for storage. 

Part I: The Role of Partners in Campaign Activities

Importance of Partnerships

1. Get buy‐in/ approval needed to perform activities

2. Provide support in distributing materials3. Offer new ideas and expertise4. Extend the reach of the program

Key Potential Partners

Partner Key Strengths

Communications/ Public Information Officers

Ties with the public and community groups; knowledge of media relations

Parks and Recreations Departments

Organize local events; may host after school care programs

Planning/ Public Works departments

Ties with the public and other city depts;knowledge of safety issues/ areas

School system Access to large community of kids/ parents

Police department Ties to all of the above

Additional Partners• Health and Safety Groups

– SafeKids– Hospitals and health departments– Partners Against Crime (PACs)

• Neighborhood groups, councils, etc.• Bike/ped advocacy groups, advisory councils, or clubs

• El Pueblo• Transit agencies• Large employers

Distributing Print Materials

• Potential venues/partners:– Libraries– Community centers, city hall– Schools– Churches– Bike shops or clubs– Civic organizations– Local businesses/ chamber of commerce

Phillips Middle School, Chapel Hill, NC

Placing Banners

1. Popular plazas2. Festivals/events3. High‐crash corridor or 

intersectionsUNC Chapel Hill

Carrboro, NC

Going Digital

• Messages in on‐line utility bill statements– Raleigh and Durham

• Messages and videos on campuses– UNC‐Chapel Hill campus – Raleigh: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfBer3S6IiU&feature=youtu.be

• Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and other social media Triangle Transit, Raleigh, NC

Working with Local Businesses

• Use window space to display posters– Area restaurants, bike shops, hotels, and gas stations , etc.

• Alert before law enforcement takes place nearby– 9th St in Durham

Raleigh, NC

Attending Events• National Night Out• School open houses• Farmers markets• Seasonal festivals and concert series

• Trail openings• Health and job fairs, appreciation days

• Bike rodeos

Making Presentations• Council meetings

– Bike/ped advisory council

– Town council– Municipal Planning Organization (MPO) transportation committees

• School assemblies, PTAs• Neighborhood groups, civic clubs

Engaging the Media

• Press events• Media alerts/ news releases

• Letters to the editor• Blogs

Engaging the Media

• Key opportunities:– Announce participation in program/ training

– Announce campaign kick‐off– Alert the public to upcoming enforcement events or share results of operations

Raleigh, NC

Tips for Getting Good Media Coverage

Durham, NC

1. Go thru the right channels: Public Information Officer

2. Be relevant/timely: Connect with a newsworthy event or involve a high‐profile individual

3. Give advance notice: 24 hours minimum

4. Make direct contact: 1‐2pm is usually a good time to email/call

5. Be ready for an interview: See talking points in Communications Toolkit

Laying the Foundation for Enforcement

• Issue press releases before/after operations• Trainings have more detailed guidance• ID key sites for enforcement, possibly near schools

• Meet with District Attorney and/or judges or send information regarding the campaign– See Template Open Letter on partner webpage

Partnering with Schools• Potential “gate‐keepers”:

– School board, sub‐committee (e.g., health, facilities, transportation, curriculum), or advisory boards

– Individual principals or PE teachers– PTA president– School Resource Officers

• Supporting players:– Active Routes to School Coordinators– SafeKids– Afterschool programs (YMCA, etc.)

Partnering with Schools• Near term:

– Meetings, staff trainings– One‐time events (like Bike/Walk to School Day)– Materials at school open house, student orientations

• Longer term:– Incorporate Watch for Me NC messages into comprehensive SRTS or driver’s ed programs

– Teach Let’s Go Curriculum

School Examples• Durham: Training to school crossing guards

• Raleigh: Used WFM Materials in Walk to School Day event

Durham, NC

Leesville Elementary School, Raleigh, NC

University Partnership Opportunities• Student services• New student or staff orientations, car/bike registrations• Campus dining (table top ads)• Public services (e.g., transportation)• Campus housing/Residential Advisors• Student groups (e.g., bike club) and Student Government Associations

• Campus media• University recreation• Sustainability office

Strategies for Coordination1. Make the case

– Have data ready to show the problem or value of the effort

2. Work (within) the system– ID “low‐hanging fruit” or common goals– Add onto existing groups/meetings/events

3. Form a steering committee or “core group”– Schedule regular in‐personmeetings

Part II: Status Updates

Additional Resources• Email the listserv: watchformenc@googlegroups.com

• www.WatchForMeNC.org/partner‐resources/