| Get Connected! |
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| AIB Attracts New Cities |
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 With the 2008 registration period recently closed, America in Bloom (AIB) can boast some pretty cool participants. Joining previous high-profile participants such as Chicago and Indianapolis, this year's registered cities are proof that AIB continues to gain momentum and shows the value in repeat participation.
Among the 2008 participating cities are Fairbanks, Alaska; Annapolis, Maryland; and Seattle, Washington. For more information about how you can get your city involved visit the AIB web site. 2008 Program ParticipantsTo date AIB has engaged more than 160 communities and touched 250 million people through earned media. |
| The Wearin' 0' the Green |
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By AIB President Marvin O' Miller, Ball Horticultural Company
 Top of the mornin' to you, Lads and Lassies, cousins all! And Happy St. Patrick's Day! That's right! We're all cousins today, because everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day. I hope you've got your green on! America in Bloom certainly is as Irish as "O' Danny Boy" today, but truth be known to ya, AIB is green everyday!
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Sister Cities - A Judge's Perspective |
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By AIB Judge Leonard Perry One of the recurrent themes in several cities I've visited as an AIB judge is that of Sister Cities and how communities interact with their international friends. If your community doesn't have a sister city abroad yet, this would be a first step. You can find out more on these, and cities seeking cities, from Sister Cities International.
One city I visited (Ocala, Florida) had cultural events focused on the countries of their cities abroad. So, for instance, if you had a sister city in Italy, you might have an Italian festival featuring food, dance, and customs of that country and your city in particular. Exchanges might be promoted, having some of your citizens attend their events, and likewise, visitors from abroad attend and help plan yours.
Another city (Columbus, Indiana) turned what might be a dingy alley between buildings into a work of art, featuring designs and murals. It was paid for in part by brick pavers purchased by citizens of their sister city with their names on them. |
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Annuals on a Shoestring |
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By Evelyn Alemani
 It doesn't take an enormous budget or an endowment to start a flower program in your town. Consider Mt. Rainier, Maryland, a community of nearly 10,000 on the border of Washington, D.C. AIB committee chair Jack Engel received a donation of flower seeds from a local company, then went door to door soliciting neighbors to start them in a bit of planting compost the way we learned in kindergarten - to grow the seedlings in an egg carton in a sunny window.
By May, the hardy little seedlings were large enough for Jack and his intrepid band of volunteers to plant in the street medians. Start small, get big results. Jack, you are an inspiration.
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| Outdoor Classroom Grant Program |
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Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation, International Paper, and National Geographic Explorer! classroom magazine have partnered to create an outdoor classroom grant.
The goal is to provide schools with additional resources to improve their science curriculum by engaging students in hands-on experiences outside the traditional classroom. All K-12 public schools in the United States are welcome to apply.
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| Have a Story to Share? |
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We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, LKunkle@ofa.org. | |
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March 17, 2008
