Hey All, Here’s a first take at what happened on 08.17.11, and I must say it’s pretty amazing so far. Anecdotally we’ve heard that at some of the events, many participants were non-member landscape architects, contractors and vendors. It also went international! Quote from the Philippines: “we support and will do our part here, on the other side of the world – the Philippines. calendars marked!”

 Firstly by the numbers: • At least 170 events nationwide, and chances are there are more that aren’t on the map: http://bit.ly/oG4Hxf • The Campaign Google Map itself received 40,000 views. • Created and distributed 25,000+ pieces of collateral material to chapters across the country, including 120 campaign t-shirts sold online. • At least 60 news stories, including more than 16 TV spots, plus more stories to come. MNASLA received saturation coverage, with stories on every TV station plus a front page story in the main daily newspaper. • 2,700-plus page views for the new http://www.asla.org/design website in less than 48 hours. • More than 2,800 video views of campaign-related videos in the past week (Landscape architects hit the street, Street landscape architecture, Dramatic chalk) • Approximately 100 “rewteets” of ASLA’s information on Twitter to thousands of others, plus at least 200 other tweets about 08.17.11 in the past week. • Dozens of posts on the campaign Facebook page, which now has 2,100 fans.

Media

Here’s an initial look at media. A pretty full list is below, but here are a few select highlights first. This ran four times in NYC: http://manhattan.ny1.com/content/top_stories/145269/landscape-architects-share-knowhow-by-penn-station Minnesota TV: http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/08/16/minneapolis-to-use-floating-islands-to-clean-up-sick-lake/ http://kstc45.com/article/stories/S2245003.shtml?cat=10905 Fargo TV: http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/50619/group/homepage/ Michigan TV: http://www.uppermichiganssource.com/news/story.aspx?list=~%5Chome%5Clists%5Csearch&id=652982 Rapid City TV: http://www.blackhillsfox.com/2011/08/17/Architects-build-understanding-in-Rapid-City Additional TV, from media monitoring: http://www.criticalmention.com/report/12957×230892.htm A few other story highlights: http://www.courant.com/business/hc-bushnell-plaza-landscape-architect20110817,0,6211081.story http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/08/16/watch-out-for-guerilla-landscape-architects-tomorrow/ http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2011-08-16/gathering-honor-landscape-architectsclermont-lee http://landmarkwest.blogspot.com/2011/08/landscape-architecture-is-designing.html Rest of Media Below: Minnesota: http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2244999.shtml?cat=1 (video not currently working) http://kaaltv.com/article/stories/S2245001.shtml?cat=10151 (video currently not working) Fargo: http://www.wday.com/event/article/id/50619/group/homepage/ Inhabitat: http://inhabitat.com/floating-islands-will-restore-life-to-minnesotas-spring-lake/ Hartford Courant http://www.courant.com/business/hc-bushnell-plaza-landscape-architect20110817,0,6211081.story Lansing State Journal: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110818/NEWS06/108180319/-1/RSS13 http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110814/ELANSING01/108140417/MSU-s-Children-s-Garden-focus-talk-tour Minneapolis Star-Tribune: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/127980188.html http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/homegarden/127617988.html Minneapolis Post: http://www.minnpost.com/dailyglean/2011/08/17/30878/minnesota_on_pace_for_fewest_traffic_deaths_in_67_years#73-30878 Press Democrat (AP): http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110817/APN/1108170614?Title=Charleston-landscape-architects-talk-environment&tc=ar SC AP: http://www.live5news.com/story/15280749/charleston-landscape-architects-talk-environment http://www.islandpacket.com/2011/08/17/1760341/charleston-landscape-architects.html http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2011/08/17/1226763/charleston-landscape-architects.html http://www.thestate.com/2011/08/17/1937008/charleston-landscape-architects.html http://www.the-dispatch.com/article/20110817/APN/1108170614?tc=ar http://www.abcnews4.com/story/15280903/charleston-landscape-architects-talk-environment http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20110817/APN/1108170614?Title=Charleston-landscape-architects-talk-environment&tc=ar http://www.fortmilltimes.com/2011/08/17/1672277/charleston-landscape-architects.html http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/1058fe1ebbe4415a996bee054e34e181/SC–Landscape-Architects/ http://www.telegram.com/article/20110817/APN/308179951/-1/rss01&source=rss http://www.lakewyliepilot.com/2011/08/17/1226763/charleston-landscape-architects.html The Sun News (Myrtle Beach): http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/08/17/2337492/coastal-business-hospital-picks.html Memphis Commercial Appeal: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/aug/18/coffee-break-evolve-joins-loan-program/ Los Angeles: http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2011/08/l-a-graffiti-day/ Atlanta Journal Constitution: http://www.ajc.com/news/county-by-county-news-1111263.html?cxtype=rss_news Great Greater Washington: http://greatergreaterwashington.org/post/11709/breakfast-links-suburban-traffic-engineer-follies/ Sacramento Press: http://www.sacramentopress.com/headline/55229/081711_Sacramento_Landscape_Architects_Join_National_Awareness_Movement Washington City Paper: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/housingcomplex/2011/08/16/watch-out-for-guerilla-landscape-architects-tomorrow/ Capital City Weekly (Juneau) http://www.capitalcityweekly.com/stories/081711/cal_872659433.shtml Minnesota Public Radio: http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/08/16/artificial-islands-work-to-clean-up-polluted-spring-lake/ Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce: http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12032259.html Inform (Fargo): http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/330780/ Savannah Now: http://savannahnow.com/exchange/2011-08-16/gathering-honor-landscape-architectsclermont-lee Missoulian: http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_818e3384-c6f8-11e0-8e2f-001cc4c03286.html Baltimore Real Estate: http://baltimorerealestate.citybizlist.com/1/2011/8/11/Mahan-Rykiel-to-Participate-in-National-Understory-Day-on-817.aspx City of Coeur D’Alane Blog: http://cdacity.blogspot.com/2011/08/first-city-park-designed-by-landscape.html Hartford Business: http://www.hartfordbusiness.com/news19966.html Erosion Control: http://www.erosioncontrol.com/the-latest/minneapolis-floating-islands.aspx Landmark West (Blog, NYC): http://landmarkwest.blogspot.com/2011/08/landscape-architecture-is-designing.html

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Greetings

•  I’d like to introduce you to landscape architecture.
• What do you know about landscape architecture?
• Learn about landscape architecture!

Greeting – avoid asking questions that lead to yes or no answers. “Do you have a minute for landscape architecture?” If you have campaign materials, get them in their hands. 

 Talking Points

• Today we’re talking to folks across the country about what we do. Our goal is raise public awareness. Landscape architecture is a design profession. We design, protect and preserve the environment around you.
• Landscape architecture is inclusive and interdisciplinary of everything from a park to a streetscape, to historic preservation, to infrastructure to a backyard.
• We manage the relationship between the built and natural environment designing green roofs to transportation corridors.
• We offer solutions for storm water runoff, public health, active living, and energy conservation to bioremediation and rehabilitation.

Reference the street you’re on, the park you’re nearby or what the profession would contribute to the place you are to explain the relationship between the built and natural environment – you manage that relationship! 

 General Tips

• Have 1-3 main points ready that you’d like to share throughout the hour. Your 30 second elevator speech. Make sure they’re points for which you have pride, motivation and passion. 
• Be yourself and talk about your profession and what it means to you otherwise it’s not authentic.
• Don’t say what you don’t do but what you do; be positive. 
• Talk about the requirements to be a landscape architect. If they’re younger and seem interested, tell them about how the profession is growing and needs students interested in art and science.  
• Don’t hide behind your props but make yourself open to conversation
• Use sketching and chalking as spectacles to break the ice.
• Mention that they can learn more at asla.org/design
• Pick the right location to greet people and if it’s not working adjust accordingly.
• Whether by yourself or with a team of people use it to your advantage. One person can be more approachable whereas with multiple you can have those who are just visible passing out materials, greeters/talkers and those using easels/chalking. Everyone has strength.
• If you have handouts, business cards, etc, get the materials in their hands or tell them one succinct point about what you do and we’ve all won!  People remember and appreciate one on one interaction more than any other way to communicate.
• Finally, if you’re not having fun, then you’re not doing it right.   

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Yes, you designed it, yes, you would design this and yes, they will hire you to design that. Now hiring landscape architects! Don’t miss the opportunity to raise awareness for all the interdisciplinary projects that you take on.  Yours is the profession that provides the design solutions that the public seeks but they remain unaware of your skill.  On 08.17.11 landscape architects will have conversations with average people across the country to tell them about what they do.  They’ll sketch designs next to busy lunch cafes, chalk the streets and wave signs in the air. Don’t miss this opportunity as we have organizers representing all 50 states ready to employ you in this crusade. Contact the representative in your area and get on the map. It’s simple, fun and easy. Take it to the streets!

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