America in Bloom 2010 Symposium & Awards Program coming to St. Louis

St. Louis has been selected as the site for the 2010 America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program. This national conference, to be held at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark Sept. 30-Oct. 2, will draw hundreds of community leaders and active citizens from across the United States.

As a way to give St. Louis-area communities an introduction to the America in Bloom program, a special series of three sessions will be held on Friday morning, Sept. 30. They can be attended at no cost. Sessions include: “What is America in Bloom” – an overview of AIB and how the program works; “What AIB Participation Does for My Town” – a panel of mayors and civic leaders discussing the program’s benefits; and “How to Get Started with AIB” – a panel discussion offering advice to first-time participants. To register for these free sessions, call America in Bloom at (614) 487-1117. Attendees must pre-register for the complementary sessions; space is limited.

The symposium is open to anyone interested in attending. Registration and cost information is available on the America in Bloom website, www.americainbloom.org. Attending provides a great opportunity to learn more about topics regarding urban forestry, environmental improvement trends, community gardens, beautification of commercial areas, marketing of community heritage, and much more. Various packages are available, including a Friday-only option that includes breakfast and lunch, any three morning sessions, and the opportunity to hear Dr. Peter Raven’s keynote address entitled “Connecting a Botanical Institution with the Community”.

Anna Ball, president of Ball Horticultural Co., will present the Saturday keynote address, “The Power of Plants: Opportunities for Community Quality of Life.” Additionally, the two-day symposium will feature 18 educational sessions and 3 themed tours of the St. Louis area.

The event culminates with the presentation of national awards for participating towns scoring highest in evaluations that include community involvement, tidiness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, environmental awareness, turf and groundcovers, landscape, and floral displays.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Contact Symposium co-chair Bill Ruppert at billr@rupehort.com or the America in Bloom office (aib@ofa.org) for details.