The America in Bloom registration deadline is looming – February 28. The AIB program is a unique way to connect people to plants, increase the consumption of horticultural products, and plant pride in America. Towns that participate in the program receive benefits ranging from making the town a better place to live, work, play and visit, to increased civic involvement, to increased property values.
To learn about America in Bloom, get help organizing your town’s participation efforts, and see how your business can prosper, visit www.americainbloom.org.
Between May and August, judges spend two days participating cities. They develop an extensive written evaluation that provides feedback on where towns excel and suggestions for further initiatives. Communities are evaluated in eight criteria: floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, turf and groundcover areas, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, tidiness and community involvement. To date, participants include nearly 200 towns and cities from 38 states.
America in Bloom (AIB) is also launching a series of 10 free online seminars – “webinars.” Attendance is open to all interested parties. Presenters include representatives from America in Bloom participating towns and veteran AIB judges. The live webinars are delivered as an online slide show, with the presenter’s voice carried as streaming audio. Registered participants will have a chance to ask questions and can access these events from any location that has access to high-speed internet.
Each webinar starts at 2 p.m. EST and lasts for 60 minutes, which includes time for questions. A complete list of dates, detailed topic descriptions, and presenters is available on the America in Bloom website. All the webinars will be recorded and available for viewing at www.americainbloom.org.
To register, please go to http://www.americainbloom.org/Participation-Toolbox/Webinars.aspx.
- February 22 AIB Success Stories – How America in Bloom Helps Your Town
- March 17 Engaging a Local AIB Committee and Developing a Community Profile Book
- April 13 Planning for the Judges’ Visit
- May 12 Strategies for Winning the AIB YouTube Video Contest
- August 17 National Awards & Symposium Preview
- September 15 How to Get Started with AIB and Get Ready for the 2012 program
- October 13 How Garden Centers Can Prosper by Promoting AIB in Their Town
- November 17 Best Ideas on Planning your City Planting
- December 13 Best Ideas on Fundraising
- January 13, 2012 Best Ideas – Gifts to Give Your Town