Communications & Outreach Subcommittee
Recommendations
Dec. 23, 2008

Communications and Outreach Recommendations

Branding/slogan – along the lines of Smokey the Bear – "Only you can prevent forest fires"…...ONLY YOU CAN REDUCE CO2…. on posters for schools, businesses and public buildings.
Outreach designed a logo, posters, tri-fold brochures and various flyers to distribute at events and throughout the county.

We recommend a broader campaign to brands further efforts of the implementation team.

Continued public meetings –these could be designed as report back meetings with stakeholders from the community. We suggest that city staff work with the implementation team on facilitated charettes for these meetings.
Partner with volunteer and non profit organizations for speakers to provide instruction, education and a Q & A forum for Chester County residents on all aspects of CO2 reduction.
There are many eco and environmental events planned in the county during spring/summer/fall. These are ideal outreach venues in which to distribute flyers and promotional materials for increasing public awareness of the issues.
Outreach coordinated a large public meeting in early December 2008, co-sponsored by West Chester University’s Environmental Council.

We suggest that more public meetings can be highly beneficial for ‘visioning’ the county’s future and to engage and involve the public at large, in implementation of the task force’s recommendations.

Continued email blasts to the press, various stakeholders, etc. Outreach coordinated mass email blasts to city officials, non-profits and schools to promote the efforts of the task force and alert the public.

This should continue with the implementation team.

Targeted mailings to problem areas: Retailers who could provide recycling information for CFL's, household batteries, etc.

Public access tv, blogs, websites. Outreach has created and is managing a website along with streaming and broadcast video messages for online and broadcast on public access tv.
Recommendation to staff or manage the website www.chescogreen.org, to receive and direct input and questions from Chester County residents. (note: the county may merge this site into Landscapes, which does have staff)

Education is an integral part of public awareness. We recommend involving local schools and West Chester University in possible research projects for both determining emission data and on ideas for reduction.

A local home schooling project on climate issues was passed along to several committees for further efforts and collaboration.
Assemblies at schools to instruct what each student/classroom/household/family can do to reduce CO2 in their daily lives. Take home "Pledge Sheet" for family to work toward.

“NO CO2 Day” Challenge: Countywide campaign on the first Sunday of each month from 12 noon until 6:00 PM with no driving, mowing, laundry, vacuuming, TV, computers, etc.
Unplug and reduce your carbon footprint for 6 hours. Read, play board games, take a walk, plant a tree, instead.

“Why Drive” campaign that encouraging people to use public transportation.