You've survived the 4th of July but there's something else to celebrate this month. Since July is designated National Recreation and Parks Month, it's a great time to connect with the press. Rather than sending the usual (even -- dare I say it -- boring) press release, send this Letter to the Editor. It has a unique twist since it highlights the value of your volunteers. So, rather than the typical self-serving news release, this ready-to-customize letter allows YOU, the park and recreation professional to say "thanks!" while promoting the endless benefits of parks and recreation. You can download the letter as a Word file Download prmonth.doc or cut and paste from here.
The only thing I ask is keep me posted! Did you send it? Did it get printed? One thing's for sure -- it won't get printed if you don't send it! So what are you waiting for? Replace the red with your info and presto -- you're ready to roll. Five Minutes is all it takes. Go for it!
Letter to the Editor July X, 2007 (Send by July 20 for best results)
Dear Editor,
July is National Parks and Recreation Month. Unlike earlier July celebrations, there’s no parade or fireworks to commemorate the occasion. However, everyone in {your town} (whether they know it or not) gets to celebrate the benefits of parks and recreation each and every day -- just by driving past {your most beautiful park/open space name}, hiking on trails, cooling off at the pool, playing ball, walking or biking on trails and paths, or picnicking at a favorite spot.
But parks and recreation is really about the people behind the parks and programs. An army of volunteers who serve you and your children in countless ways supports our professional staff. These generous men and women, boys and girls, do everything from pick up trash from our parks to help teach kids to swim. They are the unsung heroes who coach our kids’ teams, help them meet new friends, explore their creativity and feel good about themselves. Park volunteers also help our staff protect our {17,000 acres of parkland} including trails, wildlife and open space.
On behalf of the entire department I pay tribute to over {1,000} volunteers who contribute more than {20,000} hours to our city. Their tireless work saves our economy more than {$X thousand/million – see note below for volunteer value formula*} dollars every year. Together, park and recreation staff and volunteers ensure that {your town/community/ service area} is, indeed, a wonderful place to live, work and play ... today and for generations to come. I salute you all!
With gratitude,
Your Name
Your Title
Your Agency Name
*Calculate the value of your volunteers by multiplying the number of volunteer hours X $18.77. This figure is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Learn more about measuring the worth of volunteerism at the Independent Sector's Website. You can even see the state by state Dollar Value of a Volunteer Hour
