Little Red's Big Ideas

Health Care Legislation Could Benefit Parks and Recreation

An article in the Boston Globe today begins, "Sweeping health-care legislation working its way through Congress is more than an effort to provide insurance to millions of Americans without coverage. Tucked within is a provision that could provide billions of dollars for walking paths, streetlights, jungle gyms, and even farmers’ markets."

After reading some of the comments regarding the article, it seems the public is less than pleased about what many are calling "pork barrel" spending by the Obama administration.  The article summarizes, "Critics argue the provision is a thinly disguised effort to insert pork-barrel spending into a bill that has been widely portrayed to the public as dealing with expanding health coverage and cutting medical costs. A leading critic, Senator Mike Enzi, a Wyoming Republican, ridicules the local projects, asking: 'How can Democrats justify the wasteful spending in this bill?’' "

I'm currently working with the RAND corporation on a park usage study and initial finding suggest that walking paths are one of the best ways to increase activity in parks and other open space.  The article also reports that "Advocates of the measure including Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, defend the proposed spending as a necessary way to promote healthier lives and, in the long run, cut medical costs. 'These are not public works grants; they are community transformation grants,'’ said Anthony Coley, a spokesman for Kennedy, chairman of the Senate health committee whose health-care bill includes the projects.

"'If improving the lighting in a playground or clearing a walking path or a bike path or restoring a park are determined as needed by a community to create more opportunities for physical activity, we should not prohibit this from happening,' Coley said in a statement.

The park and recreation profession is at an important crossroads.  Legislators are finally beginning to understand that we are an important part of the public health solution.  Show your support by writing to your legislators so that your voice can be heard.  Also, post a comment at articles like the one mentioned to combat negative comments about parks and recreation spending.  These comments are carefully monitored by legislative aids and local politicians to gage citizen response to polarizing issues. 

The squeaky wheel DOES get the grease.  So squeak, squeak, squeak.

Park and Recreation Budget Cuts in the News

I use a "virtual clipping service" via iGoogle that searches and scans the Internet continually for articles which relate to parks and recreation.  This week I couldn't help but notice how many articles focused on budget cuts and their impact on communities.  Here are a couple of examples:

Dallas Morning News: Dallas budgtet deficit may cut into the fun at parks, recreation centers

Fox 31 KDVR.com : Breckenridge trims $1 Million from budget, recreation, replanting

While funding cuts are nothing new to the parks and recreation profession; what seems to be new is their depth AND the attention being focused on the diminishing funds.  As your virtual publicist I strongly encourage you to ride this wave of media attention.  Even if park and recreation budget cuts aren't affecting you at this moment it's a good idea to update constituents about budget cuts in your near future and how they may impact your services.   You may want to educate people via your web site, activity guide or newsletter about how programs, parks and services are funded.  This is a great time to focus on some of the following:

• Your fiscal responsibility.  Let consumers and constituents know that you run a lean operation.  Share cost savings efforts, but never give the impression that your are scrimping on safety or security.
• The wisdom of your decision-makers to prioritize park and recreation programs (don't use sarcasm or make up stories, but it is a wonderful way to stroke some egos -- especially  if times are tough and your community leaders are feeling the heat.)

• Your agency's pricing model which enables cost recovery and (low cost) user fees.  Remind people that your programs do not rely (wholly) on tax payers, but rather are paid for by users and participants.

• Remind your community that sponsors make many of your programs possible.

• This is also a great time to thank Sponsors.  Why not list ALL of them on your website or in  printed material.  Take the time to formally thank sponsors with an useful, imprinted promotional item imprinted with the Benefits are Endless for Sponsors Logo (shown on the right).  This logo, customized with your agency name and contact info and given with no strings attached, will remind your business partners that they get when they give!

• Better yet -- use these media stories as a catalyst to breathe new life into your sponsorship program.  Look for new ways to help sponsors reach their target audience in new innovative ways.  Host a vendor Expo in which Sponsors can directly promote their products to your customers.  Host clinics and demonstrations so that your athletes, coaches, crafters and artists can try out new equipment, technologies and gear to improve their game and performance. 

Please share your comments and ideas below...

CBS News Report: Camps Slammed by Swine Flu

Last night Katie Couric featured an extensive story and video called, "Avoiding Swine Flu at Camp" on the impact of the H1N1 (Swine) flu virus on the summer camp season.  While many special needs camps chose to err on the side of caution, canceling camp altogether; most camps have opened and are in full swing without incident.  However, the report, which featured Blue Star Camp in North Carolina focused on seemingly mild cases of H1N1 which have broken out in their camp communities.  They featured nurses taking temperatures and doing "lice checks."  (I went to the Blue Star website today and was a little surprised that there wasn't a "front page" response to the news piece squelching some of the anxieties parents might be experiencing as they watched their camp featured on a story about the epidemic flu.)

Myson just returned from Camp Mountain Chai -- a residential camp in the mountains of Southern California.  There were no outbreaks of flu or any other illnessess during the two weeks Spencer was at camp.  However -- I have to admit -- after watching the report, I was kind of glad Spencer's residential camp season was over without incident.  I felt anxious.  Partly because the report asks the big question: will we continue to see outbreaks as children return to school in the fall? 

So, what's a camp to do? 

Educate yourself.  Read ACA's latest responses and educational pieces related to the H1N1 Virus here.  Besides good information from the health care community there are discussions and videos.

Monitor calls and conversations.  You know your parents better than I do.  While you never want to create unnessary panic especially, you don't want to ignore a potential problem either.  If you are getting even one or two questions or calls regarding the flu, you should probably go on the communications offensive.  Keep in mind, that for every question or call that you get about any issue at camp, chances are there are many, many more people (parents, grandparents funders) thinking or fearing the same thing -- but just not making their concerns known.  First and foremost let your parents know that  you are aware of the H1N1 risk and are taking extra precautions this year (assuming that you are).

Go to the ABC website and watch the video or read the story.  Then post a comment at the end of the video confirming the many ways you, as a camp professional, insure that kids stay safe and healthy while in your care.  There's power in numbers and it's important for a news outlet as powerful as CBS know that the camp profession is engaged and involved.

Please comment on this story by offering ideas or suggestions to others.

Are your camps listed?

I recently got a call from someone who had heard me speak at a Camp Conference asking if I had any last minute suggestions to help boost enrollment this summer.  After doing a bit of brainstorming related to offering premiums for referrals, attractive discounts for siblings or signing children up for additional weeks of camp, I happened to ask,"Are your camps listed on the popular Camp Directories?"  I was surprised that this savvy camp director was unaware of these types of directories and was enthusiastic about their existence. 

Often, similar to telephone directories, these on-line directories offer free basic listings.  Of course, they also offer many fee based enhanced listings and advertising opportunities.  Post a basic listing at the very least and explore paid listing options with a knowledgeable marketing expert.  Here are the ones that ranked highest when I did a Google search for Summer Camps.  I couldn't help but noticed how very few public and non profit camps are listed on these sites.  I'm sure you're welcome.  But, these directories can't list you if they don't know you exist.  Make yourself known by investing 30 - 60 minutes of your time and listing your camps on these sites:

http://www.summer-daycamps.com

http://www.summercamps.com

http://www.camppage.com

http://www.gocamps.com

And, if you have an opinion about any of these sites or have others to add, please leave a comment below!

You Asked for it! Social Networking Policy Sample

Because I speak and offer webinars that help agencies set up Social Networking Strategies, I’m often asked to provide sample Social Networking Policies. I’m no attorney but I can offer a link to a sample policy that was originally published by the American Camp Association in their magazine

The policy which was drafted by Summit Communications Group is simple and straightforward. It is written in language both you and your staff will understand. Of course, you’ll want to edit based on advice from your own legal advisors – but it’s a good place to start.

If you have a policy you can share with others -- please email it to me at: littleredsbigideas@gmail.com