Planning a Successful Publicity Event

Yesterday, as part of my internsip with Beautify CNMI, I helped Angelo coordinate the press event for the one year anniversary of Beautify CNMI's first tree planting. We planted 5 Flame Trees and the event was attended by the media and several volunteers and partners.

Angelo gave me homework; he told me to come up with a plan to hold a successful press event. This is what I came up with:

PUBLICITY EVENT PLANNING:

Before Event:
*Determine a time and place for your event. (Be sure to secure your place, or make sure it's available.)
*Inform your volunteers,(or group of people) about the event. (Call them up, send them an E-mail, etc.)
*Prepare any supplies that might be needed for the event, such as tools, chairs, tables, drinks, food, sound systems, etc.
*Call the media and let them know about the event.

How To Contact Media:
*Write a Press Release and send it to the media.
*Call the media and ask to speak to the reporter who will be covering your event.
(tv[KCMN],radios[Power99,KCNM 101, Magic 100.3],magazines[Island Locator, Beach Road],newspapers[Saipan Tribune, Marianas Variety.)

Preparing The Place:
*Clean up the place where the event will be help. (only if needed)
*Put up posters, banners, or anything else you have/want. (Optional.)
*Set up any sound systems, tables, chairs, coolers, or anything else that is needed for the event.
*Have photo ops set up and ready for picture taking.

Day Of The Event:
*Pack the supplies needed.
*Call the media to remind them about the event.

Beautify CNMI's Summer Intern

Beautify CNMI has a summer intern!

Samantha Birmingham Babauta just graduated from Hopwood Junior High School and is the Vice President of Student Action for a Viable Environment. Earlier this spring she played soccer with NMIFA's Women's League. She played for the Grand Hotel Mean Green Striking Machine, captained by Morgan Rose. Later this summer she will play for The CNMI's Greatest Coed Soccer Team EVER, Brad & Angelo's Guns & Roses!

She is learning about the exciting work of the people who coordinate Beautify CNMI! In the first week of her internship she was placed in the office of Rep. Cinta Kaipat.

Sami worked side by side with Representative Kaipat, following her to meetings, answering phones (learning telephone skills as she went), receiving official Legislature documents, running errands, and participating in and helping with the School Crisis Response Workshop by Steve Nguyen.

Sami and Angelo: These two trees are the 1000th and the 1001st trees planted by Beautify CNMI in 2006.

This week she is stuck with me, Angelo Villagomez, Executive Director of MINA. I'm teaching her about event planning, volunteer coordination, earning media, environmental issues facing the CNMI, student activism, and how to plant a Flame Tree.

I'm also teaching her really cool ways to take pictures with trees.