apnba june 2008 conference marschke

Community Collaborations AtCommunity Collaborations At

Creating a Thriving and Livable Community

Community Collaborations At Community Collaborations At Work Work –– ““SpiffinSpiffin’ Up Martin Luther ’ Up Martin Luther

King Jr. Boulevard”King Jr. Boulevard”

Gary Gary MarschkeMarschkeNorthNorth--Northeast BusinessNortheast Business

“Building Business while Building Community”

Gary E. MarschkeLONGTERMSTRATEGIESTHAT

[email protected]

LONG TERM STRATEGIES THATCONNECT YOU WITH YOUR

COMMUNITY OF CUSTOMERS

APNBA Business District Association Conference – June, 2008 1

PresentationPresentation OutlineOutlinePresentation Presentation OutlineOutline

Project DescriptionProject DescriptionProject DescriptionProject DescriptionWho Was InvolvedWho Was InvolvedWhy It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was SuccessfulCollaboration ScopeCollaboration ScopeCollaboration StrategiesCollaboration StrategiesCollaboration StrategiesCollaboration StrategiesConclusionConclusionQ&A S iQ&A S iQ&A SessionQ&A Session


Collaboration Project DescriptionCollaboration Project DescriptionCollaboration Project DescriptionCollaboration Project Description

A one day cleanA one day clean--up and beautification project up and beautification project i 3 il f M i L h Ki J Bl di 3 il f M i L h Ki J Bl dcovering 3 miles of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd covering 3 miles of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd

from NE Broadway north to NE Lombard from NE Broadway north to NE Lombard


Who Was InvolvedWho Was InvolvedWho Was InvolvedWho Was Involved

More than 300 volunteers from all over PortlandMore than 300 volunteers from all over Portland

All 5 bordering Neighborhood AssociationsAll 5 bordering Neighborhood Associationsf i hf i h b d h h d i ib d h h d i i7 faith7 faith--based churches and organizationsbased churches and organizations

12 local community & government agencies12 local community & government agencies3 local media sponsors3 local media sponsors3 local media sponsors3 local media sponsors

More than 50 local businesses provided cashMore than 50 local businesses provided cashMore than 50 local businesses provided cash More than 50 local businesses provided cash and inand in--kind worth kind worth $ 10,500!$ 10,500!


Why It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was Successful −− 11Why It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was Successful 11

Early planningEarly planningEarly planning Early planning process begun 6 months prior to the event process begun 6 months prior to the event –– required for many required for many logisticslogisticsimmediate deimmediate de brief commitment and time line for following yearbrief commitment and time line for following yearimmediate deimmediate de--brief, commitment, and time line for following yearbrief, commitment, and time line for following year

Strong & experienced partnersStrong & experienced partnersStrong & experienced partnersStrong & experienced partnersSOLV SOLV –– expertise, training, capacity, supplies, recruitment, expertise, training, capacity, supplies, recruitment, publicitypublicityH d O P tl dH d O P tl d ti it tti it tHands On Portland Hands On Portland –– expertise, recruitmentexpertise, recruitmentPlanning Committee members with event & sponsorship Planning Committee members with event & sponsorship experienceexperience


Why It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was Successful −− 22Why It Was SuccessfulWhy It Was Successful 22

Extremely visible eventExtremely visible eventExtremely visible eventExtremely visible eventHard to miss 300 volunteers on the street in brightly colored Hard to miss 300 volunteers on the street in brightly colored vests!vests!Impact of work accomplished immediately visibleImpact of work accomplished immediately visibleImpact of work accomplished immediately visibleImpact of work accomplished immediately visibleand quantifiableand quantifiable

Lots of collaboratorsLots of collaborators35 last year 35 last year –– more than 75more than 75this year this year –– targeting 100 in ‘09!targeting 100 in ‘09!


Why So Many Collaborators?Why So Many Collaborators?Why So Many Collaborators?Why So Many Collaborators?

Division of labor Division of labor –– lower incidence of ‘burn out’ lower incidence of ‘burn out’ ––especially YOU!especially YOU!Spread out the costs Spread out the costs –– easier to say ‘yes’ to your askeasier to say ‘yes’ to your askGreater visibility Greater visibility –– more means more of everythingmore means more of everything“Me“Me--too!” factor too!” factor –– nobody likes to be left outnobody likes to be left outCredibilityCredibility everybody likes to jump on a bandwagoneverybody likes to jump on a bandwagonCredibility Credibility –– everybody likes to jump on a bandwagoneverybody likes to jump on a bandwagonExpertise Expertise –– no need to reinvent the wheelno need to reinvent the wheelLooks good on the resumeLooks good on the resumeLooks good on the resumeLooks good on the resume


Community OutreachCommunity Outreach ---- StrategyStrategyCommunity Outreach Community Outreach StrategyStrategyStrategize for total inclusion Strategize for total inclusion –– businesses, neighborhood businesses, neighborhood associations, churches, service agencies, government, individuals associations, churches, service agencies, government, individuals ––everyone!everyone!

Develop multiple “points of engagement” Develop multiple “points of engagement” –– posters, coupons, posters, coupons, bathrooms, volunteers, parking, promotion….something for bathrooms, volunteers, parking, promotion….something for everyone!everyone!

Focus on “enlightened selfFocus on “enlightened self--interest” interest” –– more traffic, media exposure, more traffic, media exposure, repeat business, visible community support, product sampling repeat business, visible community support, product sampling ––what’s in it for them?what’s in it for them?

Clearly communicate benefits Clearly communicate benefits –– simple one page leave behind with simple one page leave behind with clear packages and expectations clear packages and expectations -- paint a word picture of the eventpaint a word picture of the event


Community OutreachCommunity Outreach –– The ‘B’sThe ‘B’sCommunity Outreach Community Outreach The B sThe B s

Be positiveBe positive –– emphasize the upside rather than the negativeemphasize the upside rather than the negativeBe positive Be positive emphasize the upside rather than the negativeemphasize the upside rather than the negativeBe passionate Be passionate –– excitement and energy is contagious!excitement and energy is contagious!Be persistent Be persistent –– consistent and timely follow up consistent and timely follow up –– ask for a timelineask for a timelineB fl iblB fl ibl thi i ‘ ti bl ’thi i ‘ ti bl ’ h k it thh k it thBe flexible Be flexible –– everything is ‘negotiable’ everything is ‘negotiable’ –– how can we make it worth how can we make it worth your while your while andand ours?ours?Be proactive Be proactive –– think ahead of your prospective partner think ahead of your prospective partner –– if I were if I were th h ld I b i l dth h ld I b i l dthem, why would I be involvedthem, why would I be involvedBe OK with ‘no’ Be OK with ‘no’ –– not everyone will se it your waynot everyone will se it your wayBe Yourself Be Yourself –– faking it is obvious and transparent faking it is obvious and transparent –– a real turna real turn--off!off!


Community Outreach Community Outreach –– the Action Planthe Action PlanCo u ty Out eacCo u ty Out eac t e ct o at e ct o a

Break up the tasks Break up the tasks –– make sure that everyone has as much as they make sure that everyone has as much as they can handle but not more!can handle but not more!can handle but not more!can handle but not more!Focus on “enlightened selfFocus on “enlightened self--interest” interest” ––what’s in it for each volunteer what’s in it for each volunteer ––how can their tasks be most beneficial to them as well as the event?how can their tasks be most beneficial to them as well as the event?Start earlyStart early ‘too early’ only allows for more time for follow up‘too early’ only allows for more time for follow upStart early Start early –– too early only allows for more time for follow up.too early only allows for more time for follow up.Be clear on the expectations Be clear on the expectations –– volunteers rarely do more than volunteers rarely do more than expectedexpectedB ild f ll i t ti liB ild f ll i t ti li l t t b d ftl t t b d ftBuild follow up into your time lines Build follow up into your time lines –– volunteers get busy and often volunteers get busy and often require the ‘gentle nudge’.require the ‘gentle nudge’.Be flexible Be flexible –– account for drop outs and underaccount for drop outs and under--performers including performers including b i d t d it lfb i d t d it lfbeing prepared to do it yourself.being prepared to do it yourself.Give the volunteers ALL of the materials they need to do their jobs!Give the volunteers ALL of the materials they need to do their jobs!


In Conclusion…In Conclusion…In Conclusion…In Conclusion…

Golden Rule #1:Golden Rule #1:When pitching, When pitching, ALWAYSALWAYS make your contacts in make your contacts in person!person!

Golden Rule #2:Golden Rule #2:Golden Rule #2:Golden Rule #2:When closing, When closing, ALWAYSALWAYS make your contacts in make your contacts in person!person!person!person!

Golden Rule #3:Golden Rule #3:When finishedWhen finished ALWAYSALWAYS saysay “Thank You”!“Thank You”!When finished, When finished, ALWAYSALWAYS say say Thank You !Thank You !And mean it!And mean it!
