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Statewide Kite FlyApril/May 2019

Flying 4 KIDSEvent Planner’s Guide

American Kitefliers Association

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Table of Contents

Introduction to Flying 4 KIDS................................................................................................. Page 3

Event Goals .............................................................................................................................Page 4

Choosing a Location for your Flying 4 KIDS Event ...............................................................Page 5

Planning your Kite Fly ............................................................................................................ Pages 6-15 Event Types Community Involvement (partnerships, sponsors, etc.) Staffing the Kite Fly Selling, Making and Fixing Kites Prizes, Awards and Giveaways Safety Issues Promoting the Park District Youth License Plate at your Kite Fly About the Park District Youth License Plate & Frequently Asked Questions Promoting your Flying 4 KIDS Event.....................................................................................Page 16

Appendix Appendix A: Sample Event Time Line .....................................................................Pages 17-18

Appendix B: Sample Event Program .......................................................................Page 19

Appendix C: Sample News Release ........................................................................Page 20

Appendix D: Sample Flier .......................................................................................Page 21

Appendix E: Kite Festival Supplies .........................................................................Page 22

Appendix F: Safety First! ........................................................................................Page 23

Appendix G: Internet/Kite Association Resources, Park District Contacts & After the Event.....................................................................................Page 24

Appendix H: Flying 4 KIDS Event Summary (to be returned to IAPD following event).... Page 25

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Introduction to Flying 4 KIDS

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) is organizing a statewide kite fly during April and May of 2019.

Flying 4 KIDS is expected to attract thousands of families, kite enthusiasts and media at park districts, forest preserves, conservation, recreation and special recreation agencies throughout the state. The goal of the kite fly is to raise awareness of the Park District Youth License Plate, which features a colorful kite, the ultimate sym-bol of youth and recreation. Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each plate is placed into the Power Play! Grant Program to fund healthful programming at park districts and recreation agencies for Illinois youth during beyond-school hours.

This Event Planner’s Guide gives you the framework to build a leisurely kite fly event. Whether you are plan-ning a kite fly alone, or tying your fly into another promotion, the ideas presented in this guide will help make your event as easy as possible on you and your staff, and as enjoyable as possible for your attendees. While we provide ideas and suggestions, we encourage each agency to incorporate original ideas to make its kite fly unique.

Ideas have been gleaned from the American Kitefliers Association and veteran kite fly organizers from our member agencies. Contact kitefliers in your area for even more input. Contact Anthony Catalano, Midwest Regional Director of the American Kitefliers Association at (708) 789-5989 or e-mail him at rd6@aka.kite.org for tips, advice, or to find association members who may be willing to attend your kite fly event and show off their kites. Most kitefliers are happy to share their love of kites with others, and are just waiting for the opportunity to help with events like Flying 4 KIDS, although their schedules book quickly, so don’t wait!

Finally, since the Flying 4 KIDS events exist to promote the Park District Youth License Plate, please pay spe-cial attention to the section Promoting the Park District Youth License Plate at Your Flying 4 KIDS Event.Contact Bobbie Jo Hill at IAPD, (217) 523-4554 if you have questions or need assistance during any phase of your planning process.

Thank you for getting on board with this exciting event.

Now, go fly-a kite!

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Event Goals

The overall goal of the statewide kite fly for IAPD is to increase awareness and sales of the Park District Youth License Plate, an important revenue-generator for park district beyond-school programming in Illinois.

Flying 4 KIDS also provides an opportunity for your agency to generate revenue. Perhaps you have a Friends of Parks group or other foundation that would welcome the opportunity for fundraising. Planning for your event will differ if the only goal is to have fun, versus the goal to raise a dollar amount for your agency. Deter-mining this goal is the first step in organizing your event. Here are some things to consider:

Goal Things You Need Have fun/Raise awareness of the Safe flying area, PA system, Youth Plate brochures, Park District Youth License Plate (Youth Plate) signage and Youth Plate request forms

Make money (profit)/Raise awareness Safe flying area, something to sell, Youth Plate of the Park District Youth License Plate brochures, signage and Youth Plate request forms Make money (charity)/Raise awareness Safe flying area, something to sell, donations, Youth of the Park District Youth License Plate Plate brochures, signage and youth plate request forms

While it’s not impossible to meet more than one of these goals, you need to make certain you know what you want to accomplish. More importantly, make sure that every member of your organizing committee is on the same page.

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Choosing a Location for your Flying 4 KIDS Event

There are several factors to consider when deciding where to hold your Flying 4 KIDS event. The most obvious is that the site should be a large, open area, free from wind-blocking obstructions and safety hazards. A school athletic field may be large and open, but if it is surrounded by trees, bleachers, and buildings, it will probably have turbulent wind. Likewise, valleys and depressions usually have poor wind. Kite-eating trees, power lines, fences and light poles should also be avoided. Large athletic fields or flat, open land are often the best choices.

Kitefliers talk about the “rule of seven.” When the wind swirls over an obstacle like a tree, it takes a distance seven times the height of the obstacle for the wind to smooth back out. For instance, if there is a 50’ tree on the edge of the field, there will be a 350’ area of choppy air downwind of the tree.

Organizers should also consider the location’s proximity to other things in the community. Is your site easily accessible from a major road? Is it close enough to a city for the media to cover it? How close is it to potential sponsors? Is there ample parking space?

Look at the facilities available at the site. The availability of rest rooms, drinking water and trash receptacles can make or break an event. Rest rooms and drinking fountains must be there, or you will have to bring them to the site. A food concession will be necessary for longer events. Your event will need electricity for the PA system, so you may need to bring a portable generator. However, noise from a portable generator can be a prob-lem. You might need to shield the generator with plywood to help muffle the noise.

When laying out your kite fly area, remember to think about the spectators. Research shows that people tend to stay near their cars. So, place the things spectators will need the most - information and registration tables, rest rooms, concessions - close to the parking lot. If you want to draw people in from there, put something spec-tacular - such as giant, inflatable kites or raffle prizes, farther away, forcing spectators to walk past other things to get there.

Don’t forget about the needs of the kitefliers. Make sure that if you have the more serious kitefliers attending your event, they are allowed to drive their vehicles onto the field for unloading purposes, or provide a golf cart to help people move equipment from the parking lot to the field.

(information taken from the National Kitefliers Association)

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Planning your Kite Fly

Event Types

There are many types of kite flies, so make sure to pick the one that best suits your agency and residents. In general, kite flies fall into four categories: fun flies, competitions, shows or combinations. - Fun Flies are events where anyone of any skill level can show up and fly any type of kite. No registra-tion is necessary, and no serious competitions are held. There may be fields designated for different types/sizes of kites, or for certain guest kitefliers (performing demonstrations).

- Competitions can be held for kite making or sport kite maneuvers. There are specific rules for kite making and sport kite competitions that must be adhered to. Taken down a notch, there can be less serious com-petitive events such as Prettiest Kite, Largest Kite, Most Unique Kite, etc.

- Shows are events where specific kitefliers are invited to put on a performance. These may be single-line kitefliers with huge kites, or sport kite fliers with musical routines. The performers will usually need their own cordoned-off area for their performances. Kite shows work well in combination with other events, such as balloon festivals, holiday celebrations or fairs.

- No Wind Events are great alternatives if the wind does not blow on the day of your kite fly. Consider holding a parade of kites; judging the different kite categories (see list on page 7); taking advantage of kite alternatives such as frisbees and boomerangs; and offering kite-making workshops. A bubble machine (battery- powered machines that blow soap bubbles) can add ambience to your No Wind event.

- Combination Events have a little bit of everything. Most larger events fall into this category.

Once you choose the type of kite fly to have for your Flying 4 KIDS event, you can determine the types of activities to offer. You can recognize or give awards to kitefliers for almost anything. Prizes can be given for specific things, or handed out by anonymous strolling judges. Use local celebrities or park board members as judges, assemble a judging panel of kitefliers or find a group of kids to be judges. These prizes are noncompeti-tive, so make sure everyone understands not to take them too seriously.

See the list on page 7 for fun possibilities.

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Possible Contests: - biggest kite (this should be for the kite only, not including the tail) - smallest kite - longest kite (this includes the tail) - oldest kiteflier - youngest kiteflier - kiteflier who traveled the farthest distance to attend your event - highest flying kite (a subjective measurement) - best homemade kite (make sure to define “homemade;” buying a kit and assembling it may or may not be considered homemade.) - audience choice (kites entered for this prize should be lined up in a display area and the audience given time to cast ballots) - best ground display (this includes banners, flags, windsocks, spinners, arches, as well as the manner in which they are presented) - funniest kite - most unusual kite - Charlie Brown (most outstanding disaster/crash) - ugliest kite (for creative use of duct tape, trash bags, twine, hoses, super glue, clashing colors, etc.) - best line tangle

Community Involvement(partnerships, sponsors, etc.)

Depending on the type of Flying 4 KIDS kite fly you decide to organize, you may or may not wish to secure sponsors from businesses or clubs in your community. It always helps to go to the right person, so look around your community at other events - sports events, concerts, kids’ programs - to see who their sponsors are. Make a list of potential sponsors and how much you think they will contribute (in-kind or monetary values).

Don’t be afraid to ask for specific dollar amounts, or for a certain number of products (kites, kite making kits, etc.). Asking simply for a “donation” allows donors to say ‘no’ too easily, or offer less than you need. They might think you’re asking for $1,000 when you only need $200. Name a number, so that you can negotiate if necessary. Also, ask for money to cover a specific expense. Will your potential sponsor pay for trophies, t-shirts or kite-making supplies?

It is nice to be able to offer something back to your sponsors. Can you make banners or kites featuring their names and logos? Focus on placing your sponsors’ names squarely in the public’s eyes. Other incentives include having the sponsors’ names on t-shirts, programs, your website and in your advertising. Make sure you ask sponsors for their logos so that you can include them in promotions, and during the event, be sure to an-nounce their names and thank them publicly.

Don’t forget to involve your agency’s programs that cater to children. Many agencies have programs involv-ing crafts, and having children make kites during the week of the event is a wonderful promotion! Be sure to include area schools, as art teachers might welcome the idea of having each class create a kite for your event.

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Staffing the Kite FlyEven the most organized event can fail if there isn’t a well-trained staff and core group of volunteers on hand the day of the event. You will need staff for operations (organizing/directing the event, setting up flying fields and equipment, cleanup, maintenance, safety crew); public relations (announcements, souvenir and concession sales, information, raffle tickets, door prizes) and judges (if you hold contests as mentioned on page 7.)

Task/Staff DescriptionsEvent Organizer - This is where the buck stops. The organizer is the person who has helped put the event together from the beginning, and the one who is responsible for making it all work. The organizer takes the lead before the event, arranging for the supplies needed to run the kite fly, lining up volunteers, promoting the event, finding sponsors and generally getting everything ready. (These responsibilities can be delegated to others, but the organizer needs to stay on top of everything, making sure it gets accomplished.) On the day of the Flying 4 KIDS event, the organizer assumes the role of director, making sure setup is complete and all facets of the event are ready to go.

Operations Staff - Every kite fly has volunteers who don’t know anything about kite flying but want to help. Put them to work on operations. Someone will need to pound field marker stakes into the ground and stretch flagging or ropes between them. Tents may need to be set up. Boxes of t-shirts or other giveaways need to be moved around, and kite-making stations or other activities may need to be organized. Some kitefliers will ap-preciate having volunteers available to help them move bags of gear. Remember not to let anyone leave before you’ve cleaned everything up at the end of the event.

Safety Crew - Every kiting event must be concerned with safety, first and foremost. Many times, the spectators present the biggest problems. Setting up the flying area in such a way that non-kitefliers are kept out of danger-ous areas is the first step. After that, it helps to have one or two roving volunteers to keep an eye out for safety problems. To give them authority, you may want to give them name badges or arm bands that clearly designate them as a “safety marshal.” For a larger event that is spread out over a big area, safety marshals may want to carry a small first aid kit, radio and other supplies.

Registration - Especially for competitive events, kitefliers will need to register for the event or pick up infor-mational packets. For noncompetitive events, if there are contests, registrars should make sure participants enter their kites into a prize category (based on the list on page 7) and keep track of the categories in which kites are entered. (Agencies can decide if a kite can be entered in more than one category.) Registrars should also make sure attendees complete a form stating their name, age, address, e-mail, etc. both for award purposes (old-est/youngest flier; longest distance traveled, etc.) and to establish a mailing list for future events.

Announcer - A good announcer is someone with a strong voice who knows how to command attention and stay on task. A local radio DJ is often an excellent announcer who can be paired with the spokesperson for your agency. Make sure the sound system is set up and tested well before the start of the event, and make sure some-one is on hand for emergency “fix-its” if a problem with the sound system arises during the event.

Concessions - You may decide to sell food, drinks, souvenirs or other items during your Flying 4 KIDS event. Be sure you have experienced staff to handle the estimated number of attendees.

Judges - Anyone can be used to judge the categories listed on page 7. Local celebrities or park board members would make excellent choices.

Utilize resources like the American Kitefliers Association (AKA), local clubs, retailers and local kitefliers. The AKA website, www.aka.kite.org, lists kite clubs and vendors by state and city to make it easy for you to find help. (Hover over ‘Community’ on their home page and click on “Regional Resources.”)

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Selling, Making and Fixing Kites

Prizes, Awards and GiveawaysYour Flying 4 KIDS event is unique, so you can decide if you would like to offer door prizes, awards and/or giveaways. Some park and recreation agencies solicit local businesses for wind/flight-related items to use as door prizes in a free drawing. Items include: wind chimes, fans, wind socks, pin wheels, kites, etc. Awards (for categories listed on page 7) can be certificates printed with the Flying 4 KIDS logo, ribbons, plaques or trophies. giveaways can include kites (visit www.Orientaltrading.com for inexpensive kites); sunglasses (remember, people will be looking up into the sun); and other promotional items from your agency.

It’s not always possible for everyone to show up at your event with a kite in hand. In that case, you may want to sell kites or offer kite making. And, since kites will inevitably crash and break, you can also set up a Kite Hospital.

Many kite events are sponsored by retail kite shops that already have a store close by, or set up a tent to display and sell their products. If there isn’t a store near you, consider contacting a kite shop and inviting them to bring merchandise to your event. Some stores have trailers or other portable displays and are happy to reach out to new markets and new customers. David Zavell owns Chicago Kite/Kite Harbor and is an excellent resource. He can be reached at (773) 467-1428 or kiteharbor@msn.com. You can also find a list of American Kite Association vendors and members at www.aka.kite.org.

It is also easy to set up a kite-making area. You will need to decide in advance how many kites you intend to make. If you have materials to build 100 kites, and 500 people show up, you will have an unhappy audience. On the other hand, if you have 500 kite kits, and only 100 people, you will be stuck with the inventory. A good rule of thumb is to promote that the first 50 or 100 people can make a kite. David Zavell can order kite mak-ing kits for under $2.00 each for your agency. There may be a deadline for ordering kite kits in time for your event! Keep in mind that you will also need several volunteers or staff to assist with kite making.

Pick a plan for the kite you want to build. There are numerous plans for simple, inexpensive kites. Sled kites are among the most popular, because they don’t require any sticks or spars, and can be built out of materials like paper sacks or plastic trash bags. See the Internet Resources section in Appendix G for assistance.

If kites crash and break, it’s nice to have a Kite Hospital to deal with repairs. This doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just a table with some simple supplies and a knowledgeable kiteflier. For the basics, you will need: - small coping saw - X-acto or utility knives - scissors - small sewing kit - wood for making splints (barbecue skewers or popsicle sticks) - Krazy glue - different rolls of tape (scotch, duct, strapping, masking, etc.) - stringA more deluxe Kite Hospital also has: - needle-nose pliers - stapler or staple gun - hammer - dowel rods in different sizes - small nails - eyelet tool - kraft or butcher paper

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Safety IssuesSafety cannot be emphasized enough. There is nothing more important to a successful event. It needs to be on your mind at all times, from when you are deciding what to do at the event until the moment the last person leaves. To avoid serious problems, ask everyone at the event to follow the safety rules in Appendix F.

It is a good idea to have safety marshals roaming around, keeping an eye out for problems. Careful advance planning will eliminate most problems before they ever happen. Be aware of the Federal Aviation Administra-tion rules pertaining to kiteflying. Section 101 of the FAA regulations states: - No person may operate a kite in a manner which creates a hazard to people or property. - No person may drop an object from a kite which creates a hazard to people or property.

There are other regulations which apply to kites that weigh more than five pounds. Such kites may not be flown: - within five miles of the boundaries of any airport - more than 500 feet above the surface of the earth - less than 500 feet from the base of any cloud - from an area where the ground visibility is less than three miles

In general, use good judgement when flying kites near any airport or landing field. Often, simply contacting the airport manager in advance of your event will allow them to issue a notice to pilots, warning them to be on the lookout for kites.

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Promoting the Park District Youth License Plate at your Flying 4 KIDS Event

While each Flying 4 KIDS kite fly is unique, there is a common thread that ties them together: promotion of the Park District Youth License Plate. As park and recreation agencies continue to seek new sources of revenue, the Park District Youth License Plate can be the answer.

This plate generates revenue for the Power Play! Grant Program, which funds beyond-school programming for youth in Illinois park districts and recreation agencies. Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each plate is placed into the Power Play! Grant fund. Illinois park districts and recreation agencies can apply for these funds to begin or enhance beyond-school programs that emphasize fitness, nutrition and health.

If only a fraction of the hundreds of thousands of vehicles licensed in the state of Illinois displayed a Park District Youth License Plate, every IAPD member agency could receive a Power Play! grant to fund their beyond-school programming for years to come.

Talking Points (for use with media & public in promoting the Park District Youth License Plate) The Park District Youth License Plate is a colorful plate picturing a kite, the ultimate symbol of youth and recreation, flying against a blue sky. The Park District Youth License Plate is a permanent plate. Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each plate is placed into the Illinois Associa- tion of Park Districts’ Power Play! Grant Program for park district beyond-school programming in Illinois. Grants from this program would be available for our local park district. Investing in a Park District Youth License Plate is an investment in our youth. Why is it so important to support beyond-school programming? Consider the following: - Between the hours of 3:00 and 7:00 p.m., when school is out and parents are working, is a critical time for children. That’s when park and recreation agencies step in to fill the gap for children and working parents with beyond-school programming. That’s when the highest incidence of teen pregnancy and juvenile crime occur. - Teens who do not participate in beyond-school programs are three times more likely to use marijuana and other drugs. They are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity. - A national poll of police chiefs found that 69% chose beyond-school and child care programs as the most effective strategy to reducing youth violence, over strategies such as trying juveniles as adults, hir- ing more police and installing metal detectors in schools. - Studies show that children in beyond-school programs have improved school attendance and do their homework better and more often than children who are not in beyond-school programs. Why is the Power Play! Grant Program so important? - The Power Play! Grant Program encourages park districts and recreation agencies to implement a model program for children during beyond-school hours that focuses on health, nutrition and fitness. - Unsupervised children often tend to be less active, choosing to sit in front of the television, play video games or spend time on the computer. Illinois park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recre- ation agencies are taking a stand against at-risk youth and childhood obesity. - Obesity, particularly childhood obesity, has reached epidemic proportions. Studies have shown that the numbers of overweight children and adolescents in the United States have tripled over the last 40 years. Because obese children tend to carry the problem into adulthood, medical experts say that they will tend to be sicker as they get older, suffering from heart disease, stroke and other ailments stemming from their weight. - Park districts and recreation agencies are using the Power Play! Grant Program to expose children to healthy lifestyles with physical activity and proper nutritional choices.

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Ideas to promote the Park District Youth License Plate at your event: - Designate an area near the registration table or door prize sign-up to display the Park District Youth License Plate brochures. - During your announcements throughout the event, reiterate the importance of supporting youth beyond-school programming via the Park District Youth License Plate. (Use the bulleted points on the previous page.) - Create a VIP section in your parking lot the day of the event, reserved for vehicles that have the Park District Youth License Plate. - Place the Park District Youth License Plate graphic on all event materials - Have a contest for who can come up with the most creative park, recreation or child-related vanity plate message (utilizing 5.5 spaces, i.e. 4 KIDS) - Have a staff person coordinate a Park District Youth License Plate station, where people can complete a Park District Youth License Plate request form and turn it in with a check payment. All forms and payment made payable to the Illinois Secretary of State - can be sent to IAPD; 211 East Monroe Street; Springfield, IL; 62701 immediately following your event. IAPD will forward them on to the Secretary of State’s office for faster processing. - Hold a special drawing for those who order a Park District Youth License Plate on the day of your event. Offer incentives such as a free program, t-shirt or personal training session.

- Have a station where children can get a special park district youth license. Use a digital camera to print a license with the Park District Youth License Plate graphic, their photo, hair color, favorite kind of recreational activity, etc.

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Park District License Plate—How Much Does It Cost?

Random-Number License Plate · Current plates expire within 90 days - $170

($101 registration fee + $40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Current plates do not expire within 90 days - $69 ($40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Annual renewal - $128 ($101 registration fee + $27 special plate fee)

· Newly Acquired Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $236 ($95 title fee + $101 registration fee + $40 special plate fee)

· Currently Titled Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $141 ($101 registration fee + $40 special plate fee)

Vanity License Plate · Current plates expire within 90 days - $264

($101 registration fee + $94 vanity fee + $40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Current plates do not expire within 90 days - $163 ($94 vanity fee + $40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Annual renewal - $141 ($101 registration fee + $13 vanity fee + $27 special plate fee)

· Newly Acquired Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $330 ($95 title fee + $101 registration fee + $94 vanity fee + $40 special plate fee)

· Currently Titled Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $235 ($101 registration fee + $94 vanity fee + $40 special plate fee)

Personalized License Plate · Current plates expire within 90 days - $217

($101 registration fee + $47 personalized fee + $40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Current plates do not expire within 90 days - $116 ($47 personalized fee + $40 special plate fee + $29 replacement fee)

· Annual renewal - $135 ($101 registration fee + $7 personalized fee + $27 special plate fee)

· Newly Acquired Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $283 ($95 title fee + $101 registration fee + $47 personalized fee + $40 special plate fee)

· Currently Titled Vehicle/First-time Issuance - $188 ($101 registration fee + $47 personalized fee + $40 special plate fee)

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Vanity Plates—Important Facts

(strictly numbers or strictly letters, example “KIDS”)· No refund or adjustment will be made for a change of choice or spacing after a plate has been ordered,

or if the request form is incorrectly completed. · The Secretary of State’s office is authorized to recall a plate that is determined to be obscene or offen-

sive. · All request forms should indicate whether or not you want the Secretary of State to assign one of your

choices with the next available number if your exact request is unavailable. · If you wish to submit more than three requests, attach additional selections to the request form.

Do Not· Intermix letters and numbers · Use a space between numbers · Use lower-case letters · Use characters, symbols, foreign words or symbols of punctuation, such as dashes or periods · Select obscene or offensive combinations

Availability—Up to 5.5 Spaces (example: AB 123) · Numbers - 0 through 999

or · 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 Letters

Personalized Plates—Important Facts

(letters with a number, example “FLY 1”)· No refund or adjustment will be made for a change of choice or spacing after a plate has been ordered,

or if the request form is incorrectly completed. · The Secretary of State’s office is authorized to recall a plate that is determined to be obscene or offen-

sive. · All request forms should indicate whether or not you want the Secretary of State to assign one of your

choices with the next available number if your exact request is unavailable. · If you wish to submit more than three requests, attach additional selections to the request form.

Do Not· Intermix letters and numbers · Use a space between numbers · Use lower-case letters · Use characters, symbols, foreign words or symbols of punctuation, such as dashes or periods · Select obscene or offensive combinations

Availability—Up to 5 Digits· 1 or 2 letters with a 1/2 space, plus 3 numbers

or · 3 letters with a 1/2 space, plus 0 thru 9

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Park District License Plate: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Park District Youth License Plate?The Park District Youth License Plate was created to generate revenue to fund beyond-school youth program-ming on the local level. With each plate purchased and/or renewed, $25 is deposited into the grant fund man-aged by the Illinois Association of Park Districts.

Can I put the plate on my truck?Yes. The Park District Youth plate will go on any vehicle under 8,000 pounds. This includes pick-ups and SUVs.

Can I get special numbers or letters on my plate?Vanity and personalized plates are available.

Is the plate available as an “M” plate?No, it is not, although several IAPD member agencies have converted their M plates to Park District Youth plates.

Is there someone I can call for more information?Yes, you can call IAPD at 217-523-4554. Or, you may call the Secretary of State’s Office Specialty License Plate Division at 217-785-5215.

How do I get a Park District Youth License Plate?Either go to IAPD’s Web site at www.ILparks.org, click on the license plate logo on the home page or go to www.cyberdriveillinois.com and click on the “Pick-a-Plate” link on the bottom, right side of the page. Then, select “specialty” from the ‘Pick A License Plates Type’ drop-down menu, and then select “park district youth.” You will be able to check and see if the plate of your choice is available. Complete and mail the form to Secre-tary of State, Vehicle Services Department, Special Plates Division, 501 S. Second St., Room 520, Springfield, IL 62756. Send a check or money order for the appropriate amount made out to the Secretary of State.

You may also send your form and check (made payable to the Secretary of State) to IAPD for faster processing: Illinois Association of Park Districts; 211 East Monroe Street; Springfield, IL; 62701.

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Promoting Your Flying 4 KIDS Event

Use the sample news release in Appendix C and send it to your local media approximately three weeks before your event. IAPD will send a release regarding the statewide kite fly, but you will want to be sure to send one with your agency’s specific event details. Be sure to follow it up with a phone call to make sure your local me-dia outlets received the release and to ask if they would like more information.

Radio stations make good partners for kite events. You might be able to secure one as a sponsor, but instead of asking for money, ask for airtime. If the station will record a couple of commercials and run them two weeks before your festival, you will save money and attract a lot of people. Many stations also have “community cal-endars” or talk shows where you can get the word out. Perhaps you can inspire a DJ challenge with radio per-sonalities competing during the kite fly to see who can keep their kite in the air for the longest amount of time.

Take advantage of your agency’s web site. In a 30-second radio ad, there just isn’t enough time to give all the details, so direct them to your agency’s web site for more information. You can check with your local tourism office or chamber to ask if they will link your site to theirs, or at least provide information on their sites about your Flying 4 KIDS event.

Personalize the flier in Appendix D. Fliers can be distributed to schools to post. Include fliers in newsletters or stuff them into backpacks two weeks before the event. Fliers can also be posted at restaurants, health clubs, grocery stores and other high-traffic areas in your community. Don’t forget to take advantage of other park and recreation programs in your facilities. Fliers can be distributed at swimming lessons, music classes, dance classes or arts and crafts classes.

If your agency has a marquee sign, start promoting the kite fly two weeks in advance. Again, direct people to your web site, or list a phone number where they can call for more information. Check with other businesses that have marquees or electronic signs. Banks, schools and other businesses are often receptive to displaying messages.

Contact a local assisted-living center, to let them know their residents are invited to watch the kite fly. This is another way to promote your event. Make sure you will be able to accommodate wheelchairs and other special needs at the kite fly area.

Contact local civic groups and clubs to see if you can give a brief presentation about the kite fly at their next meeting, or simply give them written information (or a flier) to include in their next newsletter. Contact them two months in advance to get on the agenda or in their newsletter.

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4 Months Prior to Event Date- Secure event location- Notify Chamber of Commerce, newsletters, etc. of event and date- Determine type of event & activities that will take place- Enlist support of Friends of Parks groups

3 Months Prior- Arrange for PA system- Solicit sponsorships and/or donations for raffles, door prizes, etc. from businesses- Secure judges for competitions (local celebrities, park board commissioners, etc.)- Determine if event will have a rain date, or if compromises can be made (moving people indoors for a no- wind event - see page 6 for ideas.)- Check with local kite club members and David Zavell at Chicago Kite/Kite Harbor about their involvement with your kite fly (performing flying demonstrations, assisting with the kite hospital, etc.)

2 Months Prior- Order giveaways or kite-making kits, if needed- Secure prizes for contests, if applicable (certificate paper for certificates, ribbons, etc.)- Design advertisements, fliers, direct mail pieces, registration/contest entry forms, etc.- Arrange for concessions, portable rest rooms, etc. as needed- Meet with maintenance regarding set-up/parking issues- Determine Schedule of Events with speakers, etc.- Meet with school art teachers and/or park district arts & crafts program directors to pitch idea of having children make kites in art class (they could be displayed for judging at the kite fly, or they could simply be brought out to fly.)- Get on the agenda for community civic groups, PTO meetings, etc. to promote the event

6 Weeks Prior- Follow-up with sponsors/donors- Print fliers, direct mail pieces, entry forms, etc.- Write scripts for speakers- Secure staffing for the event

5 Weeks Prior- Develop staff schedule (names, duties, time frame); include set-up and tear-down- Mail direct mail pieces, if applicable- Provide schools with fliers, newsletter blurbs and backpack stuffers- Provide local driver’s license facilities with information about the kite fly and the Park District Youth License Plate- Prepare signage for event (“Kite Hospital,” “Register for Door Prizes Here,” “Order a Park District Youth License Plate,” etc.)

4 Weeks Prior- Double-check delivery schedule of concessions, chairs, tents, portable rest rooms, etc. (if applicable)- Schedule radio/TV interviews, conduct presentations at civic/club meetings, etc.- Secure signage and brochures to promote the Park District Youth License Plate (IAPD will provide brochures)

Appendix ASample Event Time Line

- continued on page 18 -

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2 Weeks Prior- Print programs (if applicable)- Gather event supplies- Confirm location arrangements- Mail news releases

1 Week Prior- Confirm equipment deliveries- Prepare announcer book/scripts, etc.- Meet with presenters, judges, etc. to run through program and answer questions- Prepare certificates or prizes for event categories (longest kite, most creative kite, etc.) if applicable- Provide staff with their scheduled responsibilities and hold a meeting to cover questions- Inventory sales items, if applicable- Prepare cash box

1 Day Prior- Meet equipment deliveries- Set up flying field(s)- Set up judging packages (ballots, criteria for each award, pencils, etc.)- Prepare first-aid kit- Prepare “kite hospital” items, if applicable

Day of Event- Troubleshoot- If no wind, focus on no-wind suggestions listed on page 6- If rain, refer people to rain date (if you have designated one) or move indoors for no-wind events

Following the Event- Send thank-you notes to staff, sponsors, judges, etc.- Send Park District Youth License Plate orders and payments (if applicable) to the IAPD office in Springfield- Send news release to media regarding raffle/door prize winners, contest winners, etc. (if applicable)- Hold a meeting with staff and other organizers for improvement suggestions, etc.- Complete the Event Summary in Appendix H and fax or e-mail it to Bobbie Jo Hill at IAPD. Fax: (217) 523-4273, e-mail: bjhill@ILparks.org- Compile budget figures, if applicable

Sample Event Timeline, Continued

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Following is a sample program for your Flying 4 KIDS event.

I. Welcome/Introductions Use your agency director or board president to give a brief welcome and introduce any VIPs in the audience.

II. Park District Youth License Plate Summary Your director, board president or agency spokesperson should remind the audience that Flying 4 KIDS is tied to the Park District Youth License Plate. Sample comments:

“Thank you for joining us today in this Flying 4 KIDS statewide kite fly. During April and May, park districts, forest preserves, conservation and recreation agencies all over the state are hosting kite fly events to create awareness of the Park District Youth License Plate, which features a colorful kite - the ultimate symbol of youth and recreation. Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each Park District Youth License Plate is placed into the Power Play! Grant program to fund beyond- school programming at Illinois park and recreation agencies. (Mention that your agency is qualified to apply for a grant from this fund, or if your agency has received Power Play grants in the past, make note of that.) Between the hours of 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., when school is out and parents are working, is a critical time for children. That is when the highest incidence of teen pregnancy and juvenile crime occur. That is when park districts and recreation agencies can step in to fill the gap for children and working parents with beyond-school programming. Teens who do not participate in beyond-school programs are three times more likely to use marijuana and other drugs. They are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in other risky activities.

A national poll of police chiefs found that 69% chose beyond-school and child care programs as the most effective strategy to reducing youth violence, over strategies such as trying juveniles as adults, hiring more police and installing metal detectors in schools. Studies show that children in beyond-school programs have improved school attendance and do their homework better and more often than those not in beyond-school programs.

Not only are beyond-school programs safe alternatives, but with a Power Play! program, they are also healthy alternatives. Power Play! beyond-school programs focus on health, nutrition and fitness. Childhood obesity has reached almost epidemic proportions. Studies have shown that the numbers of overweight children and adolescents in the U.S. have tripled over the last 40 years. While unsupervised children tend to be less active, choosing to sit in front of the t.v., play video games or spend hours on the computer; park districts and recreation agencies are using the Power Play! Grant Program to expose children to healthy lifestyles with physical activity and proper nutritional choices.

It is so important, and it is so easy to support. You can even get the Park District Youth License Plate as a vanity or personalized plate. Please stop by our display (give location) to pick up a brochure to find out how you can order your Park District Youth License Plate.”

III. Details of your Kite FlyLet the audience know how your kite fly will work (if there are competitions for the smallest or biggest kite, etc.; demonstrations, drawings or other activities). Perhaps a VIP or a child (who may have won a coloring contest) gets to be the first kite in the air. Then, put on some music and let the flying begin!

Appendix B Sample Event Program

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Appendix CSample News Release

FOR RELEASE BEFORE (date of kite fly) Contact: (spokesperson name) Month Date, 2019 spokesperson’s phone number & e-mail

(AGENCY NAME) PARTICIPATING IN STATEWIDE FLYING 4 KIDS MONTH

(YOUR TOWN, IL) - - Keep your eyes to the skies on (date). The (Agency) is hosting a fun, family-oriented kite fly as part of the Illinois Association of Park Districts’ (IAPD) statewide Flying 4 KIDS months during April and May.

The goal of Flying 4 KIDS is to raise awareness of the Park District Youth License Plate, which features a color-ful kite. Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each plate is placed into the IAPD Power Play! Grant Program, a special grant fund to benefit beyond-school programming for youth at park districts and recreation agencies throughout Illinois. Illinois park districts and recreation agencies can apply for a Power Play! Grant through IAPD to initiate or enhance beyond-school programming that focuses on fitness, nutrition and health. (If your agency received a Power Play! grant, include month/year grant was received and how it was used.)

“The Power Play! Grant Program was created to address the problems youth can face during the hours school is out and parents are working,” said Peter Murphy, president and CEO of the IAPD. Studies show teens are most at risk to be the victims of violence, become pregnant or use drugs and alcohol between the hours of 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. Unsupervised children also tend to be less active, choosing to sit in front of the t.v. or computer, or play video games.

“Illinois park districts and recreation agencies are taking a stand against at-risk youth and childhood obesity,” said Murphy. “Childhood obesity has reached almost epidemic proportions.” Studies have shown that the number of overweight children and adolescents in the U.S. has tripled over the last 40 years. Because obese children tend to carry the problem into adulthood, medical experts say that they will tend to be sicker as they get older, suffering from heart disease, stroke and other ailments stemming from their weight. “Park districts are using the Power Play! Grant Program to expose children to healthy lifestyles with physical activity and proper nutritional choices,” added Murphy.

(Agency)’s kite fly will include the following activities: (schedule of events, kite competitions, kite making work-shops, contests, registration deadlines - if applicable, etc.) Participants are encouraged to bring their own kites for this fun, leisurely kite fly sponsored by (list sponsors).

For more information about (Agency Name)’s Flying 4 KIDS event, please call (Contact Name) at (phone num-ber) or visit (web site address).

For more information about the Park District Youth License Plate, or to place an order, call the Illinois Secretary of State’s office at (217) 785-5215. Vanity and personalized plates are available. Request forms can be ac-cessed at cyberdriveillinois.com or ILparks.org.

# # #

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The Agency Name Wants You To Go Fly A Kite!

Join us as we celebrate Flying 4 KIDS A statewide kite fly to promote park districts, recreation

agencies and the Park District Youth License Plate.

The event is FREE and open to the public!

Date:Time: (list beginning and ending times)

Location:Activities: (list drawings, raffles, kite fly demonstrations, kite making workshops, etc.)

For More Information Call:

Bring Your Kites!

Appendix DSample Flier

(Be sure to include contests - such as those listed on page 7 - and registration deadlines, if applicable)

Twenty-five dollars from the sale and subsequent renewals of each Park District Youth License Plate is placed in a fund to benefit park district

beyond-school programming throughout Illinois. Information and request forms will be available at the kite fly, or visit cyberdriveillinois.com or ILparks.org.

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Appendix E

Kite Festival Supplies

Registration Packages (if applicable)· T-shirt· Schedule· Name tag· Program· Pin· Patch

Program· Welcome· Schedule· Field layout· Promos for upcoming events· Advertisements· Event descriptions· Park District Youth License Plate Information

Forms· Judges score sheets· Flight orders· Scorekeeper work sheets· Registration forms· Staff assignment notes· Announcer info sheet· Park District Youth License Plate brochures & forms· Slips for entry into raffles/door prize drawings

Staff supplies· Pencils/pens/markers· Scotch tape· Stop watches (if having “longest in air” contest)· Blank paper for signs· Calculators· Radios· Soda/snacks· Pencil sharpener· Extra batteries· Clipboards· Thumbtacks· Rubber bands· Judge ribbons or arm bands· Duct tape· Legal pads· Paper towels

Staff Supplies, Continued· Stapler and staples· Rules/Contest Regulations (if applicable)· First aid kit· Scissors· Whistles· Extension cords

Field Equipment· Field stakes· Trash cans· Chairs· Power strip· Water cooler· Toilets· Hammer and nails· Staple gun· Caution tape· Tables· Poster board· Tent· Sledgehammer· Signage (Parking, Park District Youth License Plate Info. Table, Registration, Raffle/Door Prizes, etc.)

Staff· Safety marshal· Sales (if applicable)· Registration· Judges· Announcers· Parking coordinator· Kite-making workshop coordinators· Kite hospital coordinator· Park District Youth License Plate table facilitator

Sales (if applicable)· Detailed instructions and signage· Cash box· Change· Calculator· Price list

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Safety First!(Compliments of Windstar Kites & Fly Pittsburgh Kite Club)

· Never fly near power lines or try to free a kite caught in a power line. Call your local power company instead. Carbon spars used in most sport kites are good conductors and are very dangerous if caught in power lines.

· Never fly in stormy weather (Remember Ben Franklin was lucky not to have been killed by his famous ex-periment.)

· Never fly near trees; your kite might get out of control, and it could damage people and their property.

· Never use metallic flying line.

· Never fly your kite near or over people. Instruct all spectators to stand behind you when your kite is being flown. Remember, the safety of others is the responsibility of the flyer!

· Always be aware of your surroundings and mindful of others.

· Avoid all other obstacles; besides the risk of entanglement in trees, you should not fly near roads and ve-hicles, and make sure that your flying area does not have obstructions such as posts and holes.

· Special rules apply when flying near any airport. If flying a kite within two miles of an airport, FAA regulations prohibit the use of any kite weighing more than five pounds, and it is not permitted to fly any kite on line longer than 500 feet.

· Always use extreme caution when flying large kites. It is considered by many to be advisable to wear gloves when handling large kites. Never leave them unattended. Winds can change direction and intensity very quickly.

· Sport & power kites need to be flown with particular care. Make sure that your kite cannot self launch when you set it up, and follow all safety rules and instructions for the type of sport or power kite you are fly-ing. If a kite you plan to fly did not come with safety instructions, make sure you acquire the proper knowl-edge to safely control the kite. Periodically inspect your kite for broken or split spars, and verify that the bridle and flying lines are not excessively frayed or worn. Also, do not leave your kite lines unattended while staked or lying on the ground. You do not want people to trip over your sport kite lines.

· Fastening yourself to your kite line can lead to painful, serious injuries. Extra caution should be used if using a harness when traction or power flying. A harness should not be engaged if there is any doubt that total control can be maintained. It is also advisable to use a quick release system if you are attached to your kite.

· Never overpower yourself with a kite too large for wind conditions or fly a kite that you can’t safely control.

· Never cut line and release a kite. (The only exception to this rule is within the confines of a controlled fighter or rokkaku kite battle.)

· Always be prepared for the worst. Fly your kite with the assumption that you will lose control and crash at anytime due to pilot error or equipment failure. With this mind set, you will ensure that your flying area and the immediate surroundings are free of people and the other dangerous circumstances mentioned above.

Appendix F

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Appendix G

After the EventOnce the event is completed, don’t forget:- Within a few days of the event, send thank-you letters to sponsors, volunteers and anyone else who helped to make the event a success. Sponsors will want to know how many people attended the event, so be sure to give an estimate. Also, let them know which media covered the event.

- Let the Illinois Association of Park Districts know about your event. Complete the form in Appendix H and fax it to Bobbie Jo Hill at (217) 523-4273 or e-mail it to bjhill@ILparks.org.

There are numerous kiteflying resources available on the Internet. The following is a sampling of some of the web sites you can use (all web sites were functioning when this manual was developed, but we take no respon-sibility for the content or timeliness of the sites; the inclusion of these sites is for information only, and is not an endorsement by the IAPD or the American Kitefliers Association. Some sites may not yet be updated for 2019.)

www.aka.kite.org (home of the American Kitefliers Association, with a calendar of events, sanctioning informa-tion, downloadable publications and links to local clubs, vendors, and members’ web sites.)

www.nationalkitemonth.org (the National Kite Month web site, with educational resources and kite making plans)

www.drachen.org (home of the Drachen Foundation, with information about kite art, history and education)

www.chicagokite.com (David Zavell - kite vendor/kite fly tips)

www.hoosierkite.org (Hoosier Kitefliers Society website, society members work together to promote kiting by planning and coordinating kite activities, kite workshops and kite demonstrations at other community events.)

Internet/Kite Association Resources

Park District and Recreation Agency Contacts

Several member agencies are seasoned planners of “Flying 4 KIDS” events. If you have a question about how to get started, what worked for them, what didn’t work, etc., give any of the following a call or an e-mail. They are ready to give advice and tips to help your kite fly get off the ground!

1. Dana Floyd or Gabby Cliff, Decatur Park District - (217) 429-7750, dfloyd@decparks.com or gcliff@decparks.com.

2. Kristina F. Nemetz, Wheaton Park District - (630) 510-5064 or knemetz@wheatonparks.org

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2019 Flying 4 KIDS Months Event Summary

Return to IAPD. Fax (217) 523-4273, e-mail bjhill@ILparks.org. Complete to the best of your ability, even if your event was cancelled.

Appendix H

1. Agency name____________________________________________________________________________

2. Respondent’s name_______________________________________________________________________

3. Respondent’s title_________________________________________________________________________

4. Event was cancelled (check if applicable) ____ Event was rescheduled (list new date)__________________

5. Estimated number of attendees at your kite fly__________________________________________________

6. Please provide a brief summary detailing your event (activities, speakers, drawings/raffles, etc.)___________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Estimated number of Park District Youth License Plate brochures distributed__________________________

8. Please list any partnerships or collaborations with your event and how you worked with them (schools, clubs, kite flyers, kite stores, etc.) Was it a positive experience?

_________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

9. List media who covered your kite fly (if applicable): _____________________________________________

10. Would your agency be interested in holding a Flying 4 KIDS kite fly next year?_____________________

11. Suggestions for next year’s Flying 4 KIDS statewide kite fly____________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________