Executive Director’s Report:
Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission Meeting – July 2, 2015
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1. Please welcome our two new Commissioners! Sarah Martin, of Fayetteville, is designated our
At-large representative, and Jane Phillips, of Hot Springs, represents the Fourth CD. We look
forward to meeting you and to working together!
2. Before the April 2nd Commission meeting, Chair Betty Shaw was replaced on the Commission.
In accordance with the Bylaws, Vice Chair Dianne Hammond advanced to Chair. During the
April meeting an election was held to fill the Vice Chair vacancy with Laurie Black being elected
to the position.
3. Following our April 2nd meeting, the Commission office received the official notification that
Dianne Hammond had been replaced on the Commission also. Accordingly, Vice Chair Laurie
Black is now Commission Chair and the office of Vice Chair is vacant.
4. During the July 2nd meeting, the Commission will hold an election to fill this important office.
Nominations will be accepted from the floor with voting immediately following. The office term
covers the remainder of 2015.
5. It has been a very busy spring: In addition to the customary increased activity surrounding
the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup in Arkansas, which Liz will detail in her
report, changes in State government and Keep America Beautiful are occurring that require
fresh, new perspectives. We anticipate that these may also result in new opportunities.
6. Keep America Beautiful is undergoing a dynamic transformation to better position itself and
its network of affiliates and partners as the nation’s thought-leader in community beautification
and the facets that this scope encompasses. Among changes are innovations and improvements
to programs, communications and national branding.
7. Keep Arkansas Beautiful, along with the state’s local KAB affiliates, will begin to identify their
relationship and connection to Keep America Beautiful in a new, nationally consistent structure.
The adaptation of our logo to conform to these new branding standards will be introduced at the
July Commission meeting and new business cards will be distributed.
8. In order to help Commissioners understand the transition that Keep America Beautiful is
undertaking, the July meeting’s educational session will feature a presentation of the rationale
and structural changes driving this new endorsed brand approach and direction.
9. The Commission’s FY 2016 (July 2015 – June 2016) operating budget has been approved by
the Legislature. Now the corresponding marketing budget needs to be reviewed and approved.
Thus, Mangan Holcomb Partners will present the FY16 advertising budget during our July 2nd
meeting. In our October meeting, MHP will introduce the new marketing program’s creative and
branding campaign, which will debut in January 2016.
10. Just as one season follows another, one cleanup is completed and another begins. So, we are
busy planning the 2015 Great Arkansas Cleanup, which starts Saturday, September 12th. This
year we will be introducing a fresh concept including new promotion and supporting materials.
Many of the improvements we’ll be adding to our coordinator tool kit will be common to both
statewide cleanups; more to share on this in the meeting.
11. As mentioned, the 2015 Great American Cleanup has concluded, but we want to extend our
great appreciation to all Commissioners who were involved in the cleanups, who presented the
Poster Contest winners, and who may be involved in awarding the Troy-Bilt string trimmers.
12. Those that follow our social media are already aware that we have issued several different
messages thanking our cleanup coordinators, volunteers and participating organizations for
their outstanding efforts again this year. Their work contributed a value of more than $740,000
to our state and its communities. Remember, volunteers aren’t paid – but it’s not because they
are worthless – it’s because they are priceless!
13. Our fall Commission meeting, Friday, October 2nd, in Little Rock, offers a great opportunity
for Commissioners wishing to benefit from attending the 2015 Arkansas Recycling Coalition
Conference being held, Wednesday – Friday, September 30 – October 2, also in Little Rock.
We’ve budgeted to support our representation for the Conference activities on Wednesday and
Thursday – those interested need to file a travel request at the July meeting.
14. We will partner with ARC in co-hosting a Large Event Recycling Workshop in connection
with America Recycles Day, around November 15, 2015. Due to the many festivals, fairs, sports
and other large outdoor venue events and organized activities around the state, we’ll review
recycling opportunities’ best practices. A venue is being sourced and announced when set.
15. Keep America Beautiful pre-cert community, Keep Camden Beautiful, is set to receive final
training and achieve certification in the near future. We’ll advise when the date is set. Former
affiliate, Hot Springs / Garland County Beautification Commission is currently undergoing
transformation to become Keep Hot Springs Beautiful and begin the certification process.
Additionally, we can report that Keep Clarksville Beautiful has made application to become a
KAB affiliate.
16. I will be attending the annual KAB State Leaders Council meeting, July 21, 22, in Orlando.
I am serving on the National Awards Committee which is tasked with revamping the process and
the awards’ presentation. We are working to bring enhancements to inspire greater interest and
recognition to deserving accomplishment at the 2016 National Conference and beyond.
17. In August, the Commission will begin the Request for Proposal procedure that will
culminate in a new professional services marketing contract that will commence in FY 2017.
The RFP process involves a series of actions through year-end 2015 and concludes with
presentations and the selection of an advertising agency during the January 2016 Commission
meeting.
18. The RFP progression invites prospective advertising agencies to submit qualifications which
will be evaluated by staff and a Selection Committee. Applicants that meet qualifications and
provoke interest will be invited for interviews. Following site visits by the committee, requests to
submit formal presentations will be extended to selected applicants. Those accepting will make
their presentations during the January 2016 Commission meeting and the Commission will vote
to offer a contract to the chosen agency. This contract will then be submitted to the Legislative
Council next spring, and upon approval, will become effective July 1, 2016.
19. Congratulations are again in order for Liz Philpott! On May 21st, Liz graduated from the 2015
Arkansas Public Administration Consortium’s Certified Volunteer Manager Program, earning
the CVM professional development designation. Plus, Liz will be teaching an evening volunteer
management course this summer at UALR.
20. Also, I am happy to announce that Liz has been promoted to the position of Keep Arkansas
Beautiful Volunteer Program Manager. We’re very proud of her for her many accomplishments!
21. On Friday, May 22nd, in advance of the long Memorial Day weekend, I was pleased to have an
article published in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette regarding littering in Arkansas. It’s intent
was to raise awareness of behaviors that cause litter among the people who would be traveling
our highways and enjoying the state’s multiple outdoor recreation opportunities. The hope was
that through reading the article, anyone might become more thoughtful, thus conscientious of
preventing litter occurrences that spoil our scenic beauty.
22. As mentioned in item eight above, the July meeting will feature an educational component
about changes within Keep America Beautiful. It also will include another element to address
recent changes affecting the Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission.
23. Over the past 12 months, Keep Arkansas Beautiful has experienced unusually active changes
to our Commission. The turnover resulting from resignations and term expirations have brought
new appointees, new names and faces and new energies to our group. Consequently, we need to
spend some time in expanding familiarity among our colleagues.
24. We are scheduling a relaxed sharing time during the July meeting to casually exchange our
personal information and interests with everyone toward getting to know each other better. We
have distributed a ‘Commissioner Profile’ to help guide common thinking and preparation. No
pressure: it’s just that each of us is eager to find out more about the fascinating YOU!
25. As usual, we encourage Commissioner and Affiliate reports, and are particularly excited to
receive reports sharing impressions, stories, gained knowledge and experiences derived from
involvement with the Great American Cleanup. Insights gained through interactions during the
cleanup will be added to the responses we have received from coordinators in our post-cleanup
survey. These help direct us in our efforts to providing the materials and services that are most
useful and helpful to our faithful volunteers. Please share yours.
26. We expect the July meeting to be a full one, requiring attendance and attention by everyone.
There will be a lot of information exchanged and a number of important actions to accomplish.
We ask that you please plan on arriving in a timely manner for the 9:00 am start and to engage
until the meeting’s end at 1:00 pm. Our thanks in advance!
27. For our part, staff and support, we promise we’ll try to make our time together expedient,
interesting and enjoyable, including the provided lunch. As an added bonus, the State Parks
Conference Room, the meeting venue, now features comfortable new furniture.
28. Safe travel! We look forward to seeing you Thursday, July 2nd, at our meeting in Little Rock.