| Friday, October 1 |
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| 8 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast
“Show Up & Sign Up” |
Grab a quick breakfast snack and network
with other communities. Be among the first towns to register for the 2011 program. |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome & Keynote Presentation: Connecting a Botanical Institution with Communities
Dr. Peter Raven, President Emeritus, Missouri Botanical Garden
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Botanical gardens offer a beautiful and educational venue for the benefit of a community and can be instrumental in reaching out to the immediate neighborhood, region, and beyond as a catalyst to champion community quality of life. Dr. Peter Raven, as leader of the globally recognized and respected Missouri Botanical Garden for 39 years, will share specific projects of the Garden to assist |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Concurrent Sessions |
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What is AIB?
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An overview of America in Bloom and how the program works. |
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The St. Louis Planter: Identity and Branding for Your Plantings
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Why not brand your community enhancement efforts? The creation of The St. Louis Planter (an urban scale landscape planter customized to reflect a community’s heritage) has realized “brand” recognition for Gateway Greening’s seasonal color enhancement efforts in downtown St. Louis. Learn how to apply their successful project to your community. |
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Economic & Aesthetic Benefits of Turf Alternatives
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Managed turfgrass is an important component of many landscapes. Awareness of the benefits of creating sustainable landscapes has encouraged a review of turf alternatives for portions of public and private landscapes. This panel presentation includes representatives from public and private institutions utilizing native plant turf alternatives. |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Concurrent Sessions |
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What AIB Participation Does for My Town
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A panel presentation by past and current
participants. |
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Cleaning & Greening the Gateway City: Perspectives of Two Engaged Non-Profit Organizations |
The combined efforts of two St. Louis non-profit organizations contribute to the cleaning and greening of the Gateway City’s urban landscape. The leadership of Operation Brightside and Partnership for Downtown St. Louis will share experiences and ideas for realizing a better urban environment to live, work and enjoy life. |
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Community Gardens for Healthy & Sustainable Neighborhoods |
Gateway Greening is a leader in creating active urban green spaces throughout St. Louis that are places of beauty and provide healthy food and opportunities for teaching and learning. You’ll hear about a variety of specific examples of how this national leader grows healthy communities via healthy gardens. |
| 11:45 a.m. |
Concurrent Sessions
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How to Get Started with AIB |
A panel discussion presenting ideas on how to implement the AIB program in your town. |
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Trees by the Numbers: The Benefits of a Community Tree Inventory |
Managed public tree inventories are vital for the effective care, preservation, and management of the public urban forest. A professional urban forester shares his approach to raising community awareness of benefits and options for creating and managing an effective community public tree inventory. |
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Great Rivers Greenway: A Regional Greenway Network Creating Opportunities for Communities
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Learn how a comprehensive greenway network can physically unite a region while also contributing to the quality of life of each
connected community. |
| 1 p.m. |
Lunch – Food for Thought:
Share Your Best Ideas |
Share your town’s best practices and bright ideas. What do you do to make your town special? |
| 2:15 p.m. |
Meet with Your Judges
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| 7:30-9pm |
On Your Own...Experiencing the Citygarden After Sunset |
After dinner in downtown St. Louis, enjoy an added treat of experiencing the evening scene at the Citygarden, a unique urban sculpture park located just two blocks from the host hotel. Your evening exploration of this two-block privately built and managed public green space will feature professional interpretation and guidance by the site horticulturist and arborist. |
| Saturday, October 2 |
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| 8 a.m. |
Continental Breakfast
“Show Up & Sign Up”
|
Grab a quick breakfast snack and network with other communities. Be among the first towns to register for the 2011 program. |
| 8:30 a.m. |
Welcome & Keynote Presentation: The Power of Plants - Opportunities for Community Quality of Life
Anna Ball, President of the Ball Horticultural Company
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Continued advances in plant discovery, selection, and breeding create significant opportunities for community landscape enhancements. You’ll learn how the work of the horticulture plant industry benefits community quality of life. |
| 9:30 a.m. |
Concurrent Sessions |
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Scenic Missouri – Protecting & Marketing
Our Scenic Byways & Communities |
The scenic protection, preservation, and marketing of our byways and communities is essential for enhancing quality of life and economic wellbeing. Learn about state-wide and regional efforts to realize awareness, protection, and enjoyment of the natural, historical and cultural characteristics of the “Show Me” state. |
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The Anatomy of a Successful Urban Seasonal Color Program: How the Kiener Plaza and Market Street Plantings Come Alive Each Season
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Spectacular living seasonal color displays at
strategically placed city locations create an
uplifting perspective of your community. The volunteer “choreographer” of living color for Gateway Greening’s downtown St. Louis plantings will share the details of implementing the WOW color of the Kiener Plaza, Market Street, and Tucker Blvd public landscapes. |
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Environmental Engagement: Opportunities for Communities |
Clean water and air, critical ingredients for sustaining healthy life, require professional expertise and community commitment to maintain quality and abundance. Experience a knowledgeable panel, including an environmentally-connected landscape architect, a champion of clean air, and an engaged citizen devoted to clean water, sharing their insight and experience with specific project examples. |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Concurrent Sessions |
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Marketing Our Heritage: The Legacy of Lewis & Clark for the Gateway Region |
People want to experience a great story. Why not translate great stories about the heritage of your community in a civic marketing opportunity? Hear how the Lewis & Clark legacy is used to market the Gateway region. |
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AIB Community Tour Preview
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Participants of the St. Louis Area AIB Towns Tour won’t want to miss this visual preview of veteran, current, and future America in Bloom towns. Each preview will be presented by the lead citizens of each of the three communities featured on the tour. |
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Environmental Tour Preview |
Preview the history and stories associated with the sites featured on the Environmental Tour. Representatives from each tour site will share an overview of real solutions for real environmental enhancement opportunities associated with four highly recognized sites. |
Saturday Afternoon Tours
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| Tour 1 |
Environmental Opportunities |
Visit the EarthWays Center, which promotes sustainability through
environmental education and improving the built environment. You will also stop at SWT Design for a look at a demonstration landscape, and then see Forest Park. The final stop is the office campus of Alberici Constructors, a LEED® platinum building surrounded by a native landscape. |
| Tour 2 |
Secret St. Louis Neighborhoods & Community Gardens |
St. Louis is a city of neighborhoods. Enjoy heritage architecture, quaint farmers’ markets, and urban garden centers. Best of all, you’ll see firsthand the community gardens that you heard about in Friday’s presentations. The last stop is at an urban garden center you’re sure to enjoy. |
| Tour 3 |
St. Louis Area AIB Towns: Past, Present, Future |
The St. Louis area encompasses more than 90 municipalities. You’ll have a chance to see Kirkwood, winner of the 2007 Community Involvement Criteria Award. Also on the tour is this year’s entry, Webster Groves, which challenged Kirkwood to a “plant off”. You decide who wins! Finally, you’ll get a preview of University City, which has already been hard at work on their America in Bloom 2011 entry. Give them some pointers! |