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Great Lakes Connecting Communities

GLAHNF | Great Lakes Forever | Biodiversity Project
Introduction | Personalized Assistance | Toolbox Contents
Intro | 1. Goals | 2. Audience | 3. Research | 4. Your Message | 5. Enhancing | 6. Pathways | 7. Media Relations | 8. Evaluation
Intro | Press Materials | Magazine Ads | Radio Spots | Web Site | Educational Signs | BioBlitzes | Coasters | Postcard | Flyer
Intro | Pathways to the Public | Cultivating Media Relationships | Sample Press Kit | Media Contacts

Welcome to the Communications Toolbox . . .


Welcome to the Great Lakes Connecting Communities Communications Toolbox! Created by Biodiversity Project and distributed by the Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network & Fund (GLAHNF) , this CD-ROM is filled with strategic communications resources specifically designed for grassroots initiatives – like yours – working to protect and restore aquatic habitats in the Great Lakes Basin .

The Toolbox is contained on a CD-ROM but works like a Web site – you can quickly access Toolbox content by using the navigation bars above and to the right.  You'll also find a brief description of each section at the bottom of this page. If this is your first time opening the Toolbox, please start by clicking on the "How to Use the Toolbox" link to the right for more details.

How the Toolbox Can Help . . .

The Toolbox provides a concise and accessible road-map for creating your own strategic communications strategy, with a pool of ready-to-use Great Lakes and aquatic habitat-related communications materials. The Toolbox includes valuable research on public opinions and attitudes toward the Great Lakes, a communications primer to help you develop your own successful communications strategy, an introduction to evaluation, as well as many ready-to-use images and Great Lakes communications products.

The Toolbox is not designed for communications experts, but for grassroots organizers dedicated to enhancing public education and outreach efforts. We encourage you to invest some time reading our Strategic Communications Primer for Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Advocates . This will help you think about your communications goals and develop a strategy for success. From there, you can explore, modify and model the enclosed text, images and templates; and you'll be well on your way to more effective communications!

You're Not Alone: Personalized Assistance!

Finally, we'd like to offer our support to each of you for under-taking this innovative collaboration to improve awareness of the value, vulnerability, and inter-connectedness of our Great Lakes waters, wildlife, lands, and communities. Only by working together can we truly protect this international resource that identifies our region, sustains our life, and makes this such a remarkable place to live.

Please contact us at any point in your communications planning process – just pick up the phone or drop us an email! We'll be happy to recommend additional resources, brainstorm messages and media pitches, and much more. You'll find our contact information below and – no matter where you are in the Toolbox – in the right-hand column at the top of the page.

Jeffrey Potter, Biodiversity Project, 608-250-9876, jpotter@biodiverse.org
Jill Ryan, GLAHNF, 231-347-1181 x106, jill@watershedcouncil.org


Toolbox Contents


Communications Primer This section provides an overview of communications strategies, message development, and evaluation. You'll also find useful tips for media relations and suggestions for creative methods for carrying your message to your target audiences.

Public Opinion Research In 2002, Biodiversity Project hired a national public opinion research firm to gain a better understanding of the public's connection to the Great Lakes . The resulting report, Protecting the Great Lakes: Responsibility to Awareness to Action (included here along with other relevant public opinion research reports), provides important data for anyone wishing to engage the public on the Lakes or local aquatic habitat issues.

Aquatic Habitat Images Here you'll find a wide selection of Great Lakes and aquatic habitat images for you to use in print and on the Web. These include cartoons, maps, scenic photos, shots of people enjoying the Lakes and related habitats, and pictures that clearly illustrate environmental threats. You'll also find an introduction to electronic images and links to additional online resources.

Sample Products In this section you'll find examples of Great Lakes public education materials developed by the Biodiversity Project as part of their Great Lakes Forever program. These professional produced products include radio ads, print ads, beer coasters, direct mail cards, and more. Like the images, the products you find in this section are available for your organization's use – free of charge .

Media Materials In this section you'll find sample press release materials, tips on media relations, and targeted-Great Lakes media lists for your state or province.

Links The Great Lakes Communications Toolbox is just one of many resources available to grassroots groups in the region. In this section, you'll find a list of links organized by easy-to-understand topic headings.