America in Bloom Symposium & Awards ProgramSeptember 20-22, 2012 • Fayetteville, Arkansas

Ozark Red, White & Blooms

www.americainbloom.org

Welcome

Located in the heart of the Ozark Mountains, the progressive spirit in Fayetteville

makes it a great place to live, work, and play. It has been recognized as one of

the best places to live in America. Much of Fayetteville’s success is due to its

participation in America in Bloom for the past 11 years.

The America in Bloom Symposium & Awards program offers the opportunity for you to see

Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas from the inside out. You can walk in the paths of the

community’s past, learn about its innovative environmental efforts, witness commitment to

quality landscapes, and experience the newest cultural addition, the Crystal Bridges Museum

of American Art. You will be able to talk with Northwest Arkansas mayors who are facing

different challenges leading their cities, and meet some environmental and horticultural

experts. Experience the Farmer’s Market and the crazy enthusiasm for all that is Razorback!

Fayetteville is a fun and unique mix of cool college town, thriving business community,

outdoor lovers’ haven, and cultural arts center. We can’t wait for you to experience

Fayetteville and discover “Ozark Red, White & Blooms.”

Welcome to the 11th Annual America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program!

Co-Chairs, Cindi Cope and Marilyn Heifner

Cover artwork provided by Arkansas artist Jane Wier Davidian, used with permission.

Welcome to Fayetteville and Northwest Arkansas!

Thank You to This Year’s Symposium Sponsors

Hotel & AirportInformation

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Make your hotel reservations at the Hampton

Inn & Suites at 479-756-3500. Inform them you

are attending the America in Bloom Symposium

(group code: AIB) to receive the special rate of

$139/night plus tax if reserved by August 28. The

Hampton Inn & Suites is located at 1700 South

48th Street in Springdale, Arkansas. Reserve

your hotel rooms early. There is a University of

Arkansas football game so rooms will go fast!

The hotel is approximately 25 minutes from

Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport (Airport

Code: XNA). Rental cars, taxis, shuttle vans, and

limousine service is available.

Thursday, September 20

America in Bloom 2012 Criteria Awards Event5 p.m. Shuttles Leave for Hotel for Evening Events

5:30 p.m. Guided Walking Tours of Historic Downtown Fayetteville Fayetteville in Bloom committee members will host guided tours of the historic

downtown square and share stories from the Trail of Tears to present day. Pre-registration is required. See the registration form to sign up.

6:15 p.m. Welcome Reception A cash bar reception will be held in the Fayetteville Town Center where AIB

YouTube Video Award nominations will be shown. The Silent Auction will be set up so you can begin bidding early.

7 p.m. Arkansas Barbecue Feast & Awards We kick off the 2012 event with this celebration of your achievements.

This is a time for food, fun, and lots of awards! You’ll enjoy a buffet of the best barbecue and fixin’s. AIB Criteria Award winners will be announced followed by the AIB You Tube Video Award winner and the America in Bloom Spirit Award.

8:30 p.m. Presentation to Our Honored Guest Honored Guest Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan will welcome us to his city and

share his insight as to the initiatives that have distinguished Fayetteville as one of the best places to live in America.

Friday, September 21

7 a.m. Breakfast at Hotel. Shuttles Available to Town Center. Grab a quick breakfast snack while you visit with other attendees, then jump on

the shuttle bus as we head to downtown Fayetteville to start our day.

8:30 a.m. Welcome & Keynote: Great Design & Tough Plants – The Key to Beautiful Communities P. Allen Smith, National TV personality, designer,

and garden expert Arkansas native son P. Allen Smith is one of the best known and

most beloved lifestyle and gardening experts in America. He has worked closely with his home community of Little Rock, Arkansas,

to enhance the public assets of his Capital City with quality landscaping and beautification projects. He will share some of his personal experiences working with civic groups and tell some of the secrets to his success in navigating through political waters. P. Allen Smith will sign books after his talk.

9:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions Plantings at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Scott Eccleston, Director of Trails and Grounds Dedicated to American art, architecture, nature, and education, Crystal Bridges

Museum of American Art is like no other. It celebrates old world craftsmanship and innovative modern technology. It honors nature and sustainability. Landscape Architect Scott Eccleston will give us insight into the unique design of the 120 acres of magnificent native plant trails and gardens that surround the museum.

Educational Sessions

Celebrating History – The Northwest Arkansas Heritage Trail John McLarty and Marilyn Heifner, Heritage Trail Partners The Ozark Mountains historically presented challenges to each

group moving through this area. Three significant events in American history occurred on this trail: Trail of Tears, The Butterfield Overland Mail Stagecoach Route, and Civil War Troop Movements. John and Marilyn have devoted significant effort to protecting this trail so that these stories can be told. They even wrote legislation to protect the Heritage Trail statewide.

10:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions Planning for the Future Fayetteville Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin, and Eureka

Springs Mayor Morris Pate each face unique challenges in planning for the future and ensuring economic vitality in their Northwest Arkansas cities. They will discuss their challenges and invite your questions.

Protecting the Environment Delia Haak, Illinois River Watershed Project; Sarah Lewis, The Sustainability

Consortium at the University of Arkansas; Theo Witsell, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission

These three environmentalists from Northwest Arkansas have addressed serious water and land issues in their region. Their stories are similar to many around the country. Their investigations and solutions are noteworthy, and many are models for other communities.

11:30 a.m. Concurrent Sessions Lawns – The Most Sustainable Part of Your Landscape Mike Richardson, University of Arkansas Department of Horticulture As one of the top turf researchers in the country, Mike will share his research and

offer practical solutions for sustainable turf maintenance.

Convincing Community Stakeholders that Trees Matter Pam Bennett, Ohio State University Extension and State Master Gardener

Coordinator When budgets get tight, money for urban forestry – planting and maintenance –

tends to be hit first and sometimes hardest. Learn how to convince community stakeholders that the trees in your community have economic and environmental value. Pam will share how community leaders are working with her master gardener volunteers to inventory trees with iTree, analyze the data, and present the findings to the people making budget decisions.

12:15 p.m. Brown Bag Lunch While having a quick lunch we’ll learn about today’s tour itineraries and what you

can expect to see and learn.

1 p.m. Concurrent Tours Tour 1: Heritage Tour of Fayetteville As in most communities, Fayetteville has wonderful heritage to protect and

celebrate. This tour will include a visit to the historic Clinton House, the first home of Bill and Hillary, which now features the First Ladies Garden. There will be a drive through the Washington Willow Historic district and a visit to the historic Headquarters House, a carefully furnished private home that was occupied by both the Confederate and Union leaders. There will be a drive through the historic University of Arkansas campus and then a visit to a place of significant natural heritage, the Woolsey Wetland Prairie. It is a beautifully restored site of over 400 native species of plants and animals.

Tour 2: Environmental Tour of Fayetteville Fayetteville has done some remarkable things from an

environmental perspective. The Eco-Modern Flats is a 40-year-old apartment complex that was transformed into the coolest Platinum LEED living experience. The Paul Noland Wastewater Treatment Plant features innovative solar and thermal drying beds that create excellent organic fertilizer. The Happy Hollow and Butterfield Elementary Schools are both Silver LEED certified with rain gardens and certified wildlife habitats. Many of the classes in both schools are taught outdoors.

Tour 3: Gardens of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art The remarkable new landscape of the Crystal Bridges Museum includes trails

and gardens filled with native plants and their cultivars. There will be a tour of the gardens and a brief visit to the highly acclaimed museum.

4:30 p.m. Reception at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks All tours will end at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks where we will enjoy the

beauty of this exceptional public garden while partaking of the light refreshments offered there. We will meet the Executive Director Ron Cox and the Director of Operations, Gerald Klingaman, a former AIB judge. Here we will have a ceremonial tree planting with the Fayetteville Garden Club, a member of the National Garden Clubs, our 2011 AIB Spirit Award winner.

7 p.m. Evening on Your Own Participate in a “Dine Around” on Fayetteville’s famous Dickson Street. From

Mediterranean and Mexican to Italian and American, Fayetteville’s Entertainment District offers a great way to meet new friends over dinner and talk about what you have learned at the conference.

Saturday, September 22

7 a.m. Breakfast at Hotel. Shuttles Available to Town Center. Grab a quick breakfast snack while you visit with other attendees, then jump on

the shuttle bus as we head to downtown Fayetteville to start our day.

8:15 a.m. Welcome & Keynote: Designing Nature into Children’s Lives Robin Moore, Director of the National Learning Initiative and author

of “Natural Learning – the Life History of an Environmental Schoolyard”

The health of children and society is threatened by new “lifestyle diseases” related to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and

excessive screen time. Children are also losing contact with nature because they are spending insufficient time outdoors. These unhealthy conditions can be reversed by creating natural play and learning environments so compelling that children are “pulled” outdoors. If communities, institutions, designers, and “passionate plant people” act together, dramatic, positive changes can be achieved. Robin will share his thoughts on designing nature into children’s lives.

9:15 a.m. Introducing the Showcase of Innovation Companies have been invited to share their innovative products and services in

the AIB “Showcase of Innovation” that will open Saturday morning. This session will include 2-minute presentations by each of our exhibitors. They will share how their product or service can help your community’s AIB efforts.

10 a.m. Concurrent Sessions More than Just Pretty Dr. Charlie Hall, Texas A & M University Communities that have participated in America in Bloom have all benefited directly

from the beautification of their surroundings. But the benefits of AIB extend beyond the expected aesthetic benefits. People’s lives are changed significantly in terms of the economic, environmental, social, and health benefits of flowers, shrubs, and trees. This session will provide thought-provoking evidence of the power of plants and why they are necessities in our lives and not mere luxuries.

Winners in the Garden John Gaydos, Director of Product Development, Proven Winners In order to have exceptionally beautiful plants well suited to our gardens and

community plantings no matter where we live and grow, there is a complex process of plant selection and trialing to ensure superior garden performance. John will explain this process and share his recommendations for how to select the toughest plants for your community planting efforts.

10:45 a.m. Optional Hands-On Workshops – No Additional Fee but Registration Required.

Using Social Media to Tell Your Story Jessica Leonard, Communications Manager, Fayetteville Visitor Bureau You have heard about Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Pinterest. Maybe you

have tried your hand at a blog or sent out an e-newsletter. Jessica is prepared to assist you with hands-on experience so that you will feel comfortable using these special technology tools to enhance your community building efforts.

See the registration form for sign-up details.

Capture the Moment with Great Photos Frank Zaunscherb, President, Zaunscherb Roberts Blair Cameras have changed so much over the years, as has the technology to share

photos. Photos are the most powerful way we can share our message, tell our story, and inspire our communities. Frank, AIB’s onsite photographer, will share his experience for capturing and sharing special moments.

See the registration form for sign-up details.

10:45 a.m. Free Time to Explore Farmer’s Market, Silent Auction, Showcase of Innovation, and Bookstore

If you are not attending one of the optional hands-on workshops, feel free to visit the Fayetteville Farmer’s Market just a couple of steps outside the Town Center. It’s the place to be on Saturday morning! Also, visit the Showcase of Innovation, the Silent Auction, and the Bookstore. Or have a cup o’ joe and hang out with your AIB friends.

12:30 p.m. Best Ideas Luncheon Come and share your best practices and bright ideas. From clever programs

you have to encourage volunteers to special celebrations that bring your community together, each idea offers inspiration and motivation. This luncheon will be moderated by Evelyn Alemanni, AIB Board member, international judge, and author of AIB’s “Ten Years of Best Ideas” book.

2 p.m. Meet with Your Judges These sessions are set up for cities to meet with their judges. They are open

to all participants and offer excellent insight into the AIB judging process as well as the ordinary and extraordinary things towns and cities are doing across America.

America in Bloom 2012 Population Category Awards Event

5:30 p.m. Shuttles Leave Hotel for Evening Events

6 p.m. America in Bloom Banquet & Awards Our evening of celebration starts with a cash bar reception and last-minute silent

auction bidding. At 7 o’clock the excitement goes into high gear with more food, fun, and awards. The John R. Holmes III Community Champion Award winner will be announced along with the Population Category Award winners. This is where we celebrate YOU and what YOUR community is doing to plant pride in America.

8:20 p.m. America in Bloom Today – And Going Forward Dr. Marvin Miller, President of the AIB Board Marvin will share his thoughts on all that has been accomplished this year – and

will offer insight into some of the exciting things in store for 2013 and beyond.

8:30 p.m. Presentation to Our Honored GuestsOur honored guests this evening are Bob and Marilyn Bogle. Bob was Sam Walton’s first store manager and was the sharp individual who recommended the name WALMART to Mr. Walton.

Recognizing the importance of beautiful flowers and gardens, Bob and Marilyn created two beautiful gardens in Bentonville,

Arkansas, that are popular locations for weddings and proms. They are true community heroes. Please come to

meet them.

8:40 p.m. Preview of 2013 America in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program in Orlando, Florida

NEW! Optional Hands-On Workshops Available These two Saturday learning labs provide a closer look at unique ways to tell your community’s story. One workshop will explain how social media can be used to enhance your community building efforts. The other will showcase how photos can capture a moment and inspire your community. Space is limited and early registration is required. See the registration form for sign-up details.

Showcase of InnovationCompanies offering innovative ideas for communities are featured in this small but powerful exhibition. Each vendor has been invited to participate because they offer something unique and special. Get to know them and their products and services. Open Saturday 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Silent Auction and BookstoreThe silent auction is your chance to bid on cool items from around the country. You’ll find some treasures! Visit the onsite bookstore and pick up titles to stock your bookshelves. All proceeds benefit AIB.

Special Programs

At-a-Glance ScheduleThursday, September 20

5 – 9 p.m.

America in Bloom 2012 Criteria Awards Event5 p.m. Shuttles Begin Departing Hotel5:30 p.m. Guided Walking Tours of Historic Downtown Fayetteville (Separate Sign-Up Required)6:15 p.m. Welcome Reception with Cash Bar7 p.m. Arkansas Barbecue Feast & Awards8:30 p.m. Presentation to Our Honored Guest

Friday, September 217 – 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at the Hotel

7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Silent Auction and Bookstore Open

8:30 – 9:15 a.m.Welcome & Keynote: Great Design & Tough Plants – The Key to Beautiful Communities (P. Allen Smith)

9:30 – 10:15 a.m.Plantings at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Scott Eccleston)

Celebrating History – The Northwest Arkansas Heritage Trail (Marilyn Heifner, John McLarty)

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.Planning for the Future (Mayors Lioneld Jordan, Bob McCaslin, Morris Pate)

Protecting the Environment (Delia Haak, Theo Witsel, Sarah Lewis)

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Lawns – The Most Sustainable Part of Your Landscape (Mike Richardson)

Convincing Community Stakeholders that Trees Matter (Pam Bennett)

12:15 – 12:45 p.m. Brown Bag Lunch

1 – 4:30 p.m.Tour 1: Heritage Tour of FayettevilleTour 2: Environmental Tour of FayettevilleTour 3: Gardens of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Reception at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

6:30 p.m. Transportation Provided Back to the Hotel or to Downtown Fayetteville

7 – 9 p.m. Evening on Your Own

9 p.m. Transportation to Hotel from Downtown Fayetteville

Saturday, September 227– 7:30 a.m. Breakfast at the Hotel

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.; 6 – 6:30 p.m.

Silent Auction and Bookstore Open

7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Showcase of Innovation Open

8:15 – 9 a.m.Welcome & Keynote: Designing Nature into Children’s Lives (Robin Moore)

9:15 – 9:45 a.m. Introducing the Showcase of Innovation

10 – 10:30 a.m.More than Just Pretty! Quantify-ing the Value of Quality Land-scapes (Charlie Hall)

Winners in the Garden (John Gaydos)

10:45 – 11:30 a.m.

Hands-On Workshop: Connecting to Your Community Using Social Media (Jessica Leonard) – Sepa-rate Sign-Up Required

Hands-On Workshop: Capture the Moment with Great Photos (Frank Zaunscherb) – Separate Sign-Up Required

10:45 a.m. –12:30 p.m.Free Time to Explore Farmer’s Market, Silent Auction, Showcase of Innovation, and Bookstore

12:30 – 2 p.m. Best Ideas Luncheon

2 – 3:30 p.m. Meet With Your Judges

5:30 – 9 p.m.

America in Bloom 2012 Population Category Awards Event5:30 p.m. Shuttles begin departing hotel6 p.m. Cash Bar Reception6:30 p.m. Silent Auction Closes7 p.m. Banquet & Awards8:20 p.m. America in Bloom Today – And Going Forward (Marvin Miller)8:30 p.m. Presentation to Our Honored Guests8:40 p.m. Preview of 2013 American in Bloom Symposium & Awards Program in Orlando, Florida

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Register online at www.americainbloom.orgor send a copy of this registration form to:America in Bloom • 2130 Stella Ct • Columbus, OH 43215

P: 614-487-1117 • F: 614-487-1216 • E: aib@ofa.org

Tour 1: Heritage Tour of Fayetteville

Tour 2: Environmental Tour of Fayetteville

Tour 3: Gardens of the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art

I am not participating in tours

Thursday Guided Walking Tours of Historic Downtown Fayetteville

Saturday Hands-On Workshop: Connecting to Your Community Using Social Media

Saturday Hands-On Workshop: Capture the Moment with Great Photos

ToursPlease indicate your tour choice in order of preference 1-3. We will do our best to accommodate your request. Incomplete forms will not be assigned a tour. If you do not wish to participate in the tours, please indicate so we may have an accurate count for transportation needs.

Optional ActivitiesPlease indicate if you wish to participate in any of these optional activities so we may plan appropri-ately. You must pre-register for these events.

Please select one of the following packages:■ Full registration - $225 ($275 after August 28)■ Thursday AIB dinner and awards only – $100 ($125 after August 28)■ Saturday AIB dinner and awards only – $100 ($125 after August 28)

Registration

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