KAB Presents “The Living Community” Keep America Beautiful presented the 56th National Conference, themed “The Living Community,” in December 2009 in Washington, D.C. The conference, attended by more than 250 executives from community improvement organizations from across the country, featured sessions discussing national strategic partnerships with other nonprofit organizations, strategies for attracting and retaining talent in a difficult economy, reviewing policies and practices with recycling at the federal level in academia and the business sector, and how to expand engage and diversify outreach opportunities. Wednesday’s keynote address was delivered by Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, via a special video message. Livia Marques represented the USDA and shared exciting news about new initiatives and programs including the “People’s Gardens” program. This was followed by the release of the landmark study in “Litter Findings Part I and II.” Thursday’s highlights included a look at “Influencing and Targeting the Next Generation,” presented by Michael Briggs, of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. Briggs presented insights into Generation Y, shared findings from research, and discussed implications for communicating with this audience for recycling. On the closing day, a panel of elected officials provided helpful advice on how to better connect with local officials in, “Who’s On Your Side: Building Relations with Elected Officials.”
Photo by Pam Risdon, Risdon Photography.
Keep America Beautiful also presented its National Awards, including the prestigious Mrs. Lyndon B. Johnson Award, presented to Marianne Nave of Springfield, Ohio, and the Iron Eyes Cody Award, given to David Howarth of Lake Jackson, Texas.
Happy Anniversary!
Omaha’s first environmental organization, Keep Omaha (Neb.) Beautiful, YEARS celebrated its 50th anniversary with year-long activities, including a designated Keep Omaha Beautiful Month in April and a Green Tie Gala in June at Lauritzen Gardens Botanical Center. Founded in 1959 as City Beautification Unlimited by environmental advocate and civic leader Deanie Anderson, the organization became Keep Omaha Beautiful in the early 1960s.
One of these dedicated leaders is Edith Heller, who retired in 2009 after devoting more than 30 years of service to KTnB. Heller, who is a native of Memphis, combined her background in management with an interest in the environment to lead one of the strongest state affiliates in the country. She is credited with forming 27 local KTnB affiliates, 24 of which are still active. She built 95 county litter-education committees, and started the first statewide Great American Cleanup in 2000. Her voice, her spirit and her vision proved to be essential assets for the national Keep America Beautiful organization and the citizens of Tennessee. Sutton Mora Hayes, a Memphis native, has since taken the position of State Leader of KTnB.
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The legacy of Keep America Beautiful’s affiliate network was made more evident as many affiliates celebrated significant anniversaries, marking upward of 20 or more years in the KAB network.
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Keep Macon-Bibb Beautiful (KMBB) of Macon, Ga., recognized 35 years of KAB YEARS affiliation. Best known for its International Cherry Blossom Festival, KMBB has been increasing recycling initiatives, organizing neighborhood cleanups and instituting beautification programs. Each spring over 300,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom in Macon; it’s an event that attracts people from throughout the world and inspires hope and beauty. Keep Tennessee Beautiful (KTnB) celebrated its 25th anniversary at a conYEARS ference in Nashville, Tenn., appropriately themed, “Twenty-Five Years of Improving the World Around Us.” The conference was a commemoration of the many organizations and volunteers who have dedicated their time and effort to the stewardship of local environments throughout the Volunteer State.
Keep the Midlands Beautiful (KtMB), located in Columbia, S.C., celebrated its YEARS 20th anniversary with the unveiling of a sculpture made entirely of recycled steel. Artist Greg Fitzpatrick, who created the sculpture, called it “Eternal Spring.” The affiliate also handed out over 10,000 packets of sunflower seeds to members of the community in celebration of its anniversary and its “Summer of Sunflowers.”
Keep Rio Rancho (N.M.) Beautiful also celebrated 20 years of KAB affiliation. YEARS New Mexico Clean & Beautiful Executive Director Joe Lobato noted that Keep Rio Rancho Beautiful has helped Rio Rancho thrive and has been innovative in discovering environmental solutions for the community.
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