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ABOUT THIS REPORT: This is a report put out each weekday as part of the social media work by the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This e-mail group consists of more than 200 Flint supporters, community leaders and area public relations people. We scan the Internet each morning and pass along items found related to Flint and the Genesee County area. It's in part to keep you informed of what's being said out there, but it's also an effort to change perceptions of Flint.
Sometimes I will ask you to comment on certain items if they unfairly criticize Flint or rehash misperceptions of our community. We truly believe in the "power of numbers" and need your help in letting others know about this great community that is Flint, Genesee County and the surrounding areas.
If for whatever reason, you don't want to receive these reports just let me know or click on the "remove me" link that comes with each report.
If you have items you'd like me to pass along to the rest of the group just e-mail them to me at mbach@flint.travel. If you have comments, questions or concerns please let me know and I'll do everything I can to address them.
Also, if you or your organization want to get more involved in social media feel free to contact me, Matt Bach at the FACVB (232-3288 or mbach@flint.travel) and I'll be happy to meet with your staff or talk to a group of people about the things we're doing and how they can be applied to your group. We're far from being "experts" on this social media stuff, but we're happy to share what we've learned and experienced so far.
Thanks for your time and GO FLINT!!
Matt Bach
Public Relations Manager
FACVB - mbach@flint.travel; 810-232-3288 (call anytime)
Read about Flint on Facebook at facebook.com/flint.michigan or go to the "Flint Discoveries" Facebook page to see what's happening in the upcoming weekend and beyond.
You can also follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/flintcvbtourism
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Hello, If you haven't received this report before please look at the information on the left side of this page and it explains what this is all about and why you are getting this.
The Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has decided to move forward with the "Ten Living Cities Symposium" in Dayton, Ohio, Aug. 7-8. Matt Bach of the FACVB plans to attend and invites others to join him or caravan down with him. He'll be leaving Friday afternoon, staying the night and returning Saturday night. If you are interested in attending let us know so that we can arrange transportation and accomodations. At the very end of today's report is a news release we are sending out on this event. Please look it over and feel free to share it within your organizations. There is a photo contest involved in this event so if you know of any photographers who have taken some photos in the past year showing Flint in a positive way please encourage them to enter. It's free to enter.
UPCOMING PRESS CONFERENCES:
Wednesday, July 22: The Michigan State Fair in cooperation with the Genesee County Fair, City of Flint and Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau are having a press conference 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 22 on the city hall grounds. Feel free to stop by for the press conference in the grassy area behind city hall to show your support for the county and state fair. The Genesee County Fair is Aug.17-23 and the state fair is Aug. 28-Sept. 7.
Let me know when you are having a press conference and I'll share them with the group so that we hopefully don't schedule these things at the same time.
Matt Bach
Public Relations Manager
Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
810-232-3288
mbach@flint.travel
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ON TO THE REPORT ...
YOUR HELP SOUGHT:
I'd like your help on this one. It's a post by someone who said they were in Flint to see the devastation depicted by Michael Moore and they took some photos. They post a few photos showing boarded up buildings and then say "much of the city looks like a junk yard." Ideally, I'd like to be able to post some more photos showing areas that don't look like a junk yard, but usually you can't post photos in comments, But feel free to link to some photos showing Flint more positively if you know where some are. I have a bunch on Facebook that I'll link to. I ask that you politely post a comment on this blog explaining what Flint does have and how parts of Flint are quite nice. It's OK to admit we have some eye sores here, but just ask this writer to show the complete picture - not just the negative side.
URBAN Gardening and SHRINKING CITIES stuff:
The Huffington Post mentioned Flint in this article about turning urban areas into green space for gardening and such. And here's a story on "agri tourism" in Grand Blanc. And here's a detailed look about all the various articles done on the shrinking cities issue. This is a post on shrinking cities, but I kept getting an error message when I tried to open it.
FLINT ASTRONAUT:
Flint native and Astronaut Donald McMonagle is quoted in this Detroit Free about the 40th anniversary of the first landing on the moon.
FLINT comedian:
A bio on Flint native and comedian Sandra Bernhard. I knew she was from Michigan but I hadn't remembered that she was born in Flint, at least that's what this post says.
CITY MONEY:
A TV 25 story on the city getting more than $2 million to revitalize neighborhoods. An ABC 12 story on the stimulus money coming to Flint for revitalization. And the Flint Expatriates blog broke down the numbers coming to the county. And a Detroit Free Press story about the allocation.
FRANK MURPHY:
Here's an interesting post out of Port Huron on the 60th anniversary of the death of Frank Murphy former Michigan governor who played a big role in the Flint Sit Down strike.
PAT McInnis:
Here's a feature story on Pat McInnis, a Flint Powers graduate, who was head of Quicken Loans and his now heading FatHeads.
BAD ROADS:
A column about a youtube video about Michigan's bad roads.
DAN KILDEE:
Dan is quoted in this repost of a Detroit Free Press article related to Detroit and it's declining population.
HURLEY NEWS:
The Flint Journal had a series of stories Sunday about the Hurley millage proposal. Here's one part and here's another part.
and here's another part. TV 25 also did a piece on the proposal.
HEALTH CARE:
An ABC 12 story on a local group working on health care reform.
HALO BURGER:
This is a forum where someone asks what's the best place in Lansing to get an olive burger and someone talks about Halo Burger in Flint, which by far has the best cheeseburger deluxe with olives that I've ever had.
WATER PIPELINE:
A post on a blog about the Genesee County water pipeline proposal.
CHARLIE BELL:
This is a post about a basketball camp held by Flint native Charlie Bell in Wisconsin. It says he'd like to have a camp in Flint next year.
PURE MICHIGAN NEWS:
This is a letter to the editor in the Port Huron paper opposed to a bill that according to the article would: This bill imposes a $2.50 assessment on all vehicles leased at an airport, hotel or convention facility. This is a tax on all residents and nonresidents who rent cars in Michigan. It places another burden on residents and sends the wrong message to visitors. The letter mentions the Pure Michigan campaign.
NEW HOUSE FOR DON WILLIAMSON:
This is a Lapeer County Press article about Don Williamson building a new house on Potter Lake in the Lapeer area. It's in the news because some neighbors are upset because they believe the project will disrupt the natural beauty of the area.
Sharee Miller:
Several stories of late on the Sharee Miller tale.
TEACHER WRITER:
A story on a Flint teacher Krissandra Gatz who has published a book.
MICHAEL MOORE:
A post about a documentary called Michael Moore Hates America.
CONEY DOG:
This is a top 10 lists of sorts by an Italian writer. In this post this list various top 10s for American foods and beverages. The No. 3 "locally best, nationally-known known food" is the "Coney Dog" in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Flint, Michigan. I didn't know Cinci had Coneys, but I'll share the ranking with them.
GM news:
This is a Detroit News article about GM and the battery plant and it mentions Flint as producing the Volt engine.
Mayor candidate:
A post in the Ethopianreview.com on the Flint mayor write-in candidate who wants to grow medical marijuana. This story has received a lot of mileage online.
SOBERFEST:
A post on Soberfest that took place in Flint Township.
GENESEE VALLEY MALL:
This is a post that mentions the Genesee Valley Mall, but I wasn't able to get through to it on my computer. It looked like weird post, though: "Genesee Valley Mall Flint Michigan
He married women After the Iron Age Rhea was broken by the course of the gods were at genesee valley mall flint michigan this emergency he was received from ..."
Oops
This is a TV 12 story on a woman who found strangers living in her apartment when she returned from being out of town. They were actually living there by mistake, apparently.
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS:
The FJ did this look at health professional discipline in the area. Here's the first part of the series.
NOT SURE:
I'm not sure what this is about but it does talk about the Flint City Council.
TIGER WOODS:
This is an article by the Telegraph about Tiger Woods and how he could play in the Buick Open.
BUICK OPEN:
A post out of Port Huron about a Capac young golfer hoping to make this year's Buick Open. This is a nice short post about the Buick Open being one of the most fan-friendly tournaments on the PGA Tour. A post from michigan.org about Kenny Perry planning to defend his title at the Buick Open this year. A Lansing State Journal article on the Buick Open.
FLINT SCHOOLS:
This is a Flint Journal column about how Flint schools may be home to a "strict discipline academy."
B-Ball player:
A post on JaVale McGee of Flint trying to play hoops with the Washington Wizards.
FLINT grant:
This is a list of a grant for the city of Flint to do an analysis on improvement the management of the city.
FOLLOW-UP Story:
The death of Shylae Thomas in Flint was ruled as a homicide in her autopsy and The Journal had a story about it and it was picked up all over the Web. This sad story has had national coverage.
BORDER WOES:
A blog about some people who spent some time in Flint had some problems trying to get back to Canada.
WORTH REPEATINIG:
I miswrote in Friday's report the dates of the Train Festival in Owosso. The dates are July 23-26. Details: The Train Festival in Owosso will have at least 8 Steam Locomotives under steam for railroad enthusiasts to ride behind, photograph and enjoy. All train watching at the depot is free to the public. For a list of activities and more details go to: http://www.trainfestival2009.com/
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LASTLY, ...
Here's the winners from Saturday's BBQ Battle at the Flint Farmers' Market. (This is a Flint Journal article on the event).
FROM THE Public Relations manager for the Flint Farmers' Market:
We think possibly the busiest day on record at the Flint Farmers' Market - estimating nearly 7,000 people came to the market Saturday, July 18. They stayed through the bursts rain and waited in long lines for the BBQ - but everybody still looked happy.
Here are the results:
People's Choice (overall category)
1st - Charlie's Smokin' BBQ
2nd - Home Boy BBQ
3rd - World Class
*honorable mention - Vehicle City Ribs (first time entrant and female griller)
Professional Judged Competition
6 judges led by Memphis in May certified judge Karthryn Pierce McAllister - aka Divine Dixie Deva
*no entrants or winners in the vegetable category
Ribs
1st - Red Wagon BBQ
2nd- World Class BBQ
3rd-Charlie's Smokin' BBQ
Chicken
1st - Red Wagon
2nd - Charlie's Smokin' BBQ
3rd - Famous Dave's
Pulled Pork
1st - Famous Dave's
2nd - Red Wagon
3rd - Charlie's Smokin' BBQ
Brisket
1st - Red Wagon
2nd - Home Boy BBQ
3rd - Charlie's Smokin' BBQ
Karianne Martus
Flint Farmers' Market
Public Relations/ Marketing
(810) 487-1626kmmartus@aol.com
www.flintfarmersmarket.com
FARMER's MARKET CONTEST:
Just wanted to give you an update on the farmer's market contest. The Flint Farmer's Market continues to be winning this nationwide contest where people vote online for their favorite market. The winning market gets $5,000 and national recognition as the most loved market. So this is a big deal for not only the Flint Farmer's Market, but for the whole area. The contest ends Sept. 17 and last I checked Flint had 2,222 votes, with a sizeable lead over the Carrboro N.C. market, which has 1,305 votes. Keep the votes coming!!!! I encourage the many new people in this e-mail group to vote at http://www.care2.com/farmersmarket. You can only vote once, but you can vote for other area farmer's markets. Grand Blanc Farmer's Market, for example, is in 97th place and has 88 votes. Here's the top 10:
1. Flint Farmers' Market, Flint, MI (2222 votes)
2. Carrboro Farmers' Market, Carrboro, NC (1305 votes)
3. Durham Farmers Market, Durham, NC (1244 votes)
4. Carolina First Saturday Market, Greenville, SC (903 votes)
5. Market Square Farmers' Market, Knoxville, TN (697 votes)
6. Bloomington Community Farmers' Market, Bloomington, IN (687 votes)
7. Fernandina Farmers Market, Fernandina Beach, FL (678 votes) 8. Athens Farmers Market, Athens, OH (619 votes)
9. Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco, CA (529 votes)
10. Lexington Farmers Market, Lexington, KY (492 votes)
SOCIAL MEDIA HELP AVAILABLE by FACVB:
I sent this to the Grand Blanc Chamber for their newsletter and thought I'd share it with the group because the offer of assistance applies to you as well: Need help in your “social media” efforts? Do you want to start promoting your business or organization on Twitter, Facebook and other sites, but don’t know where to start? Or do you just want to improve what you’re already doing in social media? If you answered yes to any of these questions, the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau can help. Matt Bach, the p.r. and social media manager for the FACVB, is available to speak to your groups about social media for FREE. Matt can talk about what the FACVB is doing to help promote Flint and Genesee County on the Web and he'll apply his social media work to your needs. Details: 232-3288 or mbach@flint.travel. Read this news article about the FACVB: http://tinyurl.com/mjxngq.
HERE'S THE PRESS RELEASE we're planning to send out this morning on the Living Cities event in Dayton, Ohio:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 20, 2009
Contact: Matt Bach
mbach@flint.travel; (810) 232-3288
Flint to show it’s not a ‘dying city’
Flint area officials going to Dayton, Ohio for ‘Living Cities Symposium’; Flint photos sought
FLINT, Michigan – A group of Flint area supporters are planning to attend a unique event next month to show how Flint and other communities across the nation aren’t “dying cities” as claimed by a national publication.
In August of 2008 Forbes.com came out with a list of the “10 fastest dying cities” in America and Flint was No. 6 on that list.
To mark the one year anniversary of this notorious designation, representatives from many of the 10 cities are getting together for a “Ten Living Cities Symposium and Arts Festival” in Dayton, Ohio, Aug. 7-9.
A group of Dayton supporters organized the event and Flint is among the communities planning to attend. A group of Flint supporters is being organized by the Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Flint is criticized in the media a lot and unfortunately a lot of the criticism comes from people who have never been here or not taken the time to learn what Flint is like today,” said Matt Bach, public relations manager for the FACVB. “Attending this Living Cities symposium will give us a larger stage to share ideas with other communities and promote the many programs we’re doing to improve our community.”
The event also involves an art component and members of the Flint area art community are expected to attend. In addition, there is a photo contest open to photographers ages 18 and over.
The contest is seeking work from photographers showing why their community is a great place to live, work and experience.
Photographs should have been taken between Aug. 5, 2008 and July 20, 2009.
For contest rules and details go to www.tenlivingcities.org/photos.
As selected by Forbes magazine in Aug. 5, 2008 issue are the “10 Fastest Dying Cities” or as we prefer to be called the “Ten Living Cities:” Buffalo, N.Y.; Canton, Ohio; Charleston, W.V.; Cleveland, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Detroit; Flint; Scranton, Penn.; Springfield, Mass.; and Youngstown, Ohio.The Flint Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is a not-for-profit, membership association. Our mission is to enhance the economy of Flint & Genesee County by promoting it as a destination for overnight visitors.
For further information contact:
Matt Bach
Public Relations Manager
Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau
810-232-388
mbach@flint.travel
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