Post by admin on Mar 7, 2007 17:31:12 GMT -5
Panel wants to help put town's best foot forward
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Three residents have taken it upon themselves to work on improving the borough's image.
Under the guidance of Freehold Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine, Lisa Schofield, Steven Le Vine and Brian Sullivan have formed a de facto public relations committee for the borough.
Steven is the son of the councilman.
The group is attempting to position Freehold Borough as an "inviting, diverse and trendy community for all residents and visitors, while maintaining its historic personality and identity," according to committee members.
On Feb. 20 they presented a report of their work to the Borough Council. Their plan focuses on Freehold's positive strengths - its diversity, history and old-fashioned charm. Their goal is to create positive publicity for the borough.
Schofield and Steven Le Vine work in the fields of publishing and public relations.
Sullivan, who works as a Monmouth County park ranger, said the goal is to promote Freehold's positive aspects. He said the committee's mission is to "improve the perception of Freehold Borough as a healthy, productive and vibrant place to live, work and visit, which in turn will create a community that is strong, productive and thriving. Treating the publicizing and marketing in the borough is similar to that of brand-naming.
"We are not looking to deal with hardball issues here," he said. "This is not a political committee or a damage-control public relations committee. We just want all the good things we are hearing to get out to people in order to attract home ownership, tourism and good businesses. I remember listening to Councilman Kevin Kane speak about Olde Freehold Day and how it was such a display of community spirit. That's the Freehold Borough we want people to know about," Sullivan said.
In addition to presenting the borough as "inviting, diverse and trendy," Le Vine, Schofield and Sullivan are trying to recruit and retain new residents, while sustaining confidence for existing residents, all willing to spend time and money in housing, business and leisure, thereby solidifying a healthier borough infra-structure.
They plan to reach out to the media and present positive stories about the town. They want to encourage residents and business owners to become more active in the community. The committee is suggesting that positive and consistent promotion be used to increase resident and business participation in events such as the Memorial Day Parade and Olde Freehold Day.
The committee members are hoping to encourage people to attend council meetings and to lend ideas to the governing body without intimidation and/or reticence for taking an active role in the community.
The group suggests having regular communication with heads of other committees to derive news and input for producing pitches and press releases to the media; reviewing borough brochures that address tourism; producing a vibrant all-encompassing media kit for larger media entities; and collaborating with the Freehold Center Partnership and Allen Consulting on matters concerning Main Street and downtown business development.
Working with real estate agents to write and disseminate consistent Free-hold Borough information and/or marketing hooks is yet another suggestion being made.
Mayor Michael Wilson said the governing body will take these ideas under consideration.
"We could use some good P.R.," the mayor said, adding that more discussion will be held on the public relations initiative.
Schofield said she loves the idea of doing something for Freehold Borough.
"I grew up in Holmdel and Marlboro and didn't feel the sense of community that Freehold offers. I've always missed that," she said, adding that she loves the borough and that "it always feels like home to me."
Schofield said the committee will reach out to day-trippers, homeowners and tourists.
"We are hoping to recruit a few more volunteers to work with us in order to streamline and coordinate the information-gathering process," she said. "There are so many interesting clubs and groups that just don't know how to get their events publicized."
Steven Le Vine, who was born and raised in town, said his goal is to improve the perception and image of Freehold and to emphasize the town's good points.
"We want to focus on our beautiful, vibrant, diverse community and show others how greet Freehold really is," he said.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0307/Front_page/118.html
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Three residents have taken it upon themselves to work on improving the borough's image.
Under the guidance of Freehold Borough Councilman Marc Le Vine, Lisa Schofield, Steven Le Vine and Brian Sullivan have formed a de facto public relations committee for the borough.
Steven is the son of the councilman.
The group is attempting to position Freehold Borough as an "inviting, diverse and trendy community for all residents and visitors, while maintaining its historic personality and identity," according to committee members.
On Feb. 20 they presented a report of their work to the Borough Council. Their plan focuses on Freehold's positive strengths - its diversity, history and old-fashioned charm. Their goal is to create positive publicity for the borough.
Schofield and Steven Le Vine work in the fields of publishing and public relations.
Sullivan, who works as a Monmouth County park ranger, said the goal is to promote Freehold's positive aspects. He said the committee's mission is to "improve the perception of Freehold Borough as a healthy, productive and vibrant place to live, work and visit, which in turn will create a community that is strong, productive and thriving. Treating the publicizing and marketing in the borough is similar to that of brand-naming.
"We are not looking to deal with hardball issues here," he said. "This is not a political committee or a damage-control public relations committee. We just want all the good things we are hearing to get out to people in order to attract home ownership, tourism and good businesses. I remember listening to Councilman Kevin Kane speak about Olde Freehold Day and how it was such a display of community spirit. That's the Freehold Borough we want people to know about," Sullivan said.
In addition to presenting the borough as "inviting, diverse and trendy," Le Vine, Schofield and Sullivan are trying to recruit and retain new residents, while sustaining confidence for existing residents, all willing to spend time and money in housing, business and leisure, thereby solidifying a healthier borough infra-structure.
They plan to reach out to the media and present positive stories about the town. They want to encourage residents and business owners to become more active in the community. The committee is suggesting that positive and consistent promotion be used to increase resident and business participation in events such as the Memorial Day Parade and Olde Freehold Day.
The committee members are hoping to encourage people to attend council meetings and to lend ideas to the governing body without intimidation and/or reticence for taking an active role in the community.
The group suggests having regular communication with heads of other committees to derive news and input for producing pitches and press releases to the media; reviewing borough brochures that address tourism; producing a vibrant all-encompassing media kit for larger media entities; and collaborating with the Freehold Center Partnership and Allen Consulting on matters concerning Main Street and downtown business development.
Working with real estate agents to write and disseminate consistent Free-hold Borough information and/or marketing hooks is yet another suggestion being made.
Mayor Michael Wilson said the governing body will take these ideas under consideration.
"We could use some good P.R.," the mayor said, adding that more discussion will be held on the public relations initiative.
Schofield said she loves the idea of doing something for Freehold Borough.
"I grew up in Holmdel and Marlboro and didn't feel the sense of community that Freehold offers. I've always missed that," she said, adding that she loves the borough and that "it always feels like home to me."
Schofield said the committee will reach out to day-trippers, homeowners and tourists.
"We are hoping to recruit a few more volunteers to work with us in order to streamline and coordinate the information-gathering process," she said. "There are so many interesting clubs and groups that just don't know how to get their events publicized."
Steven Le Vine, who was born and raised in town, said his goal is to improve the perception and image of Freehold and to emphasize the town's good points.
"We want to focus on our beautiful, vibrant, diverse community and show others how greet Freehold really is," he said.
newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/0307/Front_page/118.html