Meet the AIB Symposium in St. Louis

St. Louis has been selected as the site for the 2010 America in Bloom Symposium Awards Program. This national conference, which will take place Sept. 30 to Oct. 2 at the Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark, will draw hundreds of community leaders and active citizens from across the United States.

To introduce St. Louis-area communities to the America in Bloom program, there will be a special series of three free sessions on Friday morning, Sept. 30, including: “What Is America in Bloom?,” an overview of AIB; “What AIB Participation Does for My Town,” a panel of mayors and civic leaders discussing the program’s benefits; and “How to Get Started with AIB,” a panel discussion offering advice to first-time participants. To register for these sessions, call 614.487.1117. Attendees must pre-register for the complimentary sessions; space is limited.

The symposium is open to anyone interested in attending. Registration and cost information is available on the America in Bloom web site, www.americainbloom.org. Attending provides a great opportunity to learn more about topics regarding urban forestry, environmental improvement trends, community gardens, beautification of commercial areas, marketing of community heritage, and much more. Various packages are available, including a Friday-only option that includes breakfast and lunch, any three morning sessions, and the opportunity to hear Dr. Peter Raven’s keynote address, “Connecting a Botanical Institution with the Community.”

Anna Ball, president of Ball Horticultural Co., will present the Saturday keynote address, “The Power of Plants: Opportunities for Community Quality of Life.” The two-day symposium will feature 18 educational sessions and three themed tours of the St. Louis area.

The event will culminate with the presentation of national awards for participating towns scoring highest in evaluations that include community involvement, tidiness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, environmental awareness, turf and groundcovers, landscape, and floral displays.

For more information, visit www.americainbloom.org.