The week started soggy, but by mid-day had dried off and brightened up. Spent the waning days of the weekend yesterday researching University contacts: Deans of Students; counselors; social clubs and others. Typed up a bunch of one-to-one emails asking for help in spreading the word about the No Halloween in the Castro campaign. Weekends are for "writing" emails; Monday mornings around 11am are for pushing "send." By mid-afternoon, had several responses from university contacts. NO ONE wants their friends, students or colleagues wandering into the miasma that has become the Castro on Halloween.
Also, fielded several interview requests, including a thoughtful query from "SF Access", the public access cable outlet on channel 29. Tomorrow at 8:30pm, I'll be on camera, talking about our "Home For Halloween" efforts. Ditto a request from "Playboy Radio" to hear about our efforts. Go figure!
Today, had a lengthy discussion with our friends at MUNI RE: their assistance in providing electronic signage and info at MTA stops. Also, finalized plans for the posters/flyers which will soon be in print, and in cafe windows and and on college campuses near you. But - the big news of the day: the video contest. Below - the news release announcing our "Why I'm staying home for Halloween" online video initiative.
Dedicated Website Highlights Abundant Alternatives to Halloween Gathering in the Castro
http://www.homeforhalloween.com/
Website will feature online video contest with $ 1000 cash prize to encourage local celebrations of Halloween throughout the Bay Area
15 October 2007 – San Francisco, CA: What are you doing for Halloween? The Home for Halloween website (http://www.homeforhalloween.com/) wants to know and wants you to tell us about it via online video!
“The main purpose of the Home for Halloween campaign and its website is to remind people throughout the Bay Area that the true spirit of this holiday is to be found celebrating in one’s own community,” said David Perry, coordinator for the HomeForHalloween effort, noting that this year there will be no official Halloween party in San Francisco’s Castro district. “Since the Castro will not be having a party, we want to see-and-hear about other people’s parties around the Bay.”
Videos that are submitted for the contest should be no more than one minute long, address the question of “Why I will be celebrating Halloween at home or in my home community this year,” and also include the URL http://www.homeforhalloween.com/ at some point in the video. A panel of youth judges will award three prizes: $1000 first prize, $500 second prize, and $250 third prize. To enter the contest, individuals submitting videos are asked to post their videos online to the hosting site of their choice (e.g. YouTube, Google Video, Blink, etc.) and email their video link to news@davidperry.com by Thursday, October 25, 2007.
The website and video contest are part of a multi-layered media campaign to discourage individuals who live outside of the San Francisco from coming into the Castro neighborhood the night of Halloween, while also encouraging San Francisco residents to either stay home on Halloween or go to a venue with Halloween activities outside of the Castro. The central feature of the website is a broad list of public activities taking place all around the Bay Area on Halloween evening, Wednesday, October 31. Additionally, the site’s “BooBlog” gives regular updates on the ongoing public safety/public awareness campaign.
“There are so many wonderful and safe events happening in all parts of San Francisco and surrounding cities that we thought there should be one central site where people can come to find out what is happening in their neighborhoods, share their perspectives about home-grown Halloween activities and tell us why Halloween in their home area will be special through the online video contest,” said Perry.
For more information on Home for Halloween go to http://www.homeforhalloween.com/
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Tomorrow morning -- another meeting with Department heads of the City's efforts to keep the Castro (and every neighborhood) safe on Halloween. How I wish that EVERYONE could sit in these meetings and see the humble, "no frills" nonsense of the people whose thankless task, day-in-and-day-out, is to provide for the public welfare.
more anon
