Slow Churn win?! I hope.
Here's my ice cream contest entry for this year:
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I remember when I first won that Ice Cream Salute, in a mostly-rental neighborhood a bit east of where I live now. It felt like pulling teeth going door-to-door, encouraging people to eat some tasty Fudge Tracks with their family, friends, and neighbors. People'd tell me, “I'll think about it”, and then I'd never hear from them again. I'd end up with a small turnout, but in the end, it could have been better.
Last year, after buying my house and hosting a Salute in a new neighborhood, I was amazed at the difference. This new neighborhood is mostly permanent homeowners rather than renters, which I think somehow meant I didn't have to prod so much for positive turnout.
I met tons of people I'd never seen before: a firefighter from across the street, a guy who works at the local news station next door, and a disabled woman who brought her two super-adorable blonde girls along for some Edy's tasty-ness. One neighbor told me how happy she was that the community could get together officially for once, and brought her husband and a gift of lily seeds (originated from Thomas Jefferson's estate, she says; how cool is that?!). There was tons of sharing stories and a neighbor telling me they'd always looked for us newbie-neighbors on the front porch to say hi, with no luck.
The point is this: Last year's Neighborhood Salute brought us together and made me realize just how warm and friendly my new neighborhood really is. I'd love to recreate that moment in 2009. I hope that I get the opportunity to do that!
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COME ON, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW GO GO GO!
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I remember when I first won that Ice Cream Salute, in a mostly-rental neighborhood a bit east of where I live now. It felt like pulling teeth going door-to-door, encouraging people to eat some tasty Fudge Tracks with their family, friends, and neighbors. People'd tell me, “I'll think about it”, and then I'd never hear from them again. I'd end up with a small turnout, but in the end, it could have been better.
Last year, after buying my house and hosting a Salute in a new neighborhood, I was amazed at the difference. This new neighborhood is mostly permanent homeowners rather than renters, which I think somehow meant I didn't have to prod so much for positive turnout.
I met tons of people I'd never seen before: a firefighter from across the street, a guy who works at the local news station next door, and a disabled woman who brought her two super-adorable blonde girls along for some Edy's tasty-ness. One neighbor told me how happy she was that the community could get together officially for once, and brought her husband and a gift of lily seeds (originated from Thomas Jefferson's estate, she says; how cool is that?!). There was tons of sharing stories and a neighbor telling me they'd always looked for us newbie-neighbors on the front porch to say hi, with no luck.
The point is this: Last year's Neighborhood Salute brought us together and made me realize just how warm and friendly my new neighborhood really is. I'd love to recreate that moment in 2009. I hope that I get the opportunity to do that!
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COME ON, FOUR YEARS IN A ROW GO GO GO!