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FOBIA Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium
To: Board of Directors, Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium From: Sandra A. Novacek Subject: Report on Ballot Question Committee for Reopening Belle Isle Aquarium Date: August 28, 2005
This report describes the “who, what, when, where and why” of the formation of the Committee for Reopening the Belle Isle Aquarium.
On July 6, 2005 I was advised by a Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium volunteer that he had been informed by his state representative of a ballot issue for the Belle Isle Aquarium that was to appear on the August 2, 2005 Detroit primary election ballot. I soon found out that no one else from FOBIA was aware of the Aquarium ballot issue. I then contacted the City of Detroit, Department of Elections and obtained confirmation and wording of the advisory ballot, but at that point couldn’t get information on how the issue got on the ballot – by citizen petition? council resolution, etc.?
After more research a Department of Elections staff person informed me that the advisory question was placed on the ballot unanimously through a City of Detroit Council resolution and faxed me documentation from the “Journal of the Detroit City Council,” May 18, 2005, almost six weeks after the Aquarium had closed.
I was very concerned, because I figured if our FOBIA group (which was so closely involved with the Aquarium and the City Council) didn’t know about this ballot issue and the issue hadn’t been covered in the media, then the citizens of Detroit were likely to know nothing about the Aquarium ballot! In addition, the actual ballot form had the Aquarium issue on the back of the ballot and there was concern that voters may ignore it after having reviewed 120+ City Council candidates! With less than four weeks until the election many of us felt it was essential to unite with our Core FOBIA volunteers and do our best to publicize the Aquarium ballot.
When there was reluctance to promote the ballot in the name of FOBIA, I did research on the formation of a ballot question committee and asked Regina Kuper if she would form such a committee with me. We formed the committee on July 15, 2005, opened our checking account on July 16, 2005 and filed the paperwork for the committee with the Wayne County Clerk’s office on July 20, 2005. We were now down to 18 days before the election for our campaign.
We determined that we would target citizens likely to vote and likely to be in favor of the Aquarium. Targeted areas were 12 historic district neighborhoods, Northwest Detroit, Northeast Detroit, Southeast Detroit (at Grosse Pointe border) and Midtown. We set a budget and fundraising goal of $1,000 and did the following:
· Discussed campaign strategy with FOBIA core and board and Detroit Historic Neighborhoods Coalition · Contacted media contacts which resulted in article by Judy Lin, “Detroit News”; mention of ballot in column by Betty DeRamus, “Detroit News” · Radio Interview on WJR (Murray Gula’s show), WWJ · Two ½ page ads of “Gramps” placed in the “Detroit Monitor,” July 21, July 28 · Radio PSA prepared and distributed · TV Interview on WDIV · Volunteers stationed at polling sites on election day to talk to voters, distribute information, etc. · T-shirts distributed at polls in northwest Detroit on election day · 300 posters printed and posted in strategic neighborhoods · Factual information placed on FOBIA website · Factual and promotional information placed on SaneDetroit.com · Electronic flyers sent to list-servs, etc.: Friends of Book Cadillac, Midtown Alliance, Preservation Wayne, Detroit Historic Neighborhoods Coalition · 20,000 flyers printed - Distributed in 12 historic neighborhoods with assistance of Detroit Historic Neighborhoods Coalition - Distributed at strategic precincts on election day - Distributed at events, e.g. Sharon McPhail event, Hansen Clarke rally, etc.
We raised $999, paid all of our bills and are retaining the minimum balance in our checking account. We thank the Board of the Friends of Belle Isle Aquarium for your generous donation of $390.00.* It paid for one of our newspaper ads and some flyers. It was greatly appreciated!
Though we can’t take complete credit, the Friends for Reopening Belle Isle Aquarium and our volunteers** believe we helped to ensure a victory for the Belle Isle Aquarium Advisory Ballot with the result being:
Yes 110,615 88% No 15,093 12%
We received many positive comments and thanks from voters at the polls on election day. Now it is important for us to determine how that dazzling election result can be used for the benefit of our Aquarium.
*You offered $500.00, but we only needed $390.00.
**Cheryl Anderson-Small Lynne Bieniek Jennifer Boardman Michael Bradley Joann Jackson Joe Cottone Joe Derek Stephen Goodfellow Murray Gula Scott Kukan Regina Kuper Peter Malcolmson Sandra Novacek Vance Patrick Judith Pensyl Kim Schroeder Karen Twomey
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