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<br />. <br /> <br />:;~. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />I ConunUEUcationsStrategy <br /> <br />Barnstorming: Using Events to Involve the Public <br /> <br />The following are the kinds of ideas we will generate for encouraging public involvement <br />as NCDA conducts the MIS. Not only will events encourage excellent turnout, they will <br />create an excitement around the idea of bringing commuter rail to the Northstar Corridor. <br /> <br />· TA MOVING BRIEFING. Use a classic railroad car or a new, state-of-the-art <br />commuter rail car to take a group of business leaders along the proposed commuter <br />line from St. Cloud to Minneapolis. Along the way NCDA spokespeople could offer <br />a briefing about the project and get input from the business representatives. We could <br />ask these opinion leaders to fill out short questionnaires, asking them what questions <br />they have, what they think needs to be done to succeed. Other special events could be <br />created to target key audiences. Another ride could be organized for educators and <br />planners. A public event could be created by taking families on a ride of the entire <br />track or a portion of it. We would tailor the briefing to offer fun facts for family day, <br />more information on planning for educators and developers. <br /> <br />· r RAn.. CAR DrSPLA YS. Have a railroad car visit each community along the corridor. <br />Again, this could be a historic trolley or a new, state-of-the art commuter rail car. Set <br />up special displays with drawings of potential station sites. Partner with the <br />Minnesota Transportation Museum to include history exhibits (it was not that long <br />ago that most of us did travel by rail) and enlist the museum's wonderful <br />engineers/guides to talk about rail travel in the old days. These exhibits would be <br />targeted to draw families on a Saturday afternoon. A representative from NCDA <br />would be on hand to answer questions and solicit input from the public. <br /> <br />· (COUNTY FAIRS. Set up booths at county fairs and other summer community <br />events. At each booth, create an eye-catching display that asks people what they think <br />about the project. We could set up a laptop computer hooked up to the Internet that <br />lets people e-mail their responses in - this would be more fun than simply filling out <br />a survey with paper and pencil. <br /> <br />6 Shandwick International <br /> <br />3.23.99 <br />