NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 1999

BOND VIDEO RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL ATTENTION

CARY, NC – The video that touched one local community also made its mark on an international audience. The Town of Cary has received the Award of Excellence from the international City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) for its 1999 Cary Community Bonds information video in the 11^th Annual Savvy Awards Competition. The Savvy Awards recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public sector marketing, and citizen-government relationships. Entries are judged on overall creativity, quality of content, design and production, and budget. The Award of Excellence was announced on September 24, 1999 at the 3CMA Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon.

"We’re very happy that this project has received such recognition," said Cary’s Public Information Officer Susan Moran. "Cary is committed to the highest level of citizen understanding of and participation in local government, and communications efforts such as the bond video play a critical role in carrying out this commitment." The Cary Community Bonds video, produced at a cost of $5,000, was written and produced by Moran, videotaped and edited by Jake Postma Productions of Greenville, NC, and narrated by Cary resident Marla Dorrel.

The video was one part of a multifaceted educational effort mounted by the Town for February’s $149 million vote. Cary’s information effort also included the development of a special section devoted to the issues on the Town of Cary's website as well as informational handouts, direct-mail postcards, and staff presentations to community groups.

The February 2^nd Cary Community Bond Referendum included Water System Bonds, Streets and Sidewalks Bonds, Parks and Recreations Bonds, and Swim Center Bonds. Since voter turnout in previous Cary bond referenda has been low, the information campaign was designed to not only inform citizens about the bond issues but also to motivate an increased voter turnout. Nearly 13,000 voters went to the polls on February 2^nd, an increase of over 25%, approving the water, street and sidewalk and parks and recreation bonds, a total of $139 million.

Founded in 1988, 3CMA provides its over 500 city and county members with information and training to develop better communications with their citizens.

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