Art hits Asbury Park’s streets – and a car – during the Day of Demos

ASBURY PARK – Cookman Street became a canvas for artists from around the country Saturday – or, more specifically, a Toyota Scion parked on Cookman Street.

Don’t worry, they weren’t vandalizing some unsuspecting shopper’s car, it was part of the Day of Demos, part of the Third Annual Artist Outreach Program.

Aspiring artists were treated to eight interactive demonstration tables staffed by professional artists from throughout North America, who taught their media and methods.

“It is important for us to bring it to the community,” James Leslie, one of the event’s coordinators, said. “A lot of people think art is static, in a studio somewhere, but it really isn’t.”

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The event was sponsored by arts supplies companies Winsor Newton and Liquitex. Leslie, of Asbury Park, is the North American artist-in-residence for the companies.

“If you have to go see art in a gallery, you’re always wondering if you need an invitation, if you need to dress up,” Leslie said. “People have a preconceived notion that artists are reclusive, but it is really the exact opposite.”

The event drew an international attendee, Becca Pelly-Fry, Winsor Newton’s global artist-in-residence.

“Art is supposed to break down barriers,” Pelly-Fry said. “That is why events like this are important, they bring art out to the public.”

Attendees rotated between the demonstration tables learning techniques, then moved onto the Toyota Scion to try them out.

“It’s really just to have fun and share,” Ana Simson, a demonstrator from California, said. “What a lot of people might not know about artists is that we aren’t just people who sit inside a studio all day, we’re out in the community.”

The sharing isn’t just between artists and the community – the Artist Outreach Program also promotes education and inspiration between its artists.

“It provides a chance for us to get together and share ideas,” Marla Morrison, of Dallas, Texas, said. “We’re also sharing our teaching skills with each other.”

Towards the end of the event, the car became a bouquet of colors and techniques, with abstract figures, graffiti-style writing, landscapes and portraits appearing on its doors, lights, wheels and windows.

Caitly Balthazar, of Asbury Park, painted eyes onto the car’s headlights.

“Cars always look like people,” Balthazar said. “It was a fun thing for everyone to interact and do – all day it has been transforming, we have faces, mermaids, names, skulls and aliens.”

This is the second year the Day of Demos has taken place, growing from a series of 15-minute demonstrations indoors to a more interactive event outside.

With Leslie’s residence centered in Asbury Park, the event is likely to repeat again next year, he said.

“I’m already thinking about what comes next, how to make it bigger,” Leslie said. “Maybe we can have locations around the city.”

Splash: Broadcast Event Photos from Attendees in Real-Time

Cvent Announces Second Annual Corporate Meetings Summit

Products and Services

By Matt Alderton
May 21, 2013

Meetings technology company Cvent will hold its second annual Corporate Meetings Summit June 5-7 in Orlando, it announced today.

Created for corporate meeting and travel executives, the three-day event will feature speakers from meeting executives who work at some of the world’s leading companies, including Craig Marciniak, senior business leader for corporate events at Visa; Issah Jouaneh, vice president and general manager at American Express; and Amy Harris, vice president of strategic meetings management at SunTrust.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to, yet again, gather some of the world’s most elite corporate meeting and event planners,” Cvent Vice President of Marketing Eric Eden said in a statement. “We have three times more attendees registered for the conference compared to last year. This increase in attendance is a testament to the success and efficacy of an event of this type that gives attendees the chance to focus on networking and sharing best practices with other planners.”

According to Cvent, the Corporate Meetings Summit is the only event of its kind to offer CMP credits for every session at the event: Attendees who take part in every session can earn 5.25 credit hours. Educational topics include event management best practices, the value of mobile apps at events, how to implement online surveys to achieve ROI and successful SMM strategies.

For more information about the event, visit Cvent’s website.

For a recap of last week’s top stories, check out MeetingNews Minute:

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Attendify Launches Mobile App Platform to Make Event Apps Easier to Develop

5/16/2013
Attendify recently launched a mobile app platform that makes it easier and more affordable to create fully customized, native apps for events. Using Attendify, conference and event planners can create a mobile event guide, or a powerful social app that helps attendees network more effectively.

Regardless of the package selected, Attendify offers something other custom app providers don’t: flat pricing with no hidden fees or sponsorship revenue sharing.

Many event planners investigate building a custom app, but drop the idea when they get a quote for well over $5,000, or are offered confusing revenue share offers that send a portion of the event’s sponsorship revenue to the app developer.

“We kept hearing the same thing from event planners, they wanted to know exactly what it would cost to get a mobile app built” says Attendify Co-Founder Michael Balyasny, “that’s why we created two simple packages with flat pricing and a straightforward list of what’s included. Event planners can create an app in minutes, and have it published in the App Store and Google Play within a few days” continues Michael.

Attendify has helped more than 300 conferences and events go mobile with one of two packages:

1. Guide App ($399/year) – replaces your printed event guide, saving time and money. The Guide App includes features such as a schedule, speaker and sponsor profiles, maps, and much more.

2. Social App (Beta) ($599/year) – features all the capabilities of the Guide App, but also allows attendees to create profiles, send messages to one another, share photos, and it gathers social content in a single activity feed.

Both packages include fully customized, native, iPhone and Andorid apps, as well as a HTML5 web app. Attendify is constantly improving their product with the goal of making the lives of event planners a little easier, and the event experience for attendees more productive. Recently the company rolled out a free content import service, which allows event planners to upload an Excel file, and Attendify’s content management team will take care of importing it into the app.

New features are added on a monthly basis and are always included for current and new clients.
Further information including interactive app demos can be found at www.attendify.com.

Contact:
jo@jnbevents.com

Attendify: Event Planners Can Now Build Event Apps for a Simple, Flat Price

We created two simple packages with flat pricing and a straightforward list of what’s included. Event planners can create an app in minutes, and have it published in the App Store and Google Play within a few days.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 06, 2013

Attendify recently launched a mobile app platform that makes it easier and more affordable to create fully customized, native apps for events. Using Attendify, conference and event planners can create a mobile event guide, or a powerful social app that helps attendees network more effectively. Regardless of the package selected, Attendify offers something other custom app providers don’t: flat pricing with no hidden fees or sponsorship revenue sharing.

Many event planners investigate building a custom app, but drop the idea when they get a quote for well over $5,000, or are offered confusing revenue share offers that send a portion of the event’s sponsorship revenue to the app developer.

“We kept hearing the same thing from event planners, they wanted to know exactly what it would cost to get a mobile app built” says Attendify Co-Founder Michael Balyasny, “that’s why we created two simple packages with flat pricing and a straightforward list of what’s included. Event planners can create an app in minutes, and have it published in the App Store and Google Play within a few days” continues Michael.

Attendify has helped more than 300 conferences and events go mobile with one of two packages:

1.    Guide App ($399/year) – replaces your printed event guide, saving time and money. The Guide App includes features such as a schedule, speaker and sponsor profiles, maps, and much more.

2.    Social App (Beta) ($599/year) – features all the capabilities of the Guide App, but also allows attendees to create profiles, send messages to one another, share photos, and it gathers social content in a single activity feed.

Both packages include fully customized, native, iPhone and Andorid apps, as well as a HTML5 web app. Attendify is constantly improving their product with the goal of making the lives of event planners a little easier, and the event experience for attendees more productive. Recently the company rolled out a free content import service, which allows event planners to upload an Excel file, and Attendify’s content management team will take care of importing it into the app.

New features are added on a monthly basis and are always included for current and new clients.

More Information: Further information including interactive app demos can be found at http://www.attendify.com.

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Rutland’s Loyalty Day draws a crowd

RUTLAND, Vt. -

Flags were flying and bands were marching as thousands gathered the streets of downtown Rutland Sunday afternoon.

The 50th Annual Loyalty Day Parade is held to honor the men and women who have served and continue to serve the country — a day filled with giving thanks to those present and remembering those who are not.

“It does make you proud to be an American,” said local veteran Ralph Nichols. “Proud to serve a country.”

The parade is sponsored by the local VFW chapter and members have been planning the event since early November. Coordinator Sam Gorruso says it is a day to show loyalty to all veterans. “So we try not to forget anyone. This of course covers Korea and World War. II and I’m not sure if there are any living members of VFW from World War I, but there will be Vietnam veterans and Korean veterans here today, and we honor all of them,” he said.

The two hour event was filled with music, fire and police departments from the area and many other organizations. And even a few surprises here and there.
Event coordinators say there is only one parade rule — no politics or campaigning allowed. The tradition has lasted for half of a century, which makes this parade one of the biggest and longest standing events in the state. “Rutland has been the one that has endured and has been the only one to continue — and other veteran organizations come to Rutland from throughout the state to participate in this particular day here in  Rutland,” Gorruso said.

And many attendees are loyal to the parade itself — like E.J. Willis — who set up hours before the event in the same spot she has sat for years. “This is probably our 6th or 7th year of attending the Loyalty Day Parade. We come to support our country, our troops, our community,” she said.

A day filled with supporting the red, white and blue.

Beyond Brochures

Event Production

By Alex Palmer
May 1, 2013

When the Destination Marketing Association
International (DMAI) held its annual conference in New Orleans,
the group worked closely with the local Convention and Visitors
Bureau as the event approached. The New Orleans CVB didn’t just
provide marketing and programming assistance, it also connected
with a partner destination marketing company to pull strings
and allow DMAI to add something really special to its event:
its very own parade through the city’s streets.

Instead of taking a bus from their hotel to the event, DMAI
attendees got a Mardi Gras party of floats and marching band,
leading them to a private reception at a highly regarded
antiques gallery. For a group of about 1,000 destination
marketers who had seen it all, the event offered them something
they would definitely remember after departing.

“Our aim is to expose them to all the attractions – the
museums, venues they may not know about, or what the locals
eat,” says Nikki Moon, vice president of convention sales for
the New Orleans CVB.

While DMAI knew to collaborate with the local convention and
visitors bureau (CVB) – after all, they are an association of
CVBs and destination marketing organizations (DMOs) – often,
meeting planners don’t even think to ask.

“Lots of times, planners think that CVBs are just about
brochures,” says Moon. “Newer planners, especially those from
the corporate side, may not know we provide so many
complementary services, and at no cost to them.”

Moon’s point is reflected in the recent “Global Planner 2013″
study by Successful Meetings’ sister publication Meetings
Conventions, which found that 48 percent of corporate
professionals use DMOs infrequently while an additional 16
percent say they do not use them at all. For association
planners, 34 percent use CVBs infrequently and 11 percent
saying they never use them.

In many cases, this is simply because planners are not aware of
how many services these marketing groups can provide – beyond
destination brochures and restaurant tips.”As planners, we know
they have experience and knowledge of the destination, but it
goes much deeper,” says Brad Weaber, executive vice president
of event services for meeting planning company SmithBucklin.
“They can really work as strategic advisors, not just offering
information on property rates, but sitting down with us to see
how to fulfill our own vision and mission.”

Here are just a few of the things that CVBs and DMOs can
provide that can have a major impact on your next meeting.

Tapping Into Digital Tools

Planners looking to get a bit more tech-savvy with their event
promotion, but who lack the experience or interest in using
digital tools, will find a helpful ally in a destination’s CVB
or DMO. Increasingly, these organizations are taking it upon
themselves to develop rich online offerings for visiting
groups, including apps, videos, and websites that planners can
use for promotional or educational purposes.

“Lots of groups don’t have a nice centralized website for their
events,” says Trevor Curtis, destination sales and services
specialist at Visit Fairfax, the DMO of Fairfax County, VA.

The organization creates customized webpages for groups that
are individually branded with the association or company’s
logo, and include extensive links to merchants and services in
the area, as well as basic information like directions and
transportation details.

“In addition to building attendance, it allows that delegate to
say, ‘it looks like a great place – maybe I’ll bring my family
there another time,’” says Todd Garofano, president of Saratoga
Convention and Tourism Bureau, in Saratoga Springs, NY, which
also offers customized landing pages.

Recently, Visit Fairfax has expanded this concept into a mobile
application, which attendees can download to access destination
information, including coupons and discounts, from their
smartphones throughout the event itself. This also presents an
added green benefit: Instead of creating boxes of supplemental
material for every meeting group, Visit Fairfax has taken to
providing groups with a stack of tear-away cards with details
on the app and a QR code that attendees can scan to directly
download it to their smartphones.

Visit Denver has recently begun offering videos that groups can
customize specifically for their event, to use in any
promotions, or to send out to attendees.

“We take location suggestions and can even get the mayor
involved in the videos,” says Deborah Park, associate director
of communications for Visit Denver.

Along the same lines, Visit Orlando has recently launched a
library of short educational videos to demonstrate different
aspects of the destination to planners. Tammi Runzler, senior
vice president of sales and services at Visit Orlando,
emphasizes that the videos are meant more as informational
tools than marketing ones.

“These videos allow the planners to have visual aids when they
might need to gain further understanding of a feature of our
destination,” says Runzler.

The tools have proved to be especially valuable to attendees.
“Visit Orlando is a strategic partner of PennWell that provides
invaluable assistance in developing our long-term goals for the
Orlando market,” says Lisa Gasaway, director of event
operations for PennWell Corporation, a publishing firm. “They
go above and beyond, assisting not just us but also our
exhibitors and attendees on all of their needs.”

Elevating the Event

While CVBs can strengthen the digital offerings of a meeting,
they can also help make it feel like something much more than
just a company event. For example, by working with local
businesses to post signage welcoming attendees and encouraging
local merchants to post their own promotions, CVBs can make it
truly a community experience.

“It tells the attendee that the business appreciates them being
here, so they know they will see a happy face when they walk
in,” says Garofano of the Saratoga CVB.

These efforts have helped Saratoga to attract the SEMI Advanced
Semiconductor Manufacturing Conference for three years in a
row. The group of about 250 executives from around world were
drawn to the Saratoga area partly because a new semiconductor
manufacturing plant was opened about 20 minutes outside the
city. But they certainly faced competition.

“They came here for the first time two years ago, and we were
up against Boston, Washington D.C., and other first-tier
cities,” says Garofano. “Our more personal approach set us
apart.”

Because DMOs and CVBs are so connected to the rest of the
community, in some cases they can even organize complementary
events to stoke attendance and boost the conference’s
offerings.

For example, Denver holds the annual Great American Beer
Festival, which draws a growing number of visitors to the
region each year. Visit Denver, the area’s DMO, has worked with
a number of the local merchants to expand the program
offerings. It has been instrumental in expanding the event into
a massive nine-day festival.

“We set up ‘Meet the Brewer’ nights and events where they would
tap a rare keg for attendees to share,” says Rich Grant,
communications director for Visit Denver, adding that last year
it arranged for an event where the mayor brewed a beer, and
even scrubbed one of the tanks.

Visit Denver took a similar approach once it started hosting
the SIA Snow Show, the world’s largest snow sports trade show.

“We created the Mile High SnowFest around it,” says Grant.
“There’s an art show where skis and snowboards are set up with
fabulous art on them, and specials are offered at the bars,
which if you came in with a delegate badge you would be
qualified for.”

Tapping the right local artists to enhance an event is another
way CVBs are often able to elevate a program. For the Georgia
Governor’s Tourism Conference, the Macon-Bibb County CVB
commissioned a local artist to create a special design for the
Governor’s conference award.

“It is a stained-glass plaque with the design of one of our
local museums, the Tubman African American Museum,” says
Valerie Bradley, communications manager of the Macon-Bibb
County CVB. “We also worked with a local caterer who designed
the finale dinner menu with items from all Georgia-area
farmers.”

Expert Suggestions

While CVBs can provide an introduction to all that a
destination offers, sometimes they are also able to help by
taking the opposite approach, simplifying choices and helping a
meeting planner decide from an overwhelming number of options.
That was the surprising difficulty that the National Soccer
Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) found itself in last
year when it held its annual conference in Kansas City, MO.

The gathering brings together about 10,000 coaches, exhibitors,
honorees, and other special guests for a range of activities
including education sessions, a tradeshow, and awards for the
year’s top 25 teams and All-American athletes. But in putting
together such a huge gathering, the event’s planners had an
unusual challenge.

“In Kansas City, you can pick your own catering company in the
convention center instead of them supplying it like they do in
other places,” says Geoff Vandeusen, director of events for the
NSCAA.

With an overwhelming number of choices available, the group
turned to the Kansas City Convention Visitors Association
(KCCVA), which was able to offer the group a few specific
recommendations on caterers. Pleased with the options they
suggested, the NSCAA worked with them to develop the
entertainment well.

“We had a couple of our leaders in the association retire, so
[KCCVA] secured a barbershop quartet that customized the songs
for the retirees, which was a really great touch,” says
Vandeusen.

CVBs can also provide insider knowledge about what dates or
time frames work best for groups of various sizes, and which
periods to avoid. For example, a smaller group may not want to
overlap if a major company is holding its event the same week,
since it will have fewer resources at the destination.

CVBs can even offer diversions for the spouses or families who
join on a group meeting when the attendees are focusing on
business. The Albany Convention Visitors Bureau in
Albany, GA, arranges this type of “spouse itinerary.”

“We will organize the day and travel with them – helping them
hit all the local hot spots,” says Jenny Collins, manager of
marketing and communications for the Albany CVB. She gives the
example of a recent hunting classic where the spouses of
attendees who were not interested in hunting joined in a safari
ride and behind-the-scenes tour of the Albany Zoo.Demonstrating
Impact

After the event, the marketing organization’s work often
continues. For the NSCAA conference, the Kansas City, MO
Convention Visitors Association nominated the group for a
Hometown Hero Award, which recognizes organizations that make
the greatest impact on the local community. They won the award
for the wide-ranging business benefits their event brought to
the Kansas City area.

“It was presented to us by the mayor and covered in the local
press,” says Vandeusen, adding that the association may never
have thought to apply if not for the KCCVA.

This kind of recognition does is more than just a nice trophy
to decorate an office – it can offer real business value for
future meetings.”We as meeting professionals want to know what
kind of economic impact we are having in a destination,” says
SmithBucklin’s Weaber. “We can try to figure that out on our
own, but it’s much easier to go through a destination marketing
team, and then leverage the information in negotiations to show
what kind of business our group will bring.” SM Questions or
comments? Email alex@alexpalmerwrites.com

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Attendify Launches to Make Event Apps more Social and Affordable

Attendify’s app builder and social apps

For years, custom event apps have been a big-ticket item that only larger events could afford. Attendify changes that by giving event planners simple tools to create apps themselves in as little as 30 minutes, with prices starting at $399.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 03, 2013

When KitApps launched in June 2012, the company’s plan was to help small business owners reach an increasingly mobile customer base with turn-key app solutions. The event industry was one of many KitApps targeted, but after helping hundreds of conferences, expos and festivals go mobile, the company decided to redesign and rebrand as Attendify to focus on events.

Attendify is also announcing the beta release of their new Social App, which allows event planners to create a mobile social network that’s unique to their event, complete with a timeline, profiles, private messaging, photo sharing and other event specific features.

For years, custom event apps have been a big-ticket item that only larger events could afford. Attendify changes that by giving event planners simple tools to create apps themselves in as little as 30 minutes, with prices starting at $399. Customized, branded event apps are now more accessible than ever. Attendify’s app platform offers a fully guided, step-by-step process for creating one of two white-labeled apps:

1. Guide App ($399/year) – replaces your printed event guide, saving time and money. The Guide App includes features such as a schedule, speaker and sponsor profiles, maps, and much more.

2. Social App (Beta) ($599/year) – features all the capabilities of the Guide App, but also allows attendees to create profiles, send messages, share photos, and it gathers social content in a single activity feed. Both apps include iPhone, Android and Web App versions.

Attendify’s new social app makes it easier for event planners to connect with attendees:

• An Event-Specific Social Network: A timeline pulls in all social content created at the event into a single feed. Attendees read through their timeline just like they would their Facebook or Twitter accounts, and can socially engage with one other via direct message without leaving the app.
• Attendees, Sponsors, and Exhibitors can be Featured: Attendees create their own profiles and set an objective such as “looking for business partnerships.” This feature gives attendees a face and a voice at the event, whether it is 50 or 5,000 people, everyone can be seen and heard. It also gives planners a place to feature sponsors and exhibitors, creating added value for their participation.
• Direct Messaging: Attendees (and planners!) can send public and private messages to one another. Planners and producers can announce schedule changes or reminders while attendees can break the ice and set up meetings. No more last-minute flyer printing!
• Share More than Just Words: Attendees can take and share photos with other attendees right within the app. Planners can give previews of upcoming events or feature exhibitors with instant access to every attendee.

…and that’s just the beginning. Attendify is planning to roll out more features in the coming months.

Further information including interactive app demos can be found at http://attendify.com

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Total Event Resources’ Lauren Bettcher Named Best Up and Coming Special …

3/21/2013

Total Event Resources, a leading Chicago meeting and event planning company, is proud to announce that program manager Lauren Bettcher has been named Best Up and Coming Special Event Planner by Illinois Meetings + Events magazine. Celebrating the finest of the meetings and events industry with its annual Readers’ Choice Best of Awards, every single winner in the annual Readers’ Choice Best of Award campaign is hand-picked by the meeting planners, event planners and suppliers who read Illinois Meetings + Events magazine. Lauren is part of the 8th Annual Illinois Meetings + Events 2012 Hall of Famers.

“It’s such an honor to have been nominated and recognized,” said Lauren Bettcher, Total Event Resources program manager. “This award represents my passion and drive and the path I’m on for success. The fact that I’m ‘up and coming’ means I have countless opportunities ahead to garner knowledge and strengthen relationships within the industry.”

A graduate of Grand Valley State University, Lauren Bettcher majored in hospitality and tourism management. At Total Event Resources, Lauren focuses on projects that require creative thinking and alternative perspectives. She is successful at developing corporate programs and events that encompass everything from large-scale national multi-day conferences with high levels of engagement and logistics to intimate corporate dinners or a holiday special event. Kathy Miller, owner and president of Total Event Resources, says “Lauren approaches each event with an enthusiasm aimed at achieving greatness and fun for clients, planners and attendees alike.”

The ambitious 26 year old says one of her favorite parts of her job at Total Event Resources is the time she spends with her growing list of clients. “If we can grab lunch, talk about the event, tie in some personal stories, laugh a bit and end with some action items”, she says. “I’ll walk away feeling absolutely comfortable in our mutually beneficial professional relationship.”

The Best of Awards are designed to honor the cream of the crop in the regional meetings and events industry. The awards are a celebration of the hard work and above-and-beyond service of suppliers who help planners be at the top of their game. The winners will be recognized in the Spring 2013 issue of the magazine.

About Total Event Resources
Total Event Resources, a leading Chicago meeting and event planning company, produces innovative events for Fortune 1000 companies, major trade associations and not-for-profit organizations. Recognized as a PepsiCo Supplier of the Year 2011 and a certified Woman Owned Business, Total Event Resources has been producing award-winning events around the world since 1995.

Total Event Resources, WINNER! 2012 NICE Awards – Best Fund Raiser/Non Profit Event over $75,000 and Best Corporate Event under $25,000. The company has also been recognized with multiple ISES Esprit Awards, Gala Awards, and the Business Ledger Newspaper Annual Award for Business Excellence in the Hospitality Category. For more information go to www.total-event.com.

Contact:
news@exhibitoronline.com

Ten Bartenders Facing Off in ‘Mixologist Mash-up’

If Wicker Park and Bucktown were crafted into a drink, what would it taste like?

That’s exactly what event coordinators want participants in this year’s Mixologist Mash-up to answer. Sponsored by the Wicker Park and Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, the March 28 event’s tag line is the “Drink of Wicker Park Bucktown”. It seeks to showcase the area’s nightlife and mixology talents, according to the event invitation.

READ: Stiff Competition: Deadline Looms for Mixologist Showdown

Chamber Executive Director Adam Burck said via e-mail earlier this year that the idea for the mash-up emerged during a brainstorming session regarding events that could highlight the strengths of the area’s businesses.

“One idea we discussed was creating a drink of Wicker Park Bucktown, so I pitched the idea of a mixologist competition,” Burck said. “The marketing committee loved the idea and we worked together to craft the first year’s event. It was very well received by the attendees and the participating bars, so we knew we had a winner of an idea.”

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This year marks the second for the showdown, he said. Ten bartenders from the following bars and restaurants have thrown their hats in the ring: Antique Taco, Club Lucky, Dolphin, Fatpour Tap Works, Lottie’s Pub, Prasino, Red Door Kitchen Bar, The Boundary, The Savoy and Wicker Park Tavern.

The ideal cocktail will “capture the unique spirit and palette of Wicker Park and Bucktown residents,” coordinators said. Attendees will be able to try drinks from all of the participating mixologists, munch on appetizers and dance to jams from DJ Sean Vallely.

Follow this link to purchase tickets to this year’s mash-up.

Follow Bucktown-Wicker Park Patch on Facebook!