Attached is a sample press release, the type of document you will want to create and distribute to announce your newly built or recently renovated boat launching facility. You’ll need to answer specific questions in your press release, namely: • Who? • What? • When? • Where? • Why? • How? Within the answers to these questions you should address the theme for your press release; one idea is to focus on an event at your facility, such as a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The attached sample press release focuses on this theme. Your press release will announce your accomplishment to those who may benefit from its construction. It also will serve as a vehicle to promote boat launching facilities that are constructed with public funding. Those who attend your ribbon-cutting ceremony may appreciate having their name in the public eye. Because those who attend such events often have a hand in securing the funding necessary to complete such projects, it also will help ensure such funding is available for future projects. Plan to make available artwork – such as a photograph, slide or high-quality digital image – of your boat launching site; it is not necessary to include it with press release distribution as long as it is stated on the press release that it is available. One professional-quality image of a new launch site should be sufficient while before and after images work well for a rehabbed launch site. Review the SOBA Boating Access Promotion Media Package document Spread the Word to help you decide to whom you should send your press release. It also includes some tips regarding press release distribution. The SOBA Boating Access Promotion Media Package document Publicizing Your Accomplishment explores ideas for publicizing your new or renovated boat launching facility. The suggestions are designed for you to implement or to use as a starting point for a publicizing effort unique to your accomplishment. ___________________________________________________________ [use your letterhead] [insert date] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [include name, title, affiliation, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address] Ribbon-cutting Ceremony to Celebrate [name of boat launching facility] [State department name] has invited [name of elected official] to attend its ribbon-cutting ceremony on [date] [CITY, STATE]—[State department name] is pleased to announce that it will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its [newly constructed/recently renovated] boat launching facility [name of boat launching facility] onsite at [hour] on [date]. “We’re happy to introduce our latest accomplishment to both the boating and angling public and those who helped bring this project to fruition,” said [spokesperson’s name and title]. “The ribbon-cutting ceremony for [name of boat launching facility] marks the launch of a new era of boating in [city name].” [Name of elected official], [elected official’s significance to the boat launching site], is scheduled to be on hand to offer a few remarks regarding [name of boat launching facility] and to assist in the ribbon-cutting. “We’re delighted [name of elected official] has agreed to join our celebration. Our dream of [constructing/greatly improving] this facility was made possible in part by [him/her],” said [your spokesperson’s name]. [Offer specifics on your boat launching facility, such as how many ramps it has; how many docks it has; what type and how much parking is available; and other details, such as amenities it offers, final cost of the project and public funding used. If the launching site has undergone renovations, include before and after facts.] [Include details on the ribbon-cutting ceremony, such as the names and affiliations of other invited guests, what will take place at the ceremony, and other details.] [Insert other specifics regarding your boat launching facility, such as its significance to the community and waters it will serve, any interesting historical facts related to the site, or other relevant details]. [Name of boat launching facility] will be part of a searchable national database of boat launching facilities maintained by the States Organization for Boating Access (SOBA) (www.sobaus.org) and the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) (www.rbff.org). ### (Note: Artwork is available upon request.)