Sustainability

2011 Waters of Whitewater:  Public Service Announcement Video Contest

"What can an individual do to protect local and world waterways?"

University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Public Service Video Contest
Sponsored by the Rock River Stormwater Group

Introduction

Water that falls onto the roofs of local college dorms runs into a local stream, into the Rock River, into the Mississippi River, to the Gulf of Mexico. We are connected to the entire world through our waters.

To celebrate the importance and encourage protection of these local waters, the Rock River Stormwater Group invites all students at UWW to contribute their creative, informative Public Service Announcement (PSA). These short, 2-3 minute videos should be informative and instructional on something people, young adults in particular, can do in their community to protect and conserve water. Topics could include building rain gardens, natural lawn care, reducing sources of storm water pollution, water conservation or other water topics. More sources of information about these topics and a selection of video topic ideas can be found below.

The grand prize winner will receive a Flip handheld camera and may have their video shown on campus and on community websites. Runners up will receive gift cards to local shops and restaurants.

Entries will be accepted from October 3 to November 6, 2011, and the last day to vote on videos is November 17, 2011 at 5 PM.  Winners will be announced November 18, 2011.

Winners will be selected based on the total number of "likes" of the video when it is posted to YouTube via the Sustainability at UW-Whitewater YouTube channel.  Cameras can be rented from Andersen Library. Entry form and instructions can be found below.

Questions? Call or email Wes Enterline at 472-6709 or Rebecca Dill at 773-496-4307.  Please review the instructions and rules below.

Instructions

So how do you enter this contest?  It's simple!

Individuals should submit the contest entry form (Word DOC) to sustainability@uww.edu.  A response will be provided to each entry with instructions on how to most easily transmit the video file to be posted to the Sustainability at UW-Whitewater YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/uwwsustainability).  You will get the YouTube link to your video to promote it once it is uploaded.  Please no DVD and/or VHS submissions.  We're keeping it all electronic in a file format compatible with YouTube.

Once your video is online, time to start promoting it and get people to vote on it by "liking" it on YouTube.  "LIKES" FROM FACEBOOK DO NOT COUNT!  Make sure you let people know that they need to visit the actual YouTube site to "like" the video since there isn't a reliable way to track it on Facebook posts.  Your video will also be posted to the Sustainability at UW-Whitewater Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/uwwsustainability) and the Facebook Event page for this contest to help publicize it.  Remember, only "likes" registered on YouTube will be considered official votes.  "Dislikes" on YouTube will not be considered part of the voting process.

The last day to submit a video is November 6, 2011.  The last day to vote on videos is November 17, 2011.  Winners will be announced November 18, 2011.

Rules

  • Contestants must be University of Wisconsin-Whitewater students and at least 18 years old.
  • Videos can be completed by individuals or groups; however, the video must not exceed the time limit of three minutes.
  • Authors should not use copyrighted material or videotape individuals without prior knowledge and consent.
  • Obscene, vulgar or offensive videos will be disqualified. Videos must be viewable for all ages to be eligible to win.
  • All videos become property of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and Rock River Stormwater Group and may be displayed at their discretion for promotional and educational purposes with credit given to those who created the video.
  • Students must fill out the 2011 Waters of Whitewater Public Service Video Contest Form and attach it with each individual video submitted.

Brainstorming!

Start your own brainstorming by visiting these trusted sites:

http://www.cleanwaterbrightfuture.org/
http://www.rockrivercoalition.org/
http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/urban.cfm
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=min_measure&min_measure_id=1

However, we also have some ideas that you can use for your PSA but you can find your own water protection topic as well. Be informative but also be creative, be funny, be yourself.

Using less fertilizer and pesticides
Other "green" lawn practices
Conserving water on lawns
Conserving water in the home
Dog waste disposal
Chemical waste disposal
Importance of rain gardens
Using native plants
Installing a rain barrel
No dumping in storm drains
Encouraging stream clean ups
Reporting illegal dumping

To see some example PSAs, visit the EPA site: http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/toolbox/TVcatalog.htm.