Gary Stevens, Fair St. Louis.
Each year, the several-day event at the Gateway Arch around July 4th, attracts millions of visitors. Other than a small paid staff, the event is put on primarily by volunteers, some of whom work a few hours and some who work for 10 months. Gary usually draws on 20-30 volunteers to assist with area media during the days of the event; however, to ensure focus to the Fair's messages, just three or four individuals were prepared as spokespeople. To enable those spokespeople to do other jobs related to the Fair, Gary organized interview sessions of three hours each day leading up to the event. Gary related that the Fair has worked hard the last several years to address two issues: diversity and inclusiveness, and security. To build on the 1995 change of the event's name from VP Fair to Fair St. Louis, Gary has been very active in community outreach to increase minority involvement in the event in areas ranging from volunteer recruitment to media sponsorship. Also, with the issue of security on everyone's mind, Gary has concentrated on getting out the message that we need to enjoy the Fair and "live our lives", including an editorial written by Police Chief Mokwa. The Fair also placed an ad in the St. Louis Post Dispatch recommending Fair goers thank the men and women in uniform. Gary closed with a reminder: "Make plans to visit the Fair July 3, 4, 5!"

Mac Bradley, Mardi Gras (St. Louis)
Among his many titles, along with being a VP at the Vandiver Group, Mac Bradley has the interesting title of Information Minister for Mardi Gras, Inc., producers of fabled Soulard Mardi Gras, one of the largest Carnival celebrations in the world. If the title doesn't give you an idea that the several-day event, which happens just before the Christian celebration of Lent each year, is fun-centered then you're missing something. While being all business, in terms of who and who does not speak for Mardi Gras, Bradley noted that the producers make great efforts to not only be on the side of but to make friends with St. Louis policemen. The latter group has to prepare for three separate parades that aren't always family-oriented. One of the unusual aspects of this year's event was that there was a forecast of snow for each of the three parades. A "snow advisory" to area meterolgists got the word out that the parades were still on and to "come on down." Here's Mac's presentation Mardi Gras St. Louis in power point (773K).