Archive | 10:10 am

‘Community in Bloom’ Ambassador Award & Friends

10 Sep

Just last week, I have recently been informed by the Community in Bloom (CIB) of the National Parks Board that they have officially launched two new initiatives designed specially for the avid gardeners of Singapore, namely, the ‘CIB Ambassador Award’ and the ‘CIB Friends’ scheme.

I find the debut of the ‘CIB Ambassador Award’ and the ‘CIB Friends’ scheme very timely. The number of plant-lovers and gardening enthusiasts have been on the rise with the start of the CIB programme that allows Singaporeans to garden as a collective group in the green spaces around their homes and organisations.

Hence, the ‘CIB Ambassador Award’ and the ‘CIB Friends’ scheme will serve as excellent ways to recognise those who have contributed the promotion of gardening to Singaporeans from all walks of life.

 

The ‘Community in Bloom’ Ambassador Award

(http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=118&Itemid=85)

Quoting from the CIB website, the CIB Ambassador Award recognizes individuals who have contributed through various means and channels to foster the love for gardening to the people in Singapore. CIB Ambassadors are volunteers with passion, who go the extra mile to spread the gardening bug and help others enjoy gardening. They contribute time, effort and/or resources regularly and actively engage with the community to facilitate the community’s gardening-based initiatives.

In terms of criteria, nominees for the CIB Ambassadors Award should fulfilled some or all of the following criteria:

  • Shared gardening knowledge to the community – facilitated or provided gardening ideas and tips through seminars, talks, sharing sessions, articles in media, web-based gardening blogs or forums, opening-up community gardens for learning, etc.
  • Facilitated gardening-based community projects – helping community groups in housing estates, schools and organisations to set up or sustain their gardening projects through providing guidance, resources, materials, etc.
  • Promoted the love for gardening – organised initiatives that resulted in greater awareness towards the benefits of gardening, engaged the public to spread gardening during road shows, exhibitions, community events, websites, blogs, etc.
  • Conducted themselves positively – in a manner that resulted in a sustained positive impact on gardening.

CIB Ambassador Award winners will be determined by a selection panel. Winners are selected from nominations based on their record of achievements and extent/impact of contributions made. Winners of CIB Ambassador Award will receive a plaque at the Clean & Green Singapore 2008 launch ceremony.

Nomination for CIB Ambassador Award is now open and must reach NParks by 24 Sep 2008. To nominate, download the nomination form from the following link:

http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/docs/CIB/CIBA%20Award%202008%20Nomination%20Form.doc

The completed form can be sent back to the CIB via e-mail (communityinbloom@nparks.gov.sg) or fax at +65 67621383 or snail mail to:

Secretary, CIB Ambassadors Award 2008
National Parks Board
Raffles Building, 1 Cluny Road,
Singapore 259569.

 

The ‘Community in Bloom’ Friends Scheme

(http://www.nparks.gov.sg/cms/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119)

The second new initiative is the ‘CIB Friends’ which is a scheme that provides opportunities for individuals to play a part in fostering the love for gardening among the people in Singapore by volunteering their time and effort to help others enjoy gardening. Individuals who have a passion for helping and volunteering can sign up to be CIB Friends.

Volunteers who sign up as CIB Friends can contribute in the following ways:

  • Host visits to Community Gardens – Volunteers can help to facilitate and guide visitors during visits to community gardens
  • Contribute gardening articles or write-ups to gardening blogs and newsletters - Volunteers can share their ideas on community gardens, gardening or plants through writing articles which will be posted in NParks website
  • Conduct gardening talks – Volunteers with gardening experience and knowledge can share their knowledge at the sharing sessions held at various locations
  • Facilitate the setting-up of community gardening projects – Volunteers with gardening experience and knowledge can help community groups set up community gardens through the sharing of basic gardening skills (theory and hands-on), working out suitable garden layout and selecting suitable plants for the new community garden
  • Help maintain community gardens – Volunteers can take part in helping to maintain community gardens in charitable homes through planting, weeding, etc
  • Promote gardening during exhibitions – Volunteers can help man CIB exhibition booths put up by NParks during community events, to promote gardening to visitors.

Active CIB Friends can look forward to the following benefits:

  • CIB Friend volunteer pass
  • Annual gathering for the CIB Friends
  • $10 token compensation per volunteering session
  • A CIB Friends T-Shirt
  • A chance to enroll in Gardening-related courses and workshops

To sign up as a CIB Friend volunteer, do email to communityinbloom@nparks.gov.sg the following details:

Area of volunteer work preferred: (1 or more)
Name:
Age:
Contact Number:
Mailing Address:
Occupation:
Language proficiency:
Gardening / plant knowledge:
Availability (pls specify day and time):