Indiana Celebrates National Safe Digging Month
Gov. Holcomb’s proclamation of April as Indiana Safe Digging Month kicked off the celebratory month, while multiple local cities and towns followed suit in announcing the importance of damage prevention in their communities. This month, City of Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski and City of Shelbyville Mayor Thomas DeBaun also declared April as Safe Digging Month. Read on to learn more about how communities, Indiana 811, damage prevention partners and many others have shared the importance of contacting 811 before beginning digging projects this spring.
811NOW.com Booms with Web Activity
Indiana 811’s safe digging outreach proved fruitful as total visits to 811NOW.com in April were nearly double the number of visits from the same month in 2018. In addition, Call811.com directed 6,572 people to Indiana and Kentucky 811’s 811NOW.com in April, making for more referrals than any other state page during National Safe Digging Month!
Partnering with HOAs to Remind Homeowners to Dig Safely
This year, Indiana 811 implemented a new strategy to reach neighborhoods and homeowners more directly, before they begin DIY projects that might involve digging this spring. In early April, Indiana 811 reached out to homeowner association (HOA) management companies and shared an article about the importance of 811. Following the outreach, the article was included in HOA newsletters that could reach homeowners across the state.
Know What’s Below at the State House
Partnering with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Indiana 811 also designed and installed a large ad for promoting 811 awareness in a high-traffic area between the Indiana State House and nearby state government buildings in downtown Indianapolis. The piece was on display throughout April, and the artwork is now available in Indiana 811’s marketing toolkit. Click here to download a copy today!
Indiana 811 Goes On Air for Safe Digging
Further spreading the safe digging message across the Hoosier state, Indiana 811 secured radio interviews on five talk radio stations. Indiana 811 Member and Public Relations Director Chuck Muller discussed the importance of contacting 811 on stations including WIBC in Indianapolis, WIMS in Michigan City, WBAT in Muncie and Marion, WSCH in Cincinnati and WORK/WXGO in Madison. Check out the radio interview from WSCH on Eagle Country, 99.3 FM by clicking here, and stay tuned to stations in Terre Haute for Chuck’s next interview later this month.
CenterPoint Energy Hosts National Safe Digging Month Employee Challenge
This April, CenterPoint Energy hosted a contest in which employees were challenged to learn the five steps to safe digging. After reviewing the steps, employees could submit their name for a chance to win a YETI cooler. The contest generated more than 1,900 entries across the CenterPoint Energy footprint. In Indiana alone, more than 580 employees entered the challenge.
Indiana 811 Celebrates the Environment
On April 20, Indiana 811 attended the Earth Day Indiana Festival in Historic Military Park at White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. The festival was free, had over 110 exhibitors, live music, food trucks, a 5K run/walk and numerous activities for kids. At the event, Indiana 811 shared information with the community about digging safely and how to contact 811 before beginning any digging projects.
Later in the month, Indiana 811 also celebrated Arbor Day with IPL’s Indy Free Tree event, where free oak trees were distributed to guests. Indiana 811 provided attendees with information about how to contact 811 prior to planting trees or any other DIY project that requires digging.
Claim Your Seat for the 2019 Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference!
On May 13, early bird registration will open for the seventh annual Midwest Damage Prevention Training Conference (MWDPTC). Hosted by title sponsors Indiana and Kentucky 811, the 2019 MWDPTC will return to the French Lick Resort in French Lick, Ind., Wednesday, Nov. 6 through Friday, Nov. 8.
Year after year, the MWDPTC attracts hundreds of the very people who serve the damage prevention industry and make it great in Indiana, Kentucky and beyond. The lovely French Lick Resort, nestled in the picturesque town known for its historic mineral springs, has been home to the MWDPTC since its start, making the event a prime destination for attendees! The 2018 conference had a turnout of over 530 attendees, and guests enjoyed an 811 vintage-themed welcome reception, networking with more than 45 vendors throughout the exhibit hall, more than 10 training sessions and the chance to participate in horseback riding, golf or a turkey shoot. You won’t want to miss all that the 2019 event will offer!
Starting May 13, register to take advantage of early bird discounts, which could save your organization hundreds of dollars if you have multiple people attending the conference. Visit www.midwest811conference.com to learn more about the 2019 MWDPTC and to register soon!
First Time Attending the MWDPTC? Apply for a Scholarship!
Interested in attending the MWDPTC, but your organization doesn’t have the budget to send you? The MWDPTC Scholarship Program might be for you! Back for the fourth year, the MWDPTC Scholarship Program will once again award 115 first-time attendees with a complimentary two-night conference package, sponsored by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Starting May 15, professionals who work in Indiana are invited to to apply. All applications must be received by Aug. 15, 2019 to be considered. Visit www.midwest811conference.com to learn more about the conference and the scholarship program, or contact Chuck Muller at cmuller@indiana811.org for more information.
Congratulations to Board Member Jeff Wilham
Indiana 811 recently recognized longstanding Indiana 811 board member Jeff Wilham. Jeff has served on the board since 2000 and will soon retire from Johnson County REMC. During the April board meeting, Indiana 811 thanked Jeff for his years of dedicated service to damage prevention.
Marathon Pipeline’s Indiana Legislature Engagement Day
On April 1, Marathon Pipe Line LLC (MPL) hosted a Legislator Engagement Day at the Indiana State Capitol in Indianapolis. More than 170 state officials, legislators and their staff members attended the event. Attendees learned how high-tech tools are used to safely transport oil and petroleum products throughout Indiana, and explored stations to learn more about the company and how to contact 811.
Indiana 811 on the Road
Throughout the year, Indiana 811 works tirelessly to spread the safe digging message across the state of Indiana and beyond. Check out all the places Indiana 811 has traveled this year for damage prevention-related presentations, conferences, media interviews, community events and more!
• Jan./Feb. 2019 – INPAA Training Meetings, Various Locations – 20 events statewide
• 1/3/2019 – Sheil Sexton Training, Indianapolis
• 1/28/2019 – F&K Construction Training, Flora
• 2/5/2019 – DNR Well Drillers Tipton Training, Tipton
• 2/15/2019 – Michiana Contracting Presentation, Plymouth
• 2/26/2019 – Purdue Corrosion Short Course, West Lafayette
• 3/6/2019 – Purdue School of Construction Management Presentation, West Lafayette
• 3/8/2019 – Excavator Session, Sponsored by Tri-Town, Presentation, Schererville
• 3/13/2019 – Fence Tech Presentation, Indianapolis
• 3/20/2019 – Dubois County Highway Training, Jasper
• 4/1/2019 – CGA Conference, Tampa, FL
• 3/25/2019 – Marathon Indiana Legislature Engagement Day, Indianapolis
• 4/3/2019 – Noblesville IURC Safety Day, Noblesville
• 4/8/2019 – WIMS Radio Interview, Michigan City
• 4/9/2019 – BSU Landscape Services Training, Muncie
• 4/11/2019 – Safety Management, Indianapolis
• 4/11/2019 – WBAT Radio Interview, Muncie
• 4/12/2019 – WSCH Radio Interview, Cincinnati, OH
• 4/16/2019 – Booth/Presentation at IRWA Conference, Indianapolis
• 4/17/2019 – Presentation for local REMC, Indianapolis
• 4/19/2019 – WORX-FM Radio Interview, Madison
• 4/20/2019 – WIBC Radio Interview, Indianapolis
• 4/20/2019 – Earth Day Event, Indianapolis
• 4/25/2019 – Booth at Henry County REMC Safety Day, New Castle
• 4/26/2019 – Indy Free Tree Event, Indianapolis
• 4/29/2019 – Presentation at Meade Company-wide Safety Day, Schererville
• 1/21/19-1/23/19 – IOWPA Conference,Indianapolis
• 1/9/19-1/11/19 – Green Expo, Indianapolis
• 2/15/19-2/24/19 – Boat Sport & Travel Show, Indianapolis
• 2/20/19-2/22/19 – SOCS Conference, Savannah, GA
• 2/8/19-2/10/19 – Home Show, Westfield
• 3/4/19-3/7/19 – Purdue Road School, West Lafayette
INPAA CORNER
Emergency Responder Organizations Support Safe Digging
This spring, the Indiana Pipeline Awareness Association (INPAA) and Indiana 811 are hosting the annual INPAA Firehouse 811 Contest and invite emergency responder organizations to promote 811 in their communities. This year’s theme is “811 in Your Hometown,” and a number of departments have already submitted photos of their organizations sharing the importance of safe digging through signage at their stations and on social media.
The contest will continue until May 31, 2019, so there’s still time to enter! Emergency responder organizations can submit a picture of their fire station marquee, sign of any sort or social media post promoting “811 in Your Hometown” to ind811marquee@indiana811.org for a chance to win a monetary donation or 2 two-night packages to the 2019 MWDPTC! $350 grand prizes will be awarded for Most Creative, Best 811 Messaging and Best Social Media Post.