CONSULATE GENERAL MONTERREY ORGANIZES THE FIRST EVER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MONTERREY 000376 SIPDIS S/P FOR DIRECTOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV SCUL OIIP OEXC MX SUBJECT: CONSULATE GENERAL MONTERREY ORGANIZES THE FIRST EVER US-MEXICO GREEN RACE MONTERREY 00000376 001.2 OF 003 Summary. Combining traditional community organizing with modern communications and media technology, volunteers from Monterrey's Consulate General and Mexican NGO Pronatura Noreste organized Mexico's first-ever green race on July 5, 2009. All proceeds from the 1500 person strong "US-Mexico 10K" went to support Pronatura's environmental efforts in northern Mexico. Building on the momentum of this race, in August the Consulate General and Pronatura had volunteers and participants to plant 6,000 trees in the mountains outside of Monterrey. End Summary. Fitness and the Great Outdoors in Monterrey -------------- ¶1. The city of Monterrey, Mexico's economic powerhouse, is home to Mexico's most proactive fitness culture. Relatively high disposable incomes, the abundance of recreational activities such as rock-climbing and mountain biking, and an appreciation for the health benefits of physical exercise yield a community with multiple athletic opportunities every weekend. Running is especially popular, and the state's running organizational body publishes an annual race schedule in the local daily "El Norte." Every weekend Monterrey hosts at least one road race; on some weekends the greater metropolitan area hosts up to four. The average participation is around 500-1000 runners. Meanwhile, many of the same conditions that make Monterrey's culture athletic also create a high level of environmental awareness. The Goal -------------- ¶2. In order to revitalize its outreach efforts, Monterrey reviewed mission objectives and considered where it could work with the local community to advance common goals. Speaking with business, government and non-profit leaders, the Consulate learned that the community yearned for inclusive events that celebrated the important US-Mexico bilateral relationship. Furthermore, the community has increasingly embraced "green" values in recent years. The Consulate chose to capitalize on these observations and create an event for all stakeholders that would cultivate relationships and signal the USG's desire to work with the local community environmental challenges shared by both the US and Mexico: the first U.S-Mexico "Green Race." 
Face-to-Face Diplomacy -------------- ¶3. Consulate volunteers promoted the race: this involved passing out flyers, manning booths at popular running spots and races, and pitching the race with any audience or group interested in hearing about the event. While doing so, volunteers collected email addresses that allowed for the creation of a group mailing list. Volunteers ultimately contributed more than 500 hours at more than 25 events promoting the event. Email Campaign -------------- ¶4. Using non-profit and political campaign models as a guide, Consulate organizers sent weekly email updates that communicated enthusiasm and progress in meeting the registration goal, while simultaneously amplifying and explaining the race's green objectives. For example, the Consulate promoted the race as carbon-negative, noting that the long-term benefits of the trees would far outweigh the carbon production from race activities, such as transportation to and from the registration and race sites. Starting with a list of 850 addressees for the first bulletin in May of 2009, the addressee list grew over 11 subsequent editions to more than 4000 runners, volunteers, and MONTERREY 00000376 002.2 OF 003 sponsors. (Note: emails from the campaign can be viewed through the event's archive at http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs062/1102 572954005/arch ive/1102610726868.html. End note.) Facebook -------------- ¶5. In April 2009, the Consulate General and Pronatura launched the "EUA Mex Green Race" on facebook. Throughout the race and reforestation campaigns, the list of facebook members grew in parallel to the email distribution list, reaching a total of 495 on October 8. Facebook was a powerful tool in distributing information, providing another venue with increased graphic capabilities - such as the ability to upload pictures - and broadcasting the event itself to wider networks of "friends" pertaining to each of the 495 members. Participants noted that the website was very useful in building increased buy-in and excitement for both the race and the reforestation. Sponsors -------------- ¶6. Finding sponsors for a new, unknown event is always challenging, even more so in the midst of an economic crisis. The Consulate's partnership with Pronatura was key in addressing this challenge: Pronatura sought out and solicited the sponsors themselves, handling all the funds, while the Consulate's outreach and media efforts created an awareness of the event and public support which assisted in persuading those sponsors to commit to the race. Pronatura enlisted 27 sponsors, receiving just over $35,000 in sponsorship and registration fees; the race itself cost $30,000. Gold sponsors contributing at least $5,000 in cash or services included GMAC, Fruit of the Loom, Arca (Powerade/Coca-Cola),South Padre Island Tourist Board, and Quaker. Silver and bronze sponsors contributing $2,500 and $1,000 respectively, included HEB, Starbucks, General Motors, Spaulding, and many more. Execution -------------- ¶7. The Consulate and Pronatura created a weekly steering committee including stakeholders from the business community and the media. That committee persuaded GMAC, the North American finance arm of General Motors, to buy two pine saplings on behalf of every registered runner. The Mexican National Forestry Commission agreed to match that commitment, resulting in a potential 6,000 trees for 1500 runners to be planted in the weeks following the race. The execution of the race itself was designed to showcase respect for the environment: all trophies and medals were hand-carved from mesquite by laborers normally engaged in producing charcoal, offering them the opportunity to practice a more sustainable, eco-friendly tradecraft which may be enlisted by other race committees. Sponsor General Motors used the event to display its first Mexican-manufactured hybrid vehicle, which served as the race's pace car. HEB, the Texas-based grocery multinational, gifted each race participant with a reusable bag for grocery purchases. Finally, recycled products were used wherever possible as part of the race supplies, and the refuse generated by the race - such as flyers, registration forms, plastic bags and bottles - was itself recycled. Participation Strong -------------- ¶8. The US-Mexico 10K sold out to 1,500 participants several days in advance of the race, an accomplishment the daily "El MONTERREY 00000376 003.2 OF 003 Norte" described as "unprecedented" for a brand new 10K race. An estimated 500-1000 unregistered participants showed up on race day to run alongside registered runners. Media Response -------------- ¶9. The success of this event was reflected in more than 20 articles printed in the local, national, and international press, including Newsweek in Espanol, Milenio, and Runners World Mexico. In the run-up to the event, numerous TV and press conference interviews were broadcast across the region by the area's largest television networks to audiences in the millions. (Note: Many of the press cuts remain hosted on the race's YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/10kUSAMEXGreenRac e. End note.) Promises Kept -------------- ¶10. On August 30, 2009, coinciding with the first rains of the season, volunteers from Pronatura, GMAC, the Consulate General, and the community at large fulfilled the race pledge of planting trees in an area outside of Monterrey badly damaged by a forest fire in 2007. These saplings are estimated to have a survival rate of over 70%. Community feedback on the reforestation, like the race, has been overwhelmingly positive. ¶11. Monterrey considers the establishment of an annual U.S. Mexico 10K a successful example of direct grass-roots diplomacy which builds upon shared values with the local community, creates positive relationships with citizens representing many segments of society, and promotes a positive image of the U.S. Post anticipates that having established the event, it will grow in future years and see even greater participation, with more resources and venues to creatively engage our neighbors and tell our story. The Consulate hopes that the narrative and lessons learned provided in this cable prove useful to other posts interested in incorporating similar techniques into their outreach efforts. Please direct any questions to Will Cobb at cobbwp@state.gov or Brian Quigley at quigleybs@state.gov. WILLIAMSON WILLIAMSONB