Start with these three steps that will put you on a path to a successful campaign:

1) Form Your Building Safety Month Committee
Start the year off right by recruiting a team in your office or chapter to be a part of your celebration of Building Safety Month. Identify someone to spearhead work with your local home improvement store for exhibits during May, someone to work with your Government Relations representative to secure your state proclamation and find volunteers to send out the news releases and letters to the editor for the local newspaper. Divide and conquer to keep the work load manageable and download the ICCF "Steps to Success" brochure to help along the way.

2) Help the Code Council and ICCF Secure Proclamations from All 50 States, the U.S. Territories and More
Bring your community leaders on board now as supporters of Building Safety Month by asking for an official state or local proclamation. Fill in this sample proclamation template to secure support from your governor, state cabinet officers and/or your county/city councils and local leaders. Don't forget that your Government Relations representative is part of the Building Safety Month team and will help.

3) Plan Your Community Events
Gather your team and decide what you want to do for your event. Identify a supermarket, retailer or home improvement store in your area and contact them 90 days prior to the planned event to provide adequate notice. Engage subject matter experts from your committee to give talks on building safety throughout the month in schools, civic clubs and more. If you want to focus on school-based outreach, develop contacts for the schools you want to visit. Focus on Kindergarten through 5th grade if you want to use the "CODiE™ and CODEtte™ the Code Officials" materials. Make BSM materials available in the building department, fire department, city hall and other governmental offices, retail locations schools and other locations throughout the community.

Your role in these activities will bring Building Safety Month to life as we work together throughout May to showcase the role you serve as a community building safety official and educate the public about the important work you do.

During 2012, Building Safety Month will focus on different aspects of building safety:
WEEK 1 | May 1-6 | National & International Launch Week
WEEK 2 | May 7-13 | Green & Energy Week
WEEK 3 | May 14-20 | Disaster Safety & Mitigation Week
WEEK 4 | May 21-27 | Fire Safety & Awareness Week
WEEK 5 | May 28-31 | Backyard Safety Week

Check the next edition of the ICCF eNews and like us on Facebook for more steps to success and ideas on how to have a successful Building Safety Month or contact the ICC Foundation (888-422-7233, ext. 4223) or email bmccullen@iccsafe.org today.