Mayor Ravenstahl's “Six Burgh Reasons Why I ♥ My Neighborhood” Contest Rules

The Aim of the Contest

Dear Neighbor,

Pittsburgh's neighborhoods are what make our City unique. Everyone has their own heart-warming story about their neighborhood – and I want to hear yours! Tell me your story, incorporating six reasons why you love your neighborhood and what makes it special. The neighborhood must be located within the City of Pittsburgh limits. Six winners will be chosen and treated to lunch with me in one of our City’s great local neighborhood restaurants in late May. Your story will also be showcased on the City of Pittsburgh web site and City cable channel. Good Luck!

Luke Ravenstahl
Mayor, City of Pittsburgh

Formats Accepted

Essays, photo essays and videos and drawings will be accepted. See below for further information and requirements.

Submission Deadline

All “Six Burgh Reasons Why I ♥ My Neighborhood” entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2009, or dropped off by 4:30 PM on May 1 at the Mayor’s Office, City-County Building, 5th Floor, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh, PA  15219, or at any of the City of Pittsburgh Senior Centers.

Mailed entries should be marked “Six Burgh Reasons Why I ♥ My Neighborhood” Mayor’s Office, City-County Building, 414 Grant St., Pittsburgh PA 15219

Winning Entries

Six winning entries will be chosen, based on creativity, originality, relevance, usefulness and content.

Prizes

Six winning entries will be chosen. All winners will be notified by phone in May. Winners will be honored and treated to lunch with the Mayor at a one of the winning neighborhood’s great local restaurants in late May. At the discretion of the City and format permitting, the winning entries will be showcased on the City of Pittsburgh's web site in the Neighborhood Initiatives section and on the City’s Cable Channel.

Contest Rules

• Eligibility: This contest is open to all residents of the City of Pittsburgh. Entrant must live within the City limits and be able to provide proof of residence.

• To Enter: All Entries must be the original work of the participant and must not have been previously exhibited, recorded, or transmitted and must not contain the trademarks, designs, copyrighted works, intellectual property, names, likenesses, or images of any person or entity and must not otherwise infringe upon the copyrights, trademarks, privacy, or other intellectual property rights of any person or entity.   
• Essay Requirements:  Essays must be 250 words or less.  Essays may be submitted online, mailed or dropped off at designated locations.  Hard copies will be accepted.

• Photo Essay Requirements:  Photo essays may be submitted on disc (CD). Absolutely no photos may be submitted, or can be accepted, via the City’s website.  Essays must be 250 words or less and digital photos are strongly encouraged.  Hard copies of essays and photos will be also accepted, but may not be able to be posted on the website or TV channel due to quality loss in conversion.
• Video Requirements: Videos must be no longer than 10 minutes.  It is preferred that the videos are in digital format in order to be posted to the web and to air on the City Cable channel.  The following video files are acceptable on CD: .avi; .mpg; .wmv; .mov; .swf; .flv.  Video may also be submitted on DVD, DVCPRO and VHS. NOTE: VHS tapes will be accepted, but may not be able to be posted on the website or City Cable Channel, due to quality loss during conversion.
•  Use of Videos, Essays/Photo Essays: The City of Pittsburgh Mayor’s office will have an irrevocable, perpetual, royalty-free license to copy, excerpt, and edit all essays, photo essays and videos submitted that meet the specified requirements.
•  Drawing Requirements: Crayon, colored pencil, pencil, ink or pastel drawings on paper will be accepted.

• Disqualification: Submission of false information regarding name, mailing address, telephone number, or other personal information will result in disqualification of entry from the video contest.
• Privacy: By providing personal contact information, entrant agrees to receive correspondence from the City of Pittsburgh relating to his/her entry on an as-needed basis. If you do not wish to receive these correspondences or provide contact information, please do not enter this contest.

•  Judging and Prizes: Entries will be judged by Mayor Ravenstahl, his staff and selected community leaders. Winning entries will be selected based on adherence to the rules as well as quality, creativity, originality, relevance, usefulness and content. Six winners will be chosen. All winners will be notified by phone in May. Winners will be honored and treated to lunch with the Mayor at a one of the winning neighborhood’s great local restaurants in late May. At the discretion of the City and format permitting, the winning entries will be showcased on the City of Pittsburgh's web site in the forthcoming Neighborhood Initiatives section and on the City's Cable Channel
• Entrant Agreement: Submission of an entry into the contest constitutes the entrant's full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of the aforementioned rules and requirements.   All winners must additionally sign the General Release, Indemnification, and Consent Form in order to participate in this contest. 

• The City of Pittsburgh reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this contest at any time without prior notice, or to amend these Contest Rules in writing as and when they deem necessary.
• Copies of the Contest Rules are also available at City of Pittsburgh Senior Centers and at the Mayor’s Office. For more information, contact the Mayor’s Neighborhood Initiatives Office at 412-255-8680.