BUTLER TOWNSHIP — “You're Paying for it — Use It!”

“Find Your Calling.”

Those are the themes of the public relations campaigns that Slippery Rock University students developed to raise awareness of Butler Township's new garbage and recycling collection program and to recruit residents for the fire department, respectively.

One group of five seniors in assistant professor Allison Peiritsch's public relations and integrated marketing class developed the garbage and recycling campaign and another group of five developed the fire department recruitment campaign, and they presented the campaigns to township officials during an informal meeting Tuesday.

The campaigns are the results of research, surveys and focus group discussions the students conducted beginning in February.

Officials from the township and Butler Township Volunteer Fire District said they will review the campaigns and decide which parts they want to implement.

Corey Milkovich, the student who presented the fire department campaign, made a heartfelt pitch. His family's home in Center Township was nearly destroyed in a fire caused by a lightning strike in September.

“We lost our home to a fire caused by a lightning strike. We would have lost everything if it weren't for the fire department,” Milkovich said. “They don't just need guys on the trucks. They need people to fill other positions.”

The survey revealed that 63 percent of those who participated never considered joining the fire department and many believe they don't have the physical capabilities needed, he said.

A focus group of fire department members told the students that they feel pride and camaraderie within the department and consider it as their second home, Milkovich said.

The firefighters also said the time demands for training deter people from joining. They suggested having potential recruits visit the station to learn about fire service, he said.

To recruit firefighters, the campaign would target male and female Butler High School students ages 14 to 18 and residents ages 18 to 50.

Media kits with news releases, feature stories and fact sheets would be distributed to news outlets and Butler County Community College, and fliers, brochures and junior firefighter applications would be prepared for high school students, he said. The department website would have an “About Your Heroes” feature showing photos and biographical information of firefighters.

Fire Chief Chris Switala said he liked most of the campaign proposal, but the Heroes feature might create unrealistic expectations.

The township's garbage and recycling collection contract with Waste Management went into affect on Jan. 1. Some residents complained that the bins provided were too big. Smaller bins have been ordered. Students learned that there are other things residents don't like about the new service.

“People were not happy about the size and color of the bins and they're disappointed about not recycling glass,” said Brandon Phillippi, the student who presented the campaign.

Survey results showed many residents are not receptive of the new contractor or are not aware of all the available services, especially electronic waste removal.

In the proposed campaign, the township would send news releases to the Butler Eagle and other local news outlets and post updated information on the township's website, Facebook page and on the Savvy Citizen mobile phone application, which provides residents with news from their municipalities. A link to Savvy Citizen is available by using the QR code printed in the Eagle.

Objectives include informing 90 percent of township residents about Waste Management and its electronic waste collection, which comes at no added cost above the collection fee residents pay, and getting 350 people to use the Savvy Citizen app by Sept. 1.