Image and PR

Mission Statement

To promote awareness of the WWA to increase membership and participation in activities; to recognize members for their achievements, and to promote public awareness of the drinking water industry and the WWA efforts to educate members and sustain a high level of professionalism, tp promote the water industry as a source of rewarding careers for young people (mission statement will be refined during strategic planning meeting in Winter 2008).  

Activities Plan

Activities (Committee's 2008 activities and objectives will be established through strategic planning workshop. The activities listed below are preliminary ideas submitted by committee members.) 

Web-based Message Board for WWA Members

Establish a message board through the committee Web page that would allow member water utilities to post public-relations challenges and solutions, as well as address specific issues and seek committee guidance. Promote use of message board among membership.

Media Resource List and Mailer to Introduce WWA as an Authoritative Media Resource for Water IssuesCompile a list of media outlets in Wisconsin and produce a mailer to introduce WWA to environmental reporters as a resource for expertise on issues related to drinking water. Establish a list of members willing to act as media resources on specific types of water issues, and obtain WWA trustees' authorization to identify resources as spokesmen for the organization.

National Drinking Water Week Media Campaign

Develop a general statewide media release prior to National Drinking Water Week encouraging news media to feature their local utility in a water-related story. Provide a tip sheet with water-related story ideas for editors.

Public Relations Support

Write a news release for Annual Meeting award winners and help the awardees identify local media in which to promote: Fuller, Operator Meritorious, Smith, Young Professional. Also, develop and distribute a targeted news release with photo and bio of newly elected board members.Membership/Recruitment Brochure

With Membership Committee, design and produce a brochure to promote membership in WWA with an overview of activities and member benefits. Use AWWA-supplied images from the “Only Tap Water Delivers” campaign.  

Newsletter

• Contribute a committee report and a public relations interest article for the three WWA newsletters

• Provide candid photos from the Annual Meeting activities

• provide photos and stories about award recipients from the Annual Meeting.

• Provide a Taste Test Contest preview and rules outline for the Spring newsletter, deadline in June. 

Annual Meeting

Chair and co-chair serve on Annual Conference Planning Committee.

Plan and coordinate the Water Taste Contest

• Preview story in Spring newsletter
• Solicit entries in August
• Find judges who will attend annual conference (use AWWA rep as one)
• Notify local news media about the event. Depending on the situation, a reporter may serve as a jusge. Some say they do not want to "be in the story they are covering'
• Volunteers label entry samples and set up event
• Provide entertainment during judges'
• Write a news release for the winner and help them contact local media
• Arrange to print a winner's banner and present it at official meeting of utility's governing board, eg., village board or city council
• Write story and provide photos of contest for the newsletter

Provide candid photos from the Annual Meeting

Provide photos and stories about award recipients from the Annual Meeting         

Additional Projects for 2008

• Revise and distribute a video about drinking water for children. Roz Rouse contacted and received a copy of the Michigan section which originated the video (was adapted by Illinois and Indiana). Original production company was LTS productions, Perry, Michigan. Michigan section contact Mark Coleman, mcoleman@wadetrim.com
• Provide support to Education Committee on development of drinking water educational materials, curriculum and/or activity booklet for school students. Assist Education Committee as necessary in compiling annual Education Seminar and Conference Schedule booklet.
• Establish contact with the Society of Professional Journalists, NABJ, NSHP, AWJ and other professional journalism organizations. Explore making presentations at journalism conferences in Wisconsin.
• Produce a recruitment brochure or informational piece about careers in water to provide to state technical colleges and universities.
• Survey member utilities about their outreach programs re dinking water service and careers to elementary and high schools; general public information programs/displays-develop an annual meeting track around these solutions.
• Add a link to WWA Web site Home page for news inquiries; post releases about seminars, award winners, etc. on a press page. 

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