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 (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 Issues
Compile 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
-
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
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.
Click for January 2008 Workshop Minutes
Click for March 2008 Teleconference Minutes
2007 –
2008 Calendar
Date
Activity
Contact
Committee Chair Rosalind Rouse, Milwaukee Water Works
414-286-2803
rrrouse@mpw.net
