Summer Boot Camp – for Public Communications

Introduction:

Your feet never leave your desk...our website communications survival training

Three Sessions - One Price
$155 Members, $195 Non-Members

Note: As of June 25th, registration for sessions I and II is CLOSED.

Registration for this session is CLOSED

Tuesday, June 8, 2010, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Gone is the era of “no news is good news” for water professionals – welcome the Information Age, where even the small plant operator is expected to have some public communications savvy.  As limited resources are stretched to meet the needs of growing populations, regulation, and even climate change issues, your importance in the community is growing.  So are the demands for public communication…

PANELISTS:

Rebecca West, WEF Past President & Deputy General Manager of Technical and Engineering Services at Spartanburg Water, South Carolina

Expectations to engage and communicate with customers and stakeholders are growing.   Eventually, they will become as much a part of utility culture as safety, security and excellent customer service.  Join Rebecca as she shares:

·         what the future holds for communication practices and utilities;

·         how to integrate communication strategies for internal and external customers throughout the organization;  and

·         best practices for communicating messages to customers and stakeholders.

Karen DeBaker, Communications Supervisor at Clean Water Services, Portland area, Oregon

Does your walk match your talk?  Do you need a Strategic Communications Plan? Join a water utilities PR pro as she takes you step-by-step through the elements of a public information master plan.  Karen will lead you through the template:

1.       Inventory of current messages and methods

2.       Issues demanding communications support

3.       Challenges & Opportunities

4.       Audiences: internal and external

5.       Message Objectives

6.       Key messages

7.       Tools & Tactics

Registration for this session is CLOSED

Tuesday, June 29, 2010, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Rob McElroy, General Manager at Daphne Utilities, Daphne, Alabama

Before the crisis hits you need to have a good foundation in communications.  If you handle the day-to-day issues in a way that builds confidence in the utility, when the crisis hits the community is more likely to view your strengths and weaknesses in context. 

Robert Jackson, Public Information Director, Sewerage & Water Board New Orleans

Could it get any worse?!?  This seasoned PR pro will shares lessons from Katrina to oil spills in how to talk to the media when the crisis hits.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Sheri Wantland, Public Involvement Coordinator at Clean Water Services and Editor of The Survival Guide Public Communications for Water Professionals, Portland area, Oregon

Be convenient, accessible, and non-threatening – she wrote the book…join Sheri to learn the how-to when conducting a public meeting.

Tyrone Jue, Director of Communications, San Francisco Utilities Commission

Learn from the San Francisco journey of going from “out of mind” to “in your face” gaining public support for a multi-billion dollar wastewater capital program.  Find out how to harness energy for more productive public meetings and citizen advisory committees.

• Attend one or all three, receive a DVD recording for any of the sessions you can’t attend.　　
• All sites receive a complimentary copy of WEF’s best seller Survival Guide Public Communications for Water Professionals.
• Professional Development Hours (PDHs) may be earned for participation. 

Registration Information:
Cost: WEF Member $155 / Non Member $195

Cooperating Organizations:

Produced by WEF’s Public Communications and Outreach Committee (Chair Bjorn von Euler, ITT Corporation). Moderated by Subcommittee Chair Matthew Frank, Aqueous Advisors, New York.