HOW SHOULD THE COUNCIL COMMUNICATE WITH CHAPTERS?

At the time of Rally 2006 in Sacramento COL Pete Peterka, USA (RET), president of Redwood Empire Chapter, presented the Council with a mandate: The Council must communicate more effectively with its affiliated chapters.

With Pete Peterka’s admonition, a greater effort was made to communicate using the Council’s web site and its web log technology. To date more than 1,255 items have been posted to the web log.

There is still widespread concern that the Council is still not reaching all its chapters effectively, that more apparently needs to be done.

CDR Bob Burke, USN (RET), will explain the Council’s electronic capabilities and lead a discussion at San Luis Obispo designed find ways the Council can communicate more effectively.

Some members have problems with the technology. Some say they don’t want to receive too many e-mails from CAL-MOAA. Some ask that telephone calls be directed to a place of business, making it almost impossible to connect during evening and weekend hours.

Members will be asked very soon to tell the Council how EXCOM members and others should communicate with the chapters.

Technology, the web log seemed to be the answer.

Today the city of Sunnyvale, CA is drafting new rules for “engaging its residents.” According to Robert Walker, assistant city manager, “Today’s technology is tomorrow’s dinosaur, and we don’t want to put something in today that is going to be extinct tomorrow.” He said when the plan was first written, e-mail didn’t even exist. City officials have concluded that online technologies will aid communication.

It was reported on 6 November 2007 that daily newspapers just posted a circulation drop of 2.6%, suggesting that readers are migrating to the internet for news, information, and entertainment.

Ms Moryt Milo, a newspaper columnist writes in an opinion piece that “In a recent survey of 1,000 adults, these individuals said their desire for peace and happiness now plays second fiddle to buying a computer. These downloadable music machines, game players, movie watchers, and information providers have become paramount for many.”

Just recently when telling a National Guard lieutenant colonel about age 40 that information about his upcoming speaking engagement would be sent shortly, he said, “Would you please sent it to me electronically?”

It was thought that the future for interpersonal and interorganizational communications was with the internet, the the Council’s web site and web log feature.

At the same time, Sunnyvale officials said, “The newly adopted plan calls for technology plus the repetition of public information through different channels.”

Perhaps it will be important to supplement what is communicated through the internet with hard copy U.S. Postal Service delivered newsletters. But that alternative can be expensive and time-consuming.

If time permits an effort will be made to distribute a survey form, ask members to complete it prior to the annual meeting, and if enough do to show a clear trend the results will be announced at San Luis Obispo during CDR Burke’s presentation. Otherwise, a few minutes will be taken to conduct the survey during the discussion period.

Chapter presidents must tell the EXCOM how the Council should communicate with the chapters and others throughout 2008 and beyond.

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