Maine Elks Association

Public Relations Committee Newsbriefs -06/04/09

Maine Elks Association Newsbriefs

MEA State President Message-June 2009

Sanford Elks Remember Veterans In Memorial Day Parade

Members of the Sanford Elks Lodge walk alongside a Pickup Truck with Military Service Emblems

During the Sanford Memorial Day Parade.

Togus VA Wish List for June 2009

VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS:

1.    Drivers for Volunteer Transportation Network (Bangor, Sanford, Saco, Portland, Bath/Brunswick)

2.    Mealtime companions for long term care patients (any lunch and dinner during the week)

3.    Post-Discharge follow-up calls (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs and Fri)

4.    73 Patriot Place/Dialysis - 1-on-1 visitation/reading and talking with patient

5.    Bangor CBOC - office support volunteer
 

ONGOING PROGRAM SUPPORT:

1.    Comfort Items, i.e., travel and regular size toothpaste, shampoo, deodorant, etc. (No alcohol based products)

2.    Diabetic snacks funds

3.    Coffee & Newspaper funds (provides coffee/newspapers at waiting areas/wards/clinics)

4.    General Patient Comfort Fund including Memorial Donations

5.    Adapted Sports Equipment/Outings - Recreation Therapy

6.    National Rehabilitation Events (Golden Age Games, Winter Sports, Wheelchair Games, and Creative Arts )
 

SPECIAL REQUESTS/PROJECTS:

1.    Televisions for patient rooms (approx. $300 ea.)

2.    Unit 4 South activity sponsorship (approx. $50 pizza party, $25 ice cream social)

3.    Organizations to sponsor entertainment on 73 Patriot Place

4.    Parking Lot Shuttle Vehicle Project

5.    Volunteer shirts (approx $2000)

6.    73 Patriots Place furniture project (approx $4500)

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NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME!  Afghans/Blankets; Used Stamps; any clothing that is stained or torn; Jigsaw Puzzles; Playing Cards; Hardcover Books; Magazines over three months old; Disposable Razors; Dental Floss; Soap; After-Shave; Hand Lotion; Writing Tablets; Pens; and Envelopes.  Due to Infection Control policies we are unable to take used walkers, canes, or crutches at this time.

The Internal Revenue Service has announced that under the Tax Code, donations to the Department of Veterans Affairs’ General Post Fund for exclusively public purposes are deductible from federal income taxes in the manner and to the extent allowable.  The announcement reflects the tax law provision, which makes those donations deductible as “donations to the United States”.  Donations to support any of the Department’s programs are deductible, whether the donor directs that the donated funds be used for a specific purpose or allows the Department to decide how the donated funds will be used.  Donated funds made by check should be made out to “VAVS” and sent to the address above.

Basics of Media Relations
From the Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee

Get to know the daily and community newspapers in your market.  Visit with them.  Seek to understand how they cover their communities.  What are their standing features, their “furniture” which is always present?  How can you use it to your advantage?

1. Get the contact information for editors and writers, newspapers, radio and TV.  Keep it handy.  Understand their deadlines.  Routinely send them your newsletter.  Provide them a subscription to the Elks Magazine (only $12 / year)

2. Keep on hand and include in communications:

-A photo, in both print and digital (.jpg) formats.  Adequate and accurate caption information.
-Background information about your organization, including name and contact information, location, phone, hours, Website, membership

3. Include a publicity plan (and budget) in your annual planning.  What are your goals?  Stories?  A higher profile in the community?  Will you print information?  Develop a Website?  Purchase advertising.  See “free” publicity through news stories?  Each has different strategies.

4. Provide adequate notice.  Don’t wait until the last minute to publicize an event, a charity fund raising sale, an event promotion of community interest and better educate the public about Elkdom.  Provide at least 2-weeks' notice.

5. Think online.  In addition to print products news organizations produce, they also have growing numbers of online products.
-Calendar tools:.  Learn to use them.  They’ll have growing importance with “reverse publishing.”
-Blogs:  Start one on your local news media site.
-Reader-submitted content:  Take advantage of this new opportunity.  It will become more important as news-gathering staffs shrink.  This can include text, photos, video.

6. Save the media time.  Always provide the basics.  Describe your event and its purpose.  When does it take place?  Where?  Admission cost?  Include phone numbers for media and public inquiry.  Include your Website.

-Press releases:  Keep them short; 2-pages max.  One is better.  A good release can read like a good story. OR it can be short and factual, following a bulleted template.
-News is local and timely:  Don’t aim so far and wide and high that you neglect media closer to home.  Focus on people.  Impact of people.  How people can learn more, and get involved.  Think diversity.
-Kinds of coverage: The Advance, previewing an event.  LIVE coverage with a writer, photographer or videographer.  The Follow-up with a summary of what happened.  Sometimes you will need to do it

8.  Praise Good Work.  You would be surprised how far a nice word can go … we all have egos.

In the Community

1. Collaboration can help get the word out.  Schools often need help with supplies, prizes, gift certificates.  Some desire partnerships with packaged programs; e.g. the Dictionary Project, Elroy the Elk and Drug Awareness, Scouting unit sponsorships, Soccer shoots.  Teams need sponsors and sponsorships can mean publicity for the Elks.  Work with other groups.  These are ways to elevate your profile and community image.

2. Think about alternative forms of publicity; e.g. church bulletins, school flyers, addressing the local school board on the government channel, etc.

3. Think about ways to make your Lodge a community gathering place.  Use separate entrance than through the Lounge (a negative initial experience and not our desired first impression).  Libraries, book stores, banks provide space for organizations to meet.  All have realized positive by-products and quality new candidates for membership without advertizing.

4. Use flyers to publicize your community service (external) events in such places as Starbucks and similar gathering places.

5. Benchmark. Look at what other non-profits and community organizations are doing to raise their profile.  Just because they are not, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t.  Separate yourselves from them.  There are rewards in being different and in the spotlight.

6. Know your intended audience. Who you will decide to reach and how?  Is it your own organization or the community at large?  Focus on the target and determine the measurement of success before starting.