Re: Communications, and Public Relations

[Robt R Pries <rpries@sbcglobal.net>]

Anner missed the point. I already do the things she
suggested but the current system is failing and I
would not be commenting if it was working as she says.

--- ChatOWhitehall@aol.com wrote:

> Good morning.
>  
> Mr. Pries said:
>  
> <<  At present I dont feel comfortable forward a
> precious  lead for a new 
> member to affiliate presidents, or RVPs if cant
> count on them  following 
> through.  Maybe another layer of organization would
> just make  life more complex. I 
> am interested in thoughts on this from others.  >>
>  
> I have a moment here, which may not be the case of
> everyone at this time,  
> and I can respond from experience.
>  
> When AIS Membership Secretary, I received many
> communications of diverse  
> kinds from the general public, and also the more
> isolated AIS members. The  
> preponderance of these could be addressed in a very
> few minutes via  email, or 
> incoming phone call, and I did not find them
> burdensome; indeed,  I enjoyed 
> hearing from most people. 
>  
> After I got a feel for the recurring  issues, I
> prepared information sheets 
> on the more often  raised questions or topics. I
> kept these on file to be 
> printed off as  needed, and just sent them out with
> an Invitation to Join,  where 
> apposite, and a brief personal letter. This took a
> very short time,  and a few 
> AIS resources, and constituted public education, a 
> major part of the the AIS 
> mission, and also Public Relations, in its  most
> immediate, and personal, 
> form. 
>  
> If you cannot find the time, yourself, to deal with
> these things  to your 
> satisfaction, or to make a comprehensive pitch for
> AIS membership,  you may wish 
> to refer the prospect to the AIS Membership Office, 
> who will, I know, oblige. 
>  
> But not all questions fall into the routine and
> general issues  category. 
> Those which involve cultural knowledge specific to a
>  geographical area, or 
> knowledge of the resources within an area, 
> including the Affliates, or anything 
> sensitive, should, I believe, be referred  directly
> to the RVP, who will have 
> his or her finger directly on the pulse  of things,
> and will have, or should 
> have, an intimate knowledge of the  strengths, and
> weaknesses, and personalities, 
> within his or her  geographical realm of
> responsibility. 
>  
> I, personally, never had one moment's reservation
> about  referring anyone to 
> any RVP, with the exception of one in the Midwest 
> who seemed intent upon 
> causing trouble for the AIS Membership  Office. I
> encourage you to place your full 
> faith in the RVPs. They  will not, I am confident,
> let you, or any potential 
> new member, or AIS,  down. 
>  
> As for the information on the AIS webpage being
> monitored for currency:  
> Well, yes, if course, if the information is up there
> it needs always to be  valid. 
> Someone needs to confirm all information on the  AIS
> webpage on a quarterly 
> basis, at the very least, and more often in  prime
> recruitment season. I'd say 
> the Electronic Services  Committee was the one to
> take care of that, 
> soliciting  confirmation on Affiliate contacts and
> so forth from the RVPs, who should  
> have it readily at hand, or, failing that, from the
> Membership  Office.
>  
> Perhaps the RVPs might be asked to supply Electronic
> Services with  updates 
> as they occur, and the AIS Secretary might be asked
> to supply  Electronic 
> Services with AIS national updates as they occur,
> and all such  updates might be 
> forwarded by the Chairman to the Webmaster, with 
> instructions to deal with it 
> in a timely manner. 
>  
> Bottom line: Resolution of these issues lies  in
> optimal use of existing 
> resources.
>  
> Anner Whitehead 
> Richmond VA USA
>  
> 
> 
> 
> ************************************** See what's
> free at http://www.aol.com.
> 
>
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