6 August 2014 Presentation to Kincardine Council on Proactive Newsletter to Ward 2 and 3 Constituents Michael Smith 25 Harvey Lane Slide 1.

6 August 2014 Presentation to Kincardine Council

on

Proactive Newsletter to Ward 2 and 3 Constituents

Michael Smith25 Harvey Lane Slide 1

Why Bother?

Kincardine Municipality already uses the following methods of communicating with constituents.

1. People can have the Kincardine Independent mailed to their winter address.

2. There are 3 on line News Services: Kincardine News, Kincardine Independent and Kincardine Times.

3. Council Meetings are televised on the Internet through Rogers TV.

4. The Municipality of Kincardine Web Site provides both full and detailed information on current activities and a check box notification service for topics of interest.

6 August 2014 Presentation to Kincardine CouncilOn Proactive Newsletter

Slide 2

Yet, when we took a survey at our July 12th meeting and asked how many people knew that Kincardine had mail-in balloting.

Out of 100 people, just 18 raised their hands.


Slide 3

This is in spite of:

• a flyer in the tax envelopes • an advertisement in the Kincardine

Independent• Information on the Kincardine Web Site• Coverage in the online news sources


Slide 4

Its easy to say it’s the cottagers fault. They must be more attentive about reading or viewing these sources.

Note:

Its not just cottagers. Many farmers living here year round were blind sided by the first version of bylaw 2014-044.


Slide 5

Is there a better way of reaching the people in Ward 2 and 3? Both seasonal and permanent residents?


Slide 6

What I am proposing is a web site for Ward 2 and 3 News.

• I would go to the various news sources and pick out those items of interest to Ward 2 and Ward 3 residents.

• I would put them on the Web Site as titles with “read more” links which would connect them to the full article.

• I would update this periodically and would ask the Clerk’s Office to email the link to the Web Site to Ward 2 and Ward 3 rate payers in mid January and mid March starting in January, 2016

• If the Municipality wanted to vet the news links before forwarding, that would be fine.

• The News Page would also be used to notify constituents about Mail In Balloting at election time.


Slide 7


Here is a sample format for the news page

Slide 8

Where will the Clerk’s Office get the email addresses?

People will be asked to provide their email addresses when they pick up their garbage tags.

Proper steps will be taken to assure that people approve the use of their email address for receiving news etc. from the Municipality.


Slide 9

Currently our group (Broken Promise) has just 106 email addresses.

The Inverhuron District has 264 email addresses?

We will use these two lists for our News Site until January 2016 when Kincardine Municipality should have a better list.


Slide 10

• This news page could evolve whereby the Ward 2 or Ward 3 Councillor could add a “Message to Ward 2” or “Message to Ward 3” .

• It could become a very effective tool for reaching constituents.

• And it might stimulate Ward 2 and 3 Constituents to make comments and ask questions to their Councillor when in the past they have been unaware and silent.

• It could be used for conducting surveys

• It could have great possibilities for improving communication and democracy for Ward 2 and Ward 3 constituents.


Slide 11

Thank you for your time


Slide 12

6 August 2014 Presentation to Kincardine Council on Proactive Newsletter to Ward 2 and 3 Constituents Michael Smith 25 Harvey Lane Slide 1.

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