Annual report 2008/Communication Steward

From EcoReality

The past year has been a difficult one for EcoReality, with health problems and burn-out from over-work. But changes are on the horizon that should inject new energy into EcoReality.

Following are some highlights of the past year, some problems we've faced, and some future plans.

Contents 1 Duties 2 Accomplishments 2.1 Communications Statistics 2.2 Other Outreach 3 Improvement Opportunities 4 Challenges 5 Future Plans

Duties

The Communication Steward takes care of organizational aspects of the co-op, including tasks that would normally be handled by the "secretary" of the co-op.

Accomplishments

Communications Statistics

Statistic	2006	2007	Change
Home page hits	13,312	18,126	+36%
Meetings page hits	12,970	15,482	+19%
Google references	3,190	3,220	+1%
Emails	2,319	3,020	+30%
Advisory Council members	72	116	+61%
Newsletters	4	5	+25%
Meetings	19	16	-16%

• Our website continues to be a successful communications vehicle for EcoReality, with increases over the first two years.
• We've managed to reduce the number of meetings!
• We continue to hold video conferences nearly every week.

Other Outreach

• We designed a logo.
• We have new business cards, with our new logo.
• We have a brochure.
• We are involved as volunteers with numerous groups in the greater community, including:
  • Conscience Canada
  • Island Natural Growers
  • Islands Trust Official Community Plan review process
  • Partners Creating Pathways
  • Salt Spring Arts Council
  • Salt Spring Island Agricultural Alliance
  • Salt Spring Island Conservancy
  • Salt Spring Island Farmland Trust
  • Salt Spring Island Society for Community Education
  • Salt Spring Island Transit and Transportation Commission.
• We attended the Northwest Intentional Communities Association conference, and had a booth where we gave out promotional material and chatted with people seeking community. Two of those we met are visiting the weekend of the 2008 AGM.
• The appearance of Carol and Jan in a documentary film, Escape From Suburbia, has brought us positive attention, and possibly four new members.

Improvement Opportunities

A number of planned initiatives have yet to be accomplished:

• on-line resources:
  • library search
  • resources inventory and tracking
  • time logging system (partially implemented).

Challenges

• Labour for doing things is limited -- less than a few person hours a week. I am hopeful that coming changes can make Communications Steward a part-time paid position, so that our many outreach goals can be better accomplished.

Future Plans

• In the next year, I'd like to concentrate on recruiting and public outreach. By the time of the AGM or slightly thereafter, we should have an exciting change that should make it much easier to attract new members and investors.
• Coming changes call for a long and structured public relations campaign in order to accomplish our larger goals.
• We will continue to be involved with groups in the greater community.
• More web-based formal mechanisms for project tracking, time logging, etc. will make life easier for all of us.
• Renewed monthly publication of our newsletter, which has generated good feedback, but which has been too much effort on a voluntary basis.
• Working together with the Program Steward, more publicity for local events that we sponsor.

Respectfully submitted, Jan Steinman.