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One of the biggest issues for associations is communicating effectively at all levels of the organization. To do so requires the creation of a communication plan and commitment to its implementation. Creating a communication plan requires the following:

1. Identifying the different channels of communication at your association. Examples are:

Leadership to Staff
Staff to Leadership
Staff to Staff
Staff to Member
Member to Staff
Member to Member
Association to Public
Committee Chairs to Committee Members
Committee Chairs to Committee Chairs
Committee Chairs to Board of Directors (BOD)

2. Identify benefits to be derived from more effective communications and which of those benefits you wish to experience.

Cost savings
More participation
Greater understanding of the workings of the association by all, members, staff, public.

3. Identifying current communication tools used by your association and alternate tools you are not using.

Meetings
Magazine
Newsletter
Telephone
Fax on Demand
e-mail
Website
Blog
Listservs
Autoresponders
Social Media - Facebook/Twitter/RealTown Communities

3. Identify sources of content to communicate besides the "as needed"

communications

Minutes
Agendas
Calendars
Magazines
Schedules
REALTOR.org

4. Decide which communication tools you will be employing for each communication channel

5. Determine frequency of current communications down channels identified

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Annually

6. Determine desired frequency of communications to various channels

Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Annually

Examples:
President to Board of Directors - Monthly by meeting and weekly by e-mail, supplemented by website Committee Chairs to Committees - Monthly by meeting, weekly by e-mail

7. Determine person responsible for ensuring the implementation of the communication plan

8. Monitor results

If you feel you need better communications at your association, what are you doing differently to accomplish your desired results?

"Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."
Albert Einstein or Ben Franklin or Rita Mae Brown or an old Chinese Proverb