[From the Ontario District's newsletter, The Trillium, issue 59-02, April - June, 2005 , Waldo Redekop, editor.]

Communications

– A vital component to the success of the district

By Chuck Alexander, Ontario District Executive Vice President

We live in an era of technology especially when it comes to communications.

Anyone can purchase a mobile phone these days and on it they can make a call, take a picture, get a stock quote, listen to music, play a game, send a message or even communicate as one would with a two way radio. Along with this means of communications, we have numerous software programs for our computers and palm planners.

So the question that comes to mind is “Why is there a need for these types of pieces of equipment and programs?” It’s because there is a need to obtain and send information quickly through the various means available to us.

There are times when the district has a need to get information to its members quickly but we can’t do it when only 31 percent of the members are on the district’s Yahoo system.

We have had situations where members of the public have wanted information on chapter events but none of the chapter officers were on the district’s e-mail list. We have had situations where information was to be passed on to chapters and the chapter contacts failed to do so.

Some chapters feel that if one of their members is on the list, then that is all they need as that individual would bring forth the information. However, should the contact miss the next chapter meeting or should he feel that the information is not relevant to his chapter, he takes the liberty to sensor and screen what is being distributed. The only way we can be a successful district is to be able to contact the chapter officers and members directly.

As for the notion that you will be receiving “more junk mail,” let me assure you that the district Yahoo system is used solely for distributing information on district and chapter events and programs. It is not a chat line like the Harmonet. All items published must be approved by Waldo Redekop, district manager of communications, before being released to the system. The system does not allow attachments which prevents the distribution of viruses.

At the Council of Chapter Presidents (formerly known as the House of Delegates or HOD) meeting on April 17 in Niagara Falls, a request (in fact, a plea) went out to the delegates to go back to their respective chapters and encourage their membership to get on the district’s system. At the time, we had only 379 on the system but due to the efforts of Scarborough, Nepean and Niagara Falls chapters, who have since registered en masse, we are now up to 442 members or 31 percent of the district as of April 30 with several other chapters about to do the same.

The means to have your chapter register a group of individuals is very simple. Have the chapter secretary send a note to Waldo at communications @ ontariodistrict.com listing the names of the people who have indicated that they want to be put on, their e-mail addresses and the chapter they represent.

Finally, to clear up a point of confusion, the Society has an e-mail distribution list, as does the district. The two are not linked so a member must register his e-mail address with both groups to be fully “in the loop.”

As I did at the CCP, I will do once again. I encourage you and your chapter to register with Waldo so that you receive all pertinent information with respect to this wonderful hobby of ours. Let’s see if we can’t get our participation rate up to the likes of other districts that are in the 85 percent range by the next CCP in October.

I’ll keep you advised as to our progress.  k