Communications Committee Report: September 19, 2017

Attending: Dorene Albury, Patti Cass, James Hicks, Carolyn Stevens,

Ninnette Toney

The Committee affirmed its mission, to keep the entire neighborhood, and not just FWECA members, informed. Fall, Winter and Spring newsletters, as well as occasional flyers, will be distributed to all 344 households in Fort Washington Estates, including the area of newer homes known as Tantallon Reserve. The Membership Directory will be given to paid FWECA members.

Carolyn has developed a Fall newsletter, which Dorene was kind enough to edit. Dorene will lead development of the Winter and Spring Issues. Topics for the Fall newsletter include: membership appeal and form; WSSC work update; Board Roster, Committee names, purposes and chairs; promoting the Fall Fling; recruiting Block Captains; and promoting the use of Next Door. The newsletter and a colorful flyer promoting fall clean-up of homes and yards will be distributed by the Block Captains the weekend of September 30–October 1.

Patti Cass will edit the Directory. Clem will provide the membership data. New Communications Committee member James Hicks will manipulate the excel spreadsheet provided by Clem to populate the data fields for the Directory. Dorene will work on the text sections, such as the Board Roster, FWECA description and FWECA history. Ninnette has confirmed all of the Frequently Called Numbers. After consulting with others during the past month, The Committee concluded that the Directory should be published in its traditional format, for which users are expressing a strong preference. Should the cost of the traditional format exceed that of the proposed 8.5 x 11 in binders, Committee members pledged to make personal gifts to FWECA to cover the difference. The Committee will seek ads for the Directory at the following rates: $10 for a business card, $20 for half a page, $40 for a full page. The Committee set a deadline of October 31 for Clem to receive membership applications in order to allow for January publication and distribution of the Directory.

The Communications Committee also urges the Board to host a General Membership meeting in January, to provide the community with an update of the activities of the Board and Committees and report on the Association’s budget. Our Committee members feel strongly that the Board needs to make a special effort to re-connect with the community as we seek to re-build the membership, communications and vitality of FWECA.