1. Mississippi Lakes Association A Real Life Example of How Good Communication Pays Off
Rob Bell
President, Mississippi Lake Association
Dave Hands
Chairman, MLA Communications Committee
Rob

2. Lake Links - Communications
Agenda
MLA Transition – Committee Structure
Communications Requirements
Timely
Public
Transitional
The Communications Committee
The PAYOFF!!
Rob
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

3. Mississippi Lakes Association Transition
Lake plan project begins 2012 – adoption 2015
Lake plan implementation requires more volunteers and better organization
“Lean” Committee Structure
Communications
Environment
Boating and Recreation
Rob
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

4. Communications: Getting Started
Build the Team
What is our message?
Communications Survey
Are we ready for a Logo or “Brand”?
Existing Communications Platforms:
Web Site, Mississippi Belle, Facebook
Where are the communications gaps?
Is our message being delivered in a timely way?
Are our communications vehicles cost-effective?
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

5. Lake Links - Communications
Our Original Web Site:
Not mobile-friendly
Outdated content
Outdated look & feel
Awkward navigation
Cumbersome to update
Requires HTML- know-how
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

6. Our new Web Site: mississippilakesassociation.org
Dave
Responsive, dynamic, colourful, easily updated
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

7. Lake Links - Communications
The Mississippi Belle
Published annually
3000 copies
46 Advertisers
1000 hours
$1,000. net return
Dave
2015
2016
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

8. Lake Links - Communications
Facebook
Facebook
The go-to place for information and comment
Quick and easy to update
Instantaneous, immediate
A traffic-driver
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

9. Your Mississippi Minute: e-news
list and advertisers
Published 7-times a year
Information digest
Links to the web site
Advertising opportunity
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

10. Lake Links - Communications
Mississippi Belle On Line Our lake magazine goes digital. Always fresh, always current and our entire library is archived and searchable.
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

11. Public Association Information
New website based on Joomla open source technology
Content Management System; anyone can contribute
Hosted externally at ‘Hosting Nation’
Locally managed by RAD Media
Rob
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

12. Transitional: Print to Electronic
Begins with Your Mississippi Minute
Current project: Mississippi Belle Online
Resides within the website
Formally edited content updated monthly
Searchable archive of historical articles stretching back 12+ years
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

13. The MLA Communications Committee
Meets regularly to brainstorm ideas
Contributes to media content
Workload divided among members: Web Site, Your Mississippi Minute, Face Book, Mississippi Belle on Line
Interacts with the community – Carleton Place Home Show; Bridge Street Bazaar
Manages all communications and the MLA Brand
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

14. Lake Links - Communications
The PAYOFF!!
Elimination of $9000+ annual printing costs
Timely communications
Member engagement and retention
Visibility and recognition
Dave
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications

15. Lake Links - Communications
Thanks for Listening!
Any questions?
All
October 22, 2016
Lake Links - Communications