1. Developing An Internal Communications Program For Your Local

2. @iafftreg @dougwstern @NYSPFFA @iaffnewsdesk
Tweet the Day
@iafftreg @dougwstern
@NYSPFFA @iaffnewsdesk
#NYSPFFAComms

3. Where are your members getting their information??

4. Someone is going to message to your members…
It might as well be you…

5. Who is your #1 Audience?
Without the support of your membership, you aren’t going anywhere.
The key is not sending information to your members…
It’s understanding how they receive their information and adapting to make sure they get it.

6. Many union campaigns are lost before they even start because of a failure to get their members to support the cause… Why???
Members didn’t hear about it… Or they don’t trust the local…
Members got worked up over false information being spread…
Leadership never properly messaged the issue…

7. Communications As A Priority
Integrate Into All Union Activities
Not An After Thought
Don’t Wing It- Develop a plan
Identify Roles
Budget Resources
Make It a Priority
Get Leadership Support

8. Members need to know the value of our union
Without unions, we would not have the standard of living or the opportunity to provide a respectable life for our families.
Automatic loyalty doesn’t just happen.
Most workers entering the workforce for the past several years come from families that have no prior history of unionism.
Lack of labor education and the mostly negative impressions generated by the mainstream media about unions has to be reversed.

9. Members need to know the value of our union
Messaging to your members requires you to tell them about what you are doing daily for them.
This goes against the whole “I am just doing my job” mentality.
Members need to know what our union, NYSPFFA, and IAFF are regularly doing for them.
It’s not “The Union.” It’s “Our Union.”

10. Don’t Make it About You… It’s About Us… It’s about OUR Union

11. What’s Our Union Doing for Us

12. Members Need to be Informed
Three fastest forms of Fire Department Communications
Telephone, Telefax, Tell a Fire Fighter
In the absence of a strong message from your local, a member will start to believe false information and firehouse rumors…
The local needs to develop the means to communicate with members on a regular basis…

13. E-MAIL NEWS BLASTS Great way to reach members.
Provides pertinent information and links to what you want your members to know.
Don’t use your department’s system.
Pay attention to your open rates.

14. NEWS BLASTS
Make sure addresses are up to date- NO Department s
Use an system that can track analytics.
Average open rate: 15-18%.
Subject Line of is very important to get opens.

15. WEBSITE
Web sites, while declining in effectiveness, still have purpose.
Great place to house all of your information online.
Use social media to drive followers to your website.

16. WEBSITE Make sure your website is mobile responsive.
Most people will view your website on their phone or tablet.

17. USING FACEBOOK INTERNALLY- Groups
IAFF Locals can have their own local Facebook Group to reach members.
Facebook groups are a great resource to communicate with your members.
Privacy settings allow for more personal discussion.

18. FACEBOOK INTERNALLY: Going Live
Raw video of live feed into a social media class in Texas- Sept Topic- Strategic Campaigns Services

19. VIDEO UPDATES

20. VIDEO UPDATES

21. TEXT GROUPS Text groups offer a way to reach members directly.
95% of texts are viewed within 10 minutes after being sent.
Beware of over usage and member data plans.

22. NYSPFFA Relay App

23. NYSPFFA Relay App

24. NYSPFFA Relay App

25. FACE TO FACE
- Face to face meetings are still your best way to meet, inform, and energize your members.
- Puts a face to all of the s, texts, and social media messages.

26. TOOLS ARE NOT A STRATEGY
Regardless of the methods you choose to deliver your message, the tool is not the strategy.
Use these tools as part of your overall communications strategy.