Apr. 3: Storytelling – A View from Healthier Washington

Come join us at the April OCG meeting  Wednesday, April 3, Noon-1:00, Association of Washington School Principals, 1021 8th, Avenue, Olympia.

Our program:  Storytelling – A View from Healthier Washington. Finding and telling stories of real people is difficult but not impossible. You’ll walk away with tips on how to gather stories, build and maintain a story collection, and get your leadership to highlight stories in their speaking engagements.

Kennedy Soileau, Deputy Chief Communications Officer for the Washington State Health Care Authority, will highlight the Healthier Washington Story Bank, a collection of videos and written testimonials featuring people who have been positively impacted by new health care delivery models in Washington State. Kennedy, a former newspaper reporter, offers strategic guidance for the Health Care Authority’s legislative, tribal, clinical, and behavioral health communications efforts, as well as Healthier Washington, a statewide vision to transform the way whole-person care is provided in Washington State.

Mar. 6: Secure Communications

Our March 6 Olympia Communicators Group meeting will feature a topic that should be of interest to communicators for every agency and organization that relies on computer systems to fulfill their mission.

Hackers have penetrated your office’s infrastructure. Someone’s tipped off the media. Everyone’s looking to you. Scenarios like this are an unfortunate reality of today’s times, and communications professionals need to be prepared to mitigate them in the best way possible. Join Secretary of State Communications Director Erich R. Ebel to learn how to create a plan that will not only help your organization survive against threats like this, but those organizations that depend on you as well.

For the past two years, Erich R. Ebel has served as Communications Director for Washington’s Office of Secretary of State, which oversees the Washington State Library, Washington State Archives, Elections, Corporations and Charities, and a number of important government programs. Prior to this role, Erich was the Marketing and Communications Director for the Washington State Historical Society and served in a number of communications positions at Pierce County and the Washington State Senate.

Feb. 6: Intercity Transit’s Vanpool Campaign

At the February 6 OCG meeting, Rena Shawver will talk about Intercity Transit’s current public campaign to encourage commuters to vanpool to work.

There is a significant effort to move the needle to get people to look at vanpooling as a commuter option. The cost savings of approximately $5,000 a year for the average commuter is, for many, reason enough to vanpool. But Intercity Transit needs to use multiple channels over time to communicate with commuters and employers about the benefits of vanpooling…and that is where they need your “Communicator” help.

Come join our session TODAY at noon at the Association of Washington School Principals, 1021 8th Ave, Olympia to find out where you fit in.