Importance of an Effective Community Relations Program

There are some powerful relationship realities between various community groups and organizations that. Constituents are asking more questions, decisions are taking longer. Very small forces, sometimes, individuals can stop great ideas and projects. People without credentials have enormous credibility. Corporations and organizations every day, their validity, honesty and reliability will have to prove. Most public debate and discussion on issues, that is, embarrassment, humiliation are more focused on, and blame shifting than on achieving beneficial progress.

It is often said that the community relations or the "local public relations" right "to live and tell about it." It was also explained as "having and keeping friends in the community.

Community relations function that public attitudes, public interest organization with an assessment mission to identify and implement a program of action to get the public's understanding and acceptance. Like public relations, community relations is something that an organization has recognized this fact or not. Unlike public relations, community relations is generally limited to local area. Business organizations have good reason to focus on its community relations. Organisations are a benefit to the public only when they are allowed to exist. American free enterprise is a concept that exists only to make a profit and is responsible official family was reduced to a great degree.While there are specific benefits achieved, planned program is not universal agreement on the organization of their community relations efforts cite many tangible and intangible benefits. Good community relations are not automatically benefit from. In fact, many organizations and outstanding corporate citizen the right to reward employers who fail to realize their merits entitle them. They miss the payoff because they fail to tell you about. Key benefits derived from sound community relations, public communications further enhances an organization's overall program. Attitude surveys show that communities traditionally neighbors and important part of the companies in each of its cities, towns and civic programs know very little about the plays.

Such specific topics within the practice of public relations, the community relations work done by physicians is extremely complex. And yet, you leaf through the texts of general public relations if you will not find much discussion about "community relations."

It's probably because the community relations activities on a regular basis (that is, carefully researched, targeted communications to achieve organizational goals - community acceptance and support) to simulate the actions taken by the Public Relations practitioners. Consequently, the authors have worked out every day it is probably from the community relations activities did not necessarily break.

None the less, community, relationships are worth some serious discussion. In fact, good, effective community relations people, businesses and organizations which does not contain live, work and work in the company's activities in the surrounding community.

A company does not live in a vacuum. Citizens and groups that populate its geographical area of ​​operation are necessary for its operation. Employees live in the community, the more likely they grew up there. Community banks in the company. Municipal, county and state governments parameters set by the company can operate.

And you only apply the principles of good public relations with time to get by.

In the spring of 2002, Aquarion four U.S. Connecticut, Massachusetts, New England water utilities in New York and New Hampshire have acquired. Nearly 147 000 homes and businesses for sale 177 000 people or 500,000 people, or 64,000 homes and businesses, who said the Aquarion water utilities already provided water quality.

Existing and new Aquarion Water Company customers and other components for a smooth transition effects, Aquarion designed and implemented a major internal and external communications activities for pre-and post-merger companies' publics awareness and educate and conditions Aquarion created the industry's environmental efforts, and as community leaders.

address a variety (Hingham, Hull, Cohasset, Oxford, and Millbury) and New Hampshire (Hampton, North Hampton, and rye).

Local control, water rates, water supply and regionalization - - issues are interrelated. Addressed as an issue that impacts others and the Aquarion Water Company complicates operations and public relations challenges.

Additionally, Aquarion's community leaders, state lawmakers and other opinion leaders need to call on the predecessor company was hindered by the traditional low profile. Management to the communities where it operates or actively communicate with the media was not encouraged to become part of the fabric. Therefore, the company had historically low visibility. Also, by using the water supply issue was virtually non-existent.

In the next four years, especially the last two, much progress has been made. Both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, good community, media and government relations position in a Millbury perchlorate, a Cohasset interconnection, and is evidenced by the success of a referendum over Hampton.

In 2005, Aquarion New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission seeking a rate increase has gone before. The elected and appointed officials in the cities of their service on the agenda the issues of water caused the bubble. In particular, a person, Henry Fuller, chair of the North Hampton Water Commission, an individual to increase the rate began to fail. The use of fire hydrants to the scene of the condition and therefore a lack of service and there was no need to increase rates. He also raised the issue of municipal takeover.

Two years ago, Aquarion own service towns, Hampton, New Hampshire found in a similar situation in any other form. There, a warrant for the selectmen to appoint a special committee studying a possible acquisition of Aquarion Water Company's proposed articles. Is Larry Bingaman, Aquarion Senior Vice President of the deliberative town meeting was the opportunity to speak.

We developed an aggressive campaign with the slogan "a fix for something that is not broke, why study?" Aquarion's achievements after the merger, as well as an eminent domain case to educate voters about the potential cost. We use direct mail to all Hampton residents and our main message, attendees met with reporters. The results of the referendum was lost 4:01.

Lessons were learned. Aquarion need to develop a community relations program. All cities in its service, local government officials reached the media to cover, and a customer advisory committee comprised of representatives from its service towns.

When the idea of ​​an eminent domain acquisition has emerged in North Hampton, Aquarion was better able to respond to. Media not present a balanced account of issues raised, but also as supporters questioned the feasibility of the idea. Customer Advisory Committee, North Hampton for the other key opinion leaders with whom we were able to identify their main message was present.

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