Public Relations Task Force (go public-relations) Annual Report 1996 Submitted by: Andre L. Ouellette PRTF Coordinator January 14, 1997 ______________________________________________________________________________ Members of the Public Relations Task Force: Andre L. Ouellette (bf766) - Coordinator James Scharf (ba220) Natalie Bartlett (ag380) Mandate: To co-ordinate media activity and work with the Funding Group and Staff to promote the NCF. Responsible to: Executive Director Level of Authority: - recommend media relations strategies; - co-ordinate media activity among staff, Board and volunteers; Duties and Responsibilities: - support and utilise the 3* primary NCF spokespersons by arranging interviews and other media activity * Lisa Donnelly, Dave Sutherland and Andrew Patrick - assist in the writing and disseminating of news releases, Public Service Announcements and Media Advisories and following up with media contacts. - post any media materials in related on-line areas - maintain NCF's network of media contacts - co-ordinate all branches of media activity NCF (Libertel, NCF, funding, etc.) - identify issues relating to NCF, community networking, computer-mediated communication and the Internet.Research and draft position statements for NCF on these issues. Time Frame: Ongoing with 6 month reviews. Time Commitment: 5 hours/week (average) Can go as high as 20-30 hours for specific campaigns and news conferences. Support/resources required (materials, staff support, information): - staff input as required (Executive Director, Office Administrator) - office support (phone, fax, meeting space as required, etc.) - media contact files/database (to be maintained) Membership: - 1 co-ordinator - 2 or 3 members (James Scharf and Natalie Bartlett) - professional PR firms as needed Current Composition: André L. Ouellette, PRTF Co-ordinator, Vice-Chair Development Committee James Scharf, Natalie Bartlett NATIONAL Public Relations (John Wildgust) Targeted Communication Management (Paul Murray, Eric Snyder) Lisa K. Donnelly (Executive Director, NCF) Jeff Bossert (Treasurer, Board Member, NCF) Qualifications: - bilingualism (co-ordinator); - experience in dealing with the press/media; - ability to manage an electronic file system (contacts); - experience in written/verbal communications with the press/media. Assets: - formal education in a communication-related diploma or degree Reporting: - Annual written report in December (to Executive Director) - Quarterly reports (press/media activity) to Executive Director. 1996 in Review: _______________ 1. Pr Menu updated: ___________________ <<< Public Relations Task Force >>> (go public-relations) 1 What is the Public Relations Task Force? 2 Task force discussion (ncf.sub.public-relations) >>> 3 Members of the Public Relations Task Force 4 NCF Public Relations Policy 5 NCF's Poster Contest 6 NCF's Volunteer Team 7 NCF News Releases 1996... 8 NCF News Releases 1995... 9 See also Events Calendar (Upcoming NCF Events) ------------------------------------------------ h=Help, x=Exit FreeNet, p=previous, u=up, m=main Your Choice ==> 2. NEW Public Relations HomePage: _________________________________ URL: http://www.ncf.ca/public-relations/ 3. NEW Funding HomePage: ________________________ URL: http://www.ncf.ca/funding/ 4. 1996 News Releases: ______________________ (Complete text is available in the Public Relations area (go public-relations) <<<1996 NCF Press Releases >>> 1 NCF Announces "The Microsoft On-line Auction" 2 L'Encan En-Ligne 'Microsoft' 3 First NCF Drop-in Electronic Resource and Access Centre (1996-08-16) 4 Le premier Centre electronique de ressources (1996-08-16) 5 Le Libertel de la Capital nationale annonce le Freeplan (1996-08-13) 6 National Capital FreeNet Announces FreePlan (1996-08-02) 7 FreeNet Launches Fundraising Calendar (1996-06-06) 8 CyberShop Online Software Sponsorship (1996-03-19) 9 Financement du logiciel CyberShop En-Ligne (1996-03-19) 10 U.S.Robotics and Newbridge Networks Donations (1996-02-01) 5. On-line Promos: __________________ a) NCF Poster contest: (Details further on in this report.) 6. Web Presence: ________________ NCF now has a presence in the Ottawa Electronic Mall. The Mall is located at: http://www.inter-netmall.com/ottawa/mall.htm This is tremendous exposure for NCF. If you have the opportunity, take a look at this site. 7. Magazine Advertisements: ___________________________ a) Monitor Magazine: (Contra arrangement - Connection Sponsorship + ShowCase) On-going "FreeBytes" column by Gordon Pearson; monthly ads of our choice (1/3 page), including "Get Connected" message; upcoming Feature article on NCF's 4th Anniversary. b) Ottawa Computes: (Contra arrangement - Connection Sponsorship for Ottawa Computes, The Computer Paper, The Computer Wholesaler) Monthly ads of our choice (1/3 page) including "Get Connected" message. 8. 1996 Post-mortem: ____________________ The PRTF has been quite active in issuing News Releases the past year. Although we haven't had a great deal of media coverage, we feel that our efforts have yielded some positive feedback in the local community. i.e. numerous interviews on local radio, coverage of some events by local magazines and neighbourhood newspapers. 9. Upcoming events: ___________________ NCF's 4th Birthday Party: _________________________ Preparations are well under way for this annual event. 1997's version should prove to be bigger and better than previous parties. The RMOC's Main Foyer is this year's venue. CBO radio personality John Lacharity has agreed to be this year's Master of Ceremonies. Negotiations are underway to have Regional Chair Peter Clark's office cover the majority of the expenses (as last year). A guest list is being prepared, which will include all of NCF's Key Partners, Connection Sponsors, Information Providers, Media, Government Officials (local, regional and federal) as well as special invitations to NCF's donors and general membership. Rebecca Last has kindly offered her services in securing one or more high profile speakers for this occasion. 10. National Capital FreeNet's Poster Contest: ______________________________________________ *See attachment 1 for details The PRTF and the Funding Group, are sponsoring a Poster Contest. The purpose of this contest is to: a) Generate community spirit b) Create a poster or posters for NCF to use as promotional tools for various events, sponsor recognition and public awareness programs vis-a-vis NCF. (Thanks to Jeff Bossert for the idea.) 11. 1997 AGM: _____________ The PRTF plans to promote this year's AGM through its magazine sources, on-line in the announce menu, the PRTF menu and by having NCF sponsor a connection on behalf of the 1997 AGM. The purpose of these promos, is to raise member awareness of this year's Annual General Meeting and hopefully increase participation. 12. Recommendations for 1997: _____________________________ a) Maintain closer ties with NCF's Key Partners and Connection/ShowCase sponsors b) Design and make appropriate use of a Quarterly News Letter --------- Attachment 1: _____________ NCF Poster Contest __________________ The National Capital FreeNet is launching an on-line contest. We need members to create an NCF poster that we can give to Key Partners, Connection and ShowCase sponsors and other members and institutions. We hope to use the poster as a promotional tool. The winners will be announced at the NCF Birthday Party. _____________________________________________________ Rules and Regulations 1. Poster must be 8 1/2" x 11" - Portrait format only. 2. Poster must contain NCF Logo (available in Public Download Area - go pda) in .gif format. 3. Contestants MUST be registered NCF members to qualify for any of the prizes. 4. All entries to be submitted to the NCF office via Fax, Snail-mail or delivered by hand, and received no later than midnight January 15, 1997. Entries can be in hard copy or electronic format, i.e. diskette - GIF or JPG - no more than 256 colours in JPG or GIF format. 5. Entries must contain the following information: Full Name, NCF userid, Telephone Number. (Any entries not containing all of this information, will be declared void.) 6. All entries become the exclusive property of the National Capital FreeNet. 7. The National Capital FreeNet reserves the right to use any, all or none of the entries for promotional purposes. 8. All entries will be judged by a panel of NCF staff and board members, whose decision shall be final. The Judges' Panel will consist of the following NCF members: Jeff Bossert (Treasurer & Director, National Capital FreeNet) Lisa K. Donnelly (Executive Director, National Capital FreeNet) S.C. Alder (Administrative Coordinator, National Capital FreeNet) 9. All contestants will be invited to the NCF's 4th Birthday Party to be held on February 5, 1997, at the RMOC Foyer. 10. Winning entries will be announced at the NCF's 4th Birthday Party, to be held on February 5, 1997, at the RMOC Foyer. Prizes will be awarded at that time. 11. NCF Staff, Board Members or Volunteers or their immediate families are ineligible for this contest. ============================================================================== NCF Poster Contest Prize List __________________ First Prize: One Personalized FreeNet Address (PFA) of winners choice - value $100 One FreeNet book package - (1 Copy NCF Survival Guide, 1 Copy FreeNet for the Fun of it, 1 Copy NCF Cookbook (From the Kitchens of the National Capital FreeNet) - value $50 On-line Recognition in the Funding area (go funding - go $) Second Prize: One weekend of unlimited access time to the NCF system (Saturday 00:01 hrs. to Sunday 11:59 hrs. - inclusive) One FreeNet book package - (1 Copy NCF Survival Guide, 1 Copy FreeNet for the Fun of it, 1 Copy NCF Cookbook (From the Kitchens of the National Capital FreeNet) - value $50 On-line Recognition in the Funding area (go funding - go $) Third Prize: One FreeNet book package - (1 Copy NCF Survival Guide, 1 Copy FreeNet for the Fun of it, 1 Copy NCF Cookbook (From the Kitchens of the National Capital FreeNet) - value $50 On-line Recognition in the Funding area (go funding - go $) _________________________________ André L. Ouellette Coordinator, Public Relations Task Force National Capital FreeNet