First Unitarian Society of Ithaca Communication Council
WELCOME!
The Communication Council (CC) was initiated by the FUSIT Board of Trustees in January 2005. The CC was charged with setting and carrying out guidelines, policies, and protocols for all official FUSIT communications.
Co-Chairs: Fred Conner <flc2@cornell.edu> and Marie McRae <mmmcrae@juno.com> 607-844-8783
Board liaison: Therese O'Connor <tao3@cornell.edu>
MISSION
It is the mission of the Communication Council to create standardized guidelines for official Church communications, both internal and external, and to ensure that those communications are regulated ethically, fairly, and responsibly.
PROCEDURES
The Communication Council will create and disseminate protocols and guidelines for use by all Church committees in preparing official messages, and will also, if so directed by the Board, establish protocols for reviewing any conflicts that may arise regarding communications.
Official messages will include, but may not be limited to, items for the web site, bulletin boards, notices, posters, advertisements, newsletters, listserv e-mails, form letters, brochures, broadcasts (both video and audio), banners, and all other types of public communication.
The CC recognizes that the FUSIT Mission Statement and its component concepts present a foundation for a unified, recognizable identity from which the CC may draw.
COMPOSITON
The CC comprises the following Church committees, which work together to accomplish the CC mission:
- Enhancement, Diane Newton <dianewton899@aol.com>, 607-273-4960
- Webmaster, Keith Slayden webmaster@unitarian.ithaca.ny.us
- Library (TBA)
- Bulletin Boards, Jo Carcich <jo@unitarian.ithaca.ny.us>, 607-277-6881
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
The Council is currently involved in updating the material presented on the FUSIT web site.
MEETINGS
To be held quarterly or as necessary.
MINUTES of the inaugural meeting can be found here.
FUTURE PLANS
- Establish a church communication structure.
- Compile communication guidelines that all committees can follow.
- Follow up on the idea of a church “ombudsman” for handling internal disputes.
- Using the Church’s approved Vision statement, work on a church theme/message (perhaps incorporating “liberal religion” and the “initiatives” idea that should come out of church-growth plans).
- Address concerns about Sunday-service videotaping.
- Consider Marek’s fine work with the new website (improved appearance, more uniform, easier to navigate, more in line with web media, and up-to-date in terms of content), and help him to resolve remaining questions, such as: What kind of “branding” uniformity should be present (i.e., page design)? Should a “slide show” be part of the web site? Who should be able to post/edit web content? What’s the best way to keep time-sensitive information up-to-date? What information should be restricted to members (password protected)? How do “acceptable content” disputes get resolved? Do we freely post members’ personal information (such as what appears in the published directory)? What’s the best way to solicit feedback to improve the site and make it fully accessible to all potential users?