Last year I worked on a really good sub-committee on governmental-to-public communications. We talked about various communications models that could be implemented to improve the two-way communications between government and its different audiences. It was a good experience but the recommendations almost completely died...as we prepared another one of "those reports" You know what I'm talking about...a report written by 20 and read by 3....a report that gathers dust on the shelf, and (this is my favorite) is referenced to justify a political position one way or another regardless of whether the position was supported by "the report of the committee on communications"
So a new "strategic planning initiative" takes place and lo and behold, they decide that "communications" is our problem...or at least one of them.
So they form a sub-committee (again)
Hold a meeting
And VIOLA!
Here are the solutions to our "communications problem":
" Picnic in the Park with the Mayor;
Posters in the downtown area with pictures and testimonials about “why I’m in XXXXX from area businesses;
"great way to dress up vacant buildings etc".(sic)
Discussion also followed on the idea of “Branding” our community and its inclusion as an objective that should be considered in the prioritization process. A contest could be conducted to involve the citizens and create excitement. This will be further explored at the next meeting.
I think I've finally figured it out....we're practicing GOVERNMENT BY GIMMICK...Yeah...that's the ticket...give the public enough gimmicks and they'll ignore that you're f-ing up....royally...
WHISKEY
TANGO
FOXTROT!
