It has been a long, cold winter in Wisconsin.  At least it feels that way, but this week,  we set our clocks ahead for more daylight, and it looks like the weather may be taking a turn for the better!  Highs near 50 by the end of the week!

What does that mean?  To me, the longer, warmer days, mean playing outside with the kids after work – one of my favorite ways to spend an evening.  It also means construction season, as it is affectionately known here.

Construction is a time when we all experience a little frustration, wondering how to get where we need to go.  Although there has been a lot of construction here and everywhere over the last couple of years, including some very long-term projects, our local government has been very open and forthcoming about when and where construction is occurring.  There are websites, such as http://www.us41wisconsin.gov/ which outlines timelines, closures, and city hall even has a scaled model of the upcoming changes.

Do you have any major projects coming up in your communities?  How are you communicating them? Check out 4imprint’s newsletter, Construction Communications, for ideas!

I come from a very politically minded family – my parents, brothers, husband and I all take voting very seriously.  At family gatherings, there is sure to be at least one conversation that is political in nature.

I do my research, especially at election time, to understand the candidiates’ platforms and agendas.  I know this is not always the norm, though.  I know many that do not vote, or vote randomly.  This may be for a number of reasons – maybe they don’t understand what the issues are, if they can actually make a difference, or they are not concerned.

Whatever the reason, if you are reaching out to the community, it is important that your agency communicates the right message to the appropriate group of people.  Using social media is one idea – I am a Facebook follower of candidates I support – or start by developing a civic education program.  4imprint recently published a newsletter with some ideas on starting a program to educate your community.

It is never too late to begin a program, and with fall elections just around the corner, it may be the perfect time.

As I was driving through town the other day, I pulled over to to let some firetrucks, with their lights and sirens on, go by.  My daughter asked me why we were stopping, so I told her that the firetrucks needed to get to an emergency.  She then replied, oh yeah, because firemen save people and so do policemen.  I thought she put it well, in very simple terms.

Even though it isn’t Fire Prevention Week, or Crime Prevention Week, or Public Service Recognition Week, it’s important to take time out of our day to thank and acknowledge the men and women that keep our communities safe throughout the year.  Often a simple thank you is enough, but how about showing support with caps, tees, and sweatshirts emblazoned with the logo of your local fire or police departments?  What more pride could be felt by your local public safety teams when they see community members proudly sporting their logos?

Let’s not forget what they do for us day in and day out.  After all, they save people.

I came across an interesting article on privacy in the public sector, that happens to coincide with a recent Workplace Privacy Blue Paper published by 4imprint.

The US Supreme Court is reviewing a case and is expected to rule on whether or not public sector employees can expect privacy when using government issued technology, such as cell phones, computers, pagers, etc.  There are questions of potential abuse, by either the employee or agency; Fourth Amendment concerns; and civil liberties that the court is evaluating in their ruling.

We have all made plans, taken a call from our kids’ school, or sent a funny joke, but when does it become a business issue? When does it affect productivity?  It should be interesting to see where the Supreme Court lands on this issue, so stay tuned!

A quality customer service experience has never been more necessary as it is today.  Customers can make choices, and with technology at their fingertips, they do research on companies and products before they commit to any sort of purchase or relationship.  Communication is also widespread, with customers indicating their likes and dislikes through social media, such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace.  One customer’s negative experience can define a company in the eyes of many.

Customers not only expect good customer service in the private sector, but also when interacting with the government.  According to a 2007 study by Accenture, there are 3 primary aspects which public sector service should be measured:

• Service maturity – is the government available and accessible online?  To what extent? 10% of the overall score was based on this factor.
• Customer service maturity – how well do agencies manage communications with citizens and business? This piece considers multi-channel integration (i.e. – mail, internet, and phone), agencies working together to provide services, and proactive communication.  This resulted in 50% of a government’s score.
• Citizen voice – what did citizens have to say about service experiences with their government?  This customer feedback accounted for 40% of a government’s score in the study.

As you can see, 90% of the scores were based upon communications and interactions with citizens and businesses.

The countries that ranked the highest in the study were Singapore (1^st), Canada (2^nd), and the United States (3^rd).  Singapore’s development of a nationwide broadband system will allow for integrated processes across the government sector.  They’ve involved private sector businesses and the public in development of this strategy.  Ultimately, the focus of this strategy has been on creating value for the citizens and businesses of Singapore.

Canada ranked 2^nd in the study, and though their focus is also of putting citizens at the center of initiatives, the primary difference between Canada and Singapore is that Canada’s public has not perceived much improvement in the system over the last few years.

The eGovernment program in the United States has put it in the 3^rd position of the study results.  This internet-based program has allowed citizens and businesses to interact with the government in a stream-lined process.  Also, since quarterly results of measures agreed upon by agencies are made available to the public, they are motivated to meet and exceed the goals.

Focus on the citizens, and their perception of government is important for each of these 3 countries, and has resulted in high customer service rankings.  What is the focus of your municipality as it relates to customer service?  What are you doing to achieve it?

We’ve recently added some practical new products to keep employees safe on the job.

The 5-Point Vertical Stripe Tear Away Safety Vest is available in safety orange or yellow, and makes school crossing guards or transportation employees visible.  Or try the Hard Hat, printed with your municipality, to keep them protected.  And since it is construction season, at least here in Wisconsin, the timing of these products couldn’t be better!

For more new products, check out the website for 4imprint’s Government customers.  You’ll find unique stores with products specific to your needs, archives of past newsletters, and contact information for our Government Team.

As the fiscal year comes to a close for agencies on many government levels, you are most likely finalizing and beginning to implement plans for the upcoming year.  Announcing new programs, reinforcing your purpose to the public, and sharing important contact information may be some of the things you are planning.

There are many effective ways to communicate to the public.  Through open meetings, flyers, direct mail pieces, or giveaways, you want to be sure that the message sticks, and your budget dollars are spent wisely.

Research has shown that promotional products are an effective, low cost tool for reaching the right audience and having them recall your message.  Of those participating in a 2004 survey, 73% use promotional products at least once a day, while 76% remember who gave it to them, a full twelve months later.  Recipients of these types of products hang onto them because they find them useful (75.4%) and attractive (20.2%).  Continued exposure may be what you are looking for to get your message through.

There are many products available that represent your department’s message.  Recycled and earth-friendly products are ideal options for promoting a message of conservation, or an event within the park system.  Choose sanitizers or first aid kits to bring awareness to public health issues.  Or be sure the community has contact information of local public safety departments with magnets, pens and notepads.

Whatever method you are using to share your message, be sure the public hears it loud and clear.

A phrase that we have been hearing quite a bit is ‘transparency in government.’  As a public we expect to hear what is going on within our government agencies and offices, and much of the information we get is from the internet.  While the internet is a great resource to find information, there is so much out there that it can be difficult to find complete and current information.

Where can we go to find information regarding what is going on in our government?  With email available, as well as social media options, there are many opportunities to communicate clearly and accurately with the public.

E-newsletters are an ideal way to communicate with the public.  About 79% of adults in the U.S. are online, and 90 of these use email, so it is a quick and effective way to communicate to a large group of readers.  4imprint’s recent Government newsletter offers some valuable steps for setting up your agency’s e-newsletter.

Another option is a social media site.  Facebook, for example, has over 250 million active users worldwide.  This type of site offers a great way to share documentation and articles with the public, by allowing users to ‘join’ the group.

Are you currently using technology to communicate to the public?  If so, I’d love to hear what you’re using and you’re applying it.  If you’re not, there is no better time to get started.