The CPR-M Committee has the task to “educate all Members about Capital District (CD) Communications and the resources and tools available to them”. Clubs share in this responsibility to let their members know about the media and electronic sites so Kiwanians know about their club, neighboring club events, and CD and Kiwanis International projects. The E-Builder announced the CPR-M survey and asked all Kiwanians to participate. Topics included questions about Club Newsletter, Club PR committee, Quarterly Capital Builder, Monthly E-Builder, Local Media News, Club Web site, District Web Site, and Kiwanis website. We thank all CD Kiwanians who completed the Communications survey and provided many helpful recommendations for improvements. We received over 200 replies, with all Regions participating, although some Divisions and Clubs did not send replies. Kiwanians at all levels completed the survey and indicated the CD Communications structure is good and well used. Many individuals from Clubs throughout the CD submitted the surveys via e-mail.

Kiwanians told us they access Kiwanis news via their home computer and are pleased with the availability of CD communications. Among Clubs, there is a growing trend to use e-mail to send newsletters. Many Kiwanians did not yet register for CapNet, as they do not know about either its presence or its usefulness. Those Kiwanians who receive the quarterly Capital Builder, say they read it, in some cases just skimming for information. A significant number do not receive the Capital Builder and several respondents suggested merging the Capital and E-Builder with access via the internet or e-mail. There is a need to remind Club Presidents or Secretaries to announce or distribute the monthly E-Builder to their members.

Club members indicate the local media covers their events and several indicated they have a working relationship with a reporter or editor, so their clubs are in the news monthly. One suggestion for Clubs is the need to appoint a specific PR person to work with the President and Secretary to ensure all events get coverage. Many Kiwanians stressed the need for Kiwanis to do more from KI to the Club level in newspapers and on TV. (They did not suggest WHO would do this). One Kiwanian would like to see “billboards along the highways, as a firm is doing as a public service for their club, and said “PR is how they obtained their many new members”.

The majority of e-mail respondents access the Capital District web site, but fewer Kiwanians indicate they access the Kiwanis International site. On the CD web site, members wanted an easier way to find information, navigate the site, and get help finding directory information. More Clubs now have a web site or have a web link to keep members informed of calendars, officers, and “events with pictures”. A few Clubs were developing or redesigning their sites. In February 2007, the CD web counter showed over 34,800 visitors and by June 27, 2007, the counter showed 40,569 visitors or an estimated 1000 visitors per month. This bears out the survey response where many members indicate they access the site weekly and others say they visit monthly.

In the E-Builder, many respondents wanted to read more about other Club’s fundraisers, specifically what actions the Club took to make the event successful. Kiwanians want to read about projects with youth, events pertaining to their Club, and then info about other Clubs. Members want suggestions for Club Building and Membership, announcements about Kiwanis or District deadlines, and at the Club level, they suggest spotlighting a Club, and mention events where members can volunteer. When multiple Clubs are in an area, members wanted to hear about each Club in their Division. Members want more articles to define new or revised Kiwanis or District committees or programs including statistics on Service Leadership Programs. Clubs want more news about their local Clubs in the E-Builder; however, statistics indicate many Clubs do not submit articles. Over a six-month period, the average number of monthly Club articles was 30, with District, Governor and Committee reports accounting for 12-31 articles each month. All Regions submit articles each month, although many Divisions and Clubs did not submit articles. Suggestion received to send regular e-mail to remind Clubs to submit photos and articles to the E-Builder. Many respondents like the information but found the style of the E-Builder unfriendly, more like a laundry list and suggested departments, or a collection of similar articles such as Service Leadership, editorials, how-to’s, education and Officer and Committee reports. Members also welcomed the competition the monthly statistics provide. The CPR-M Committee welcomes suggestions and invites CD Kiwanians to COMMUNICATE with us we are LISTENING.