Local Businessman and international motivational speaker Randy Moore joined residents at the Dairy Queen on Base line yesterday to lead us in a session on ‘Communication With Your Elected Officials’.
It was a lively discussion with an enthusiastic group of about 25 individuals. Joining us were MLA Dave Quest and rural Councillor Linton Delainey. As people talked about ways that they liked to have information shared with them, it became evident that no one single tool was right for any particular person at any particular time.
All agreed that communication was a complex and personal process – a two way street of information sharing.
How should elected officials connect with you?
Some said electronic media was the way to go – meeting their needs for convenience with ‘any time access’. But they wanted those e mails to be timely and on relevant topics – ‘send neighbourhood issues and information – make it personal’. Others liked more conventional print: newsletters and media.
Almost everyone complained about the total lack of local media channels available. ‘We are a community next door to a giant. We wake up, read the Edmonton Journal or watch Global Edmonton, go to work with an JOE FM radio, return home to watch CTV Edmonton , watch American shows and world news. Where and how can we connect with our own community? It just isn’t there!’ said one resident.
Residents were very clear on what they don’t want. ‘Don’t send us form letters!’ As a rule, they don’t read junk mail, brochures and ads. The local newspaper was for some great – for others either late or undelivered.
When asked how best local politicians could talk to residents - all seemed to agree. They preferred the ’eyeball to eyeball’ communication route. ‘We want politicians to meet us face to face...in the Mall, in the Dairy Queen, at our doorstep and in our own neighbourhoods!’ Residents want sincerity and are most impressed with politicians that are out and about, knocking on doors even when there is no election. Residents say that they realize some of the responsibility to communicate does lie with them but say that they respect those politicians who build personal relationships and listen- really listen.
Next Blog is on the response residents gave when we asked them: Do you think you are being heard?
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