WEAC Wins Five Awards for Public Relations

The WEAC Communications Division won five awards at this year's annual conference of the Public Relations Council of the States.

Three of the awards went to OnWEAC, WEAC's World Wide Web site at www.weac.org.

• The Pacesetter Award, which is presented to a single entry that exhibits exceptional innovation and creativity, went to OnWEAC. The judges said OnWEAC is an example of what a Web site should be.
• OnWEAC also won in the New Electronic Media category. OnWEAC, which was launched in May 1996, now contains more than 1,700 documents, including news articles, feature articles, research documents, and issue papers. WEAC communications and technology staff have worked jointly to create, implement, update and expand OnWEAC. This is the second year in a row that OnWEAC has won this award.
• A second New Electronic Media Award was presented to an area of OnWEAC that houses original feature articles about members and the success of Wisconsin public schools. These articles -- written by Community Relations Specialist Pete Roller of the Communications Division -- each address the question, "Every wonder why public schools work for Wisconsin?" These articles can be found in the Kids & Schools area under "OnWEAC original feature articles."
• An All Star Video Award went to "An Invitation," which highlights ways in which Milwaukee teachers -- working through the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association -- are working to improve learning and support the needs of their students. This video was created primarily for viewing by two groups: legislators/policymakers, and WEAC members. It includes an invitation to policymakers to visit Milwaukee schools and observe firsthand some of the successful programs. The video was produced by WEAC Communications Director Dick Vander Woude, Media Relations Specialist Anne Waukau, and Roller, with the assistance of MTEA leaders and staff. Technical assistance was provided by Studio One in Eau Claire.
• A Crisis Public Relations Award went to a WEAC video produced as part of the campaign to affiliate the Milwaukee Educational Assistants Association. The video, which helped win the affiliation of the 2,700-member unit, provided an overview of the benefits of affiliation. It included interviews with MEAA members who supported affiliation. The video was co-produced by Pete Roller and Fran McNett in collaboration with the Affiliate Relations Division. McNett was the lead organizer for the affiliation campaign.

The Public Relations Council of the States represents public relations and communications staff from state NEA state affiliates throughout the country. The awards were announced at last week's conference in Florida.

Posted January 12, 1998