communications consultant 2003

byBarbara Stoutamore

How is a communications consultant from the Oregon Education Association similar to and different from a consultant from a corporation?

National Education Association (NEA)

Oregon Education Association (OEA)

UniServ

School Association

Communications consultant with OEA

Works primarily with electronic media

His training was on the job

Organizing committee is within each association

• In charge of communications Internal: members External: public, students (if applicable), media,

board

• OEA consultant deals directly with this committee

Direct organizing committee members as to how to keep members

Corporate consultants don’t do this

organizing committee members

• Do too much too quickly Advertisement in paper Stand the association is taking

• Confrontational Towards administration or district Towards members

Counsels less aggressive measures• Newspaper advertisement usually not

effective• Shouldn’t give all information about

association’s stand

Reminds organizing committee of contract being negotiated

Organizing committee afraid of communicating to members/public

• Say and/or do little• Fear retaliation from district or

administration• Fear “tipping their hand”

Helps committee form statements• To members• To public and media

Nudges group into action

Race: Oregon demographics is predominately white

Gender: Seldom an issue

UniServ: helps with these

More corporate issues

Difficult to establish standards

• Often have to “wing it”• Must be innovative and imaginative

Must adhere to some conventions

• Never go against Association, its bylaws and policies Lie Interfere with election of union members running

for office

Listening to members

• What works for one school doesn’t always work for another

• City schools have different needs than rural schools

• Each level of education has different needs

1. How is the job of an OEA consultant similar?

Answer

consult clients on ways to communicate

must be ethical

2. How is the job of an OEA consultant different from that of a corporate consultant?

Answer He/she has more clients Deals, predominantly, with organizing

committee Directs committee as to how to keep

members Doesn’t deal with race or gender, as a rule

Thanks for watching my presentation.