Improving our ability to communicate effectively with technology

Update Technology Infrastructure; Training; New Communications Technology

www.oraction.org

$2,180

We would like to use grant monies from PTP to make improvements to three aspects of our ability to communicate with both our membership and the general public.

• First, we will make our website more useful to our membership and others who are interested in the work we do. At present, we are unable to make significant changes to the website due to insufficient software and a need for staff training. We will purchase Dreamweaver8 software program, allow one of our staff time to learn how to use this program for website maintenance, and upgrade this person’s computer monitor. For training, we will use an 8-hour tutorial program and expertise from our technology consultant at Western Organization of Resource Councils.
• Second, we will make our organization more accessible to our Spanish speaking members by purchasing English-Spanish translation software. With this software, we will translate articles in our newsletter and brochure to reach members of the Latino communities where we organize.
• Third, we will improve the quality of our publications and brochures by purchasing a color laser printer that is capable of producing high-quality low cost copies.

Until recently, our website has been given low priority due to all the other demands on our staff. More and more, we see the potential of using the website as a tool to enhance and increase local interactions. Many of our members in Union and Baker Counties would use the website to search for updates on local meetings and events or share ideas. We have come up against considerable difficulties while attempting to use Macromedia Contribute to maintain and update our website. With updated software and training, we could improve our website to increase its usefulness to our membership and others who are interested in our work. We will build a calendar page that allows for easy viewing and updates, update pages to support information about specific issues, eliminate web pages and links that are not used or updated, create a protocol for website maintenance, and focus our energy on what is necessary while keeping in mind our capacity for maintenance. By taking time to offer training to our staff, we can make website maintenance a simple task rather than an unproductive adventure.

We currently offer a Spanish version of our brochure that was translated by a volunteer. English-Spanish translation software would allow us to regularly include Spanish versions of articles in our newsletter or website as well as make changes to our brochure. We have bilingual staff and members who can confirm the accuracy of the translations. Many of our members in Malheur County have limited English proficiency and though they may speak English, they are less capable of reading in English. Our work in Latino communities is expanding and we anticipate that our membership will increase in Malheur County as well as other counties where we plan to begin organizing campaigns in 2007. By offering more of our printed materials in Spanish, we may be able to better reach these communities.

With our current printing equipment, we are unable to print in color or make copies with high definition. We print and copy most of our paper communication materials in our office to keep the cost low and to allow ourselves the opportunity to make regular updates. This includes the printing of our brochure and newsletter. By using a color laser printer, we could greatly improve the look of both our brochure and newsletter while continuing to keep the cost low.

In the past few months, we have rearranged our staff responsibilities to allow one person time to maintain the website and create communication materials. The staff training and website development made possible by this grant funding would occur in addition to the regular work schedule. After the training and development is completed, this staff member will return to a regular half-time schedule and continue maintenance of the new system.

This project allows several opportunities for improvement of our organization.

• Improves the overall presentation of our organization by updating our website and improving the quality of our printed materials.
• Improves our website calendar and other significant pages to increase awareness of local opportunities to be involved in our mission for social change.
• Makes our printed materials accessible to communities of limited English proficiency.
• Makes website maintenance easier for our staff.

We will know if staff training is successful based on our ability to make changes to our website. We will track changes in website use before and after the modifications are made to determine whether or not these changes have made a difference in the pattern of use. We hope to see increased attendance at local meetings and events as people are made more aware of these opportunities through changes in the website and the offering of quality printed materials on both English and Spanish.