Communication Plan 2000-2001 

Background

The need in Wisconsin to strengthen efforts to communicate the value of EE and increase support for EE was identified at the 1995 Wisconsin Environmental Education Board EE Summit. Both the Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education (WAEE) and the WEEB discussed strategies for addressing this need. In 1998 an ad-hoc committee of the WAEE Board, chaired by Paul Wozniak developed a WAEE Communications Plan addressing this need. Also during 1998 the staff of the UW-SP based National Environmental Education Advancement Project (NEEAP) worked with representatives of the WAEE Communications Committee, WEEB, the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, UW Extension, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop the "EE Works for Wisconsin" promotional materials.

In January of 1998 NEEAP and the WAEE Communications Committee sponsored a media training workshop for Wisconsin EE leaders. Also during 1998, a Communications Committee of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, chaired by Pat Marinac, developed a plan to build upon previous efforts to promote EE in Wisconsin. During the summer of 1999 Dr. Rick Wilke proposed bringing together the WAEE, WEEB and NEEAP efforts for the purpose of more effectively promoting EE in Wisconsin. He offered the assistance of graduate students in his EE Research Seminar. The graduate students with advice from Dr. Wilke and input from key representatives of WAEE, WEEB and NEEAP designed and assisted in the implementation of a communication plan to promote EE in Wisconsin. The group used the WAEE Communication Plan as a starting point in the development of their plan.

Vision

The development and implementation of a Wisconsin EE Communications/Promotion Plan will result in a demonstrated increase in recognition, acceptance and support for EE by decision makers on school boards, parent organizations, school administrative staffs, members of the legislature, and the news media.

Mission

To achieve broader public acceptance and support for EE in Wisconsin.

Timeframe

January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2001

Goals

  • To communicate the value of EE to Wisconsin school board members and school administrative staff and to increase their support for EE.
  • To help elected/appointed officials understand the importance of EE and increase their support of EE programs.
  • To increase recognition and support for EE by members of the news media in Wisconsin.
  • To increase support from parents and members of parent organizations for EE within their schools.
  • To improve the implementation of Wisconsin’s existing EE teacher training requirement at universities and colleges.

A major part of the effort to achieve these goals will be completed by volunteers across the state, including parents, teachers, administrators, and business people who support EE in Wisconsin. To help these volunteers become organized and to give them a head start in their effort, an organizing packet was developed and will be sent to select individuals across the state (UWSP EE Summer Master’s program students, EE Liaisons, and EE centers/organizations in the state). The packet will describe for the volunteers what kind of action is needed to support EE in their community and how they can take that action. It will include the following information pertaining to all five goals:

  • Information about how to use the packet
  • Frequently Asked Questions about EE
  • 12 Reasons for EE
  • "EE Works for Wisconsin" brochure
  • Tips for writing letters and news releases in support of EE
  • Questions for parents to ask school boards about EE in their community
  • Example letters and news releases in support of EE including:
    • Letter from a parent to parent organization
    • Letter from a teacher to parent organization
    • Letter to the editor to alert public of the need for EE
    • Letter to the editor to encourage school district support for EE
    • Letter to school board member from parent
    • Follow up letter to school board member from parent
    • Follow up letter to school board member from parent

Specific examples of documents to assist with all the organization or implementation steps with an asterisk (*) after them are included in a separate organizing packet.

For more information about each goal, please follow the links below.