6.1a ERMUSR 02-14-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Communications and Member Relations Communicating with our membership and the general public is one of the fundamental reasons for MMUA's existence. MMUA Associate Execu- tive xecu tive Director Steve Downer works with many other MMUA staff members to fulfill this function. ' V Over the course of the year, MMUA researched and 4* answered numerous questions in regards to opera- tion of municipal utilities.At times, the answer P was gained through posting an online survey on the MMUA website. - r MMUA Associate Executive Director Steve Downer(at As is the case every year, MMUA in 2016 produced right)performed a number of functions and made 55 a number of informative publications, including 11 member visits in 2016. Here he is in Moorhead, along monthly Resource newsletters for MMUA members, with WAPA Administrator Mark Gabriel, Bill Schwandt, 24 Connector newsletters for members to send to Congressman Collin Peterson and Dennis Eisenbraun their customers, as well as 10 Capitol Letter elec- (from left to right). Schwandt and Eisenbraun are with tronic legislative updates. The Capitol Letter was Moorhead Public Service. produced by MMUA Government Relations Rep- resentative Amanda Duerr.After a several decade • Presentations before city councils, utilities corn- run, the Connector was discontinued for 2017. missions, etc., on a variety of topics relating to mu- nicipal utilities and their operation, including the MMUA also produced position statement booklets formation of new municipal electric and natural gas for the APPA Washington Rally and the MMUA utilities.At times, this type of work led to the giv- Legislative Conference, and produced materials re- ing of counsel and advice on a wide range of issues. lated to MMUA's training programs and meetings, including a meetings/training calendar. Govern- • Conducted 19 on-line surveys to gather informa- ment relations staff took the lead on publishing the tion for members. Legislative Report, • Administered committees, the MMUA Tom Bo- MMUA Annual Sponsorships, which have proven to vitz Memorial Scholarship Award and the MMUA be quite popular, were solicited and administered, Drug and Alcohol Testing Consortium. as was advertising in the Resource. The MMUA brochure, a brochure on municipal utilities, various • Served as chair of the Salvation Army HeatShare maps and PowerPoint presentations were updated. Advisory Board, and participated in various meet- ings on a variety of topics with municipal power Staff endeavors to keep the MMUA website fresh and non-profit interest groups, as well as govern- with new photography, updated information and ment regulatory agencies. Breaking News. There is also a lot of behind-the- scenes work related to tying together the website MMUA associates with its members at their sites and database. Numerous staff contributed to the whenever possible. While staff likes to recount its website's wording and look, including staff in the activities in this publication, perhaps the most communications area. Staff also used a variety of valuable thing we can do is to listen to our mem- other communications tools, including an occasion- bers. This helps us better understand the issues al tweet and flickr photo pages (these are gener- and pressures that affect individual members and ally accessed through various Events pages on the the industry as a whole. This outreach is particu- MMUA website.) larly valuable, as many municipal utilities find it difficult to break away to an association meeting. Communications and Member Relations staff Steve Downer in 2016 made 55 visits to members. played a number of other roles, including: 2016 Year in Review-15 154