Screenshot of city's online calendar today. Lack of right-hand arrow
means there is no August calendar online.
means there is no August calendar online.
Here's the challenge: You want 50,000 Plainfielders to know you are celebrating National Night Out's 25th anniversary on the first Tuesday in August so they can come out and participate.
In previous years, there have been stories in the newspapers, banners over the street, and a big push in the community to come out, join in and 'give crime a going-away party' as the slogan used to go.
So, what's the communication plan for 2008?
Seems like it's 'tell people as little as possible'.
The banner stretching all the way across Front Street near Watchung Avenue only has the date, no other information. Same for the banner staked into the ground at the corner of Front and Park.
The city's website calendar doesn't even have August events up yet, as you can see from the illustration above. (Were they caught by surprise that there was another month after 'July'?)
Maybe there's a press release. Nope, the last press release on the website is dated July 10 (road repairs) and before that June 13 (firefighter valor awards).
Thankfully, Monday's Courier has a mention of today's programming: Tonight, 5:30 PM, in front of City Hall. Surprisingly, readers learned that this past weekend's Bike Rodeo was also part of the observance, as was a 'Church Community Day' on Sunday. Who knew?
We also learn that events will be held in Wards 2 and 4 on Wednesday, and Wards 1 and 3 on Thursday. The events, times, and locations are unspecified. Better get out your Ouija board.
What a contrast to the School District, which I will take a look at tomorrow.
If there were an award for 'City With Poorest Communications', Plainfield would definitely be in the running.
-- Dan Damon
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