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The League of Women Voters of California

Public Relations Workshop

Nina Sabrack and Deborah Linzer had League members not only thinking "outside the box" but also "on top of the box" (our SOAP box) at their exciting Public Relations Workshop. We were urged to do our mental preparation as we approach communications opportunities, and to be hypersensitive to both words and images. Communications theory teaches us to design the message for the listener: make sure the message is clear and understood, short enough to be quoted and clear enough not to be misquoted. There is no such thing as the "general public" -- rather a diverse audience of individuals who bring their own preconceptions to the issues.

Think also of "sight bites" for visual clarity. In written materials, think of how white space and bullets can ease comprehension. Show your passion. Passion is the fuel that drives all volunteer organizations. Use words that go for the heart and passion -- words that will evoke visual images. People respond to the picture in their heads. League has so many ways to give, TO members and AS members. We are bigger, more powerful and more exciting than we project ourselves to be. -- Joanne Leavitt, LWV Santa Monica (ac997@1afn.org)

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