Editor: Jill Midyett      S P R I N G   2 0 0 0       www.desertskycommunications.com
In this issue: Current Work: Crisis Communications: Don't Fail to Plan Coming Up: Jane Blume appears... Recent Recognition: Award Winners, In the News More Client News: New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund, Avista Video Histories, Kim Jew Photography, Chef Jim White, Cheri Tillman, Marita Littauer Recent Appearances: November 1999 - April 2000	13401 Circulo Largo, NE Albuquerque, NM 87112-3765 505.294.1976

Crisis Communications: Don't Fail to Plan

The story you're about to read is true: A non-profit organization was running a program under contract to a municipality, when top management discovered that one of their program employees had falsified data and engaged in other illegal practices.

To their credit, the executives reported the problem immediately to the city department that had awarded them the contract. Unfortunately, because they had not engaged in disaster planning, they were not able to offer assurances that such an incident would not recur. They also had nothing to say when a television investigative reporter came knocking at their door.

Some unfortunate consequences ensued: the municipality terminated the contract immediately and froze another; a major sponsor for a fundraising event withdrew her participation; and within less than a year, the entity was forced to merge with an out-of-state organization. The failure to plan for a crisis was clearly symptomatic of deeper and more wide-spread internal problems.

The lesson? Every business or non profit needs to plan ahead for a disaster and the crisis communications that will be needed should "the unthinkable" happen. Here are some tips that may help you with your planning:

1. Think of every possible disaster or emergency that your organization might face.
2. Outline the steps you would take to respond to each crisis.
3. Determine which stakeholders or audiences would need to be notified. Don't forget that - depending upon the importance of the emergency - the news media can be an important target audience, even a potential ally.
4. Determine who will be responsible for notifying the stakeholders, and in which order.
5. Decide what messages the responsible party/ies will convey to the stakeholders and through what channels the messages will be conveyed.
6. Brief everyone in your organization about your disaster plans, and integrate them with your new-employee orientations and Board-of- Directors trainings.

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Jane Blume appears...

APRIL

12: Keynote Speaker, "Advertising - Are There Any Guarantees?" Media Buying Workshop, sponsored by The Association for Women in Communications. Luncheon and workshop: 11:15 a.m.-3:30 p.m., DoubleTree Hotel. Call 883-5779 for reservations and information.

17 & 24: Instructor, "Promote Yourself or Your Business 100 Ways," 7:00-9:00 p.m., Sage Ways learning center. For registration information, call 271-7029.

29: Moderator, 13th Annual Reverse Press Conference, sponsored by The Association for Women in Communications, 1:00-3:00 p.m., UNM Student Union Building, North Ballroom. Free to the public. Call 294.1976 for more information.

MAY 

5: Host, "University Showcase" with UNM Theater Professor Digby Wolfe, 8:30 a.m., KUNM Radio.

7: Moderator, 13th Annual Reverse Press Conference, broadcast from 11 a.m. to Noon, KUNM.

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Award Winners: On March 10, Desert Sky's Public Relations Assistant, Jill Midyett (left), received the YWCA's "Women on the Move" award in the "Young Women of Distinction" category. In February, DSC's owner Jane Blume (right), a WOTM awardee in 1998, was named one of ten "smart, savvy, successful" women for 2000 by the Albuquerque Women in Business Directory.

In the News: Albuquerque business and personal coach Karlene Spivak, Ph.D., owner of Life Design Resources, received a feature photo in the "Briefcase" section of The Albuquerque Journal's "Business Outlook" on February 14. Karlene was pictured leading a group in a game of "Cash Flow," which tests an individual's ability to manage money and build financial resources. For more information about playing "Cash Flow," call 235-1383.

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The New Mexico Community Development Loan Fund awarded more than $2.1 million in loans to businesses and non-profit organizations statewide in 1999, which created or preserved more than 370 jobs.

Avista Video Histories has moved into larger quarters at Bear Canyon One, 5353 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Suite C. The new telephone number is (505) 828-2100. Owner Lisa Witt won the YWCA's "Women on the Move" award in the "Entrepreneur/Innovation" category.

Kim Jew Photography has "gone completely digital," and is now producing its customers' portraits electronically. The company's Northeast Heights and West Side studios send the images they generate via the Internet to the main studio on Girard Boulevard for processing.

Chef Jim White, owner of Casa Vieja restaurant in Corrales, has a new weekly column in the Wednesday "Food & Flavor" section of The Albuquerque Journal. White's "Kitchen Minute" airs nine times per week on KRQE-TV/Channel 13.

Cheri Tillman, owner of TradeWorks, presented "Exporting! The Nuts and Bolts of Payments and Financing," at the National Association of Women Business Owners' (NAWBO's) national Mid-Winter Conference in February at Walt Disney World.

Marita Littaner, owner of CLASServices, Inc., a promotion and training agency for Christian speakers and authors, has released her ninth book, You've Got What It Takes. The work is meant to inspire women who are longing for purpose and balance in their lives.

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NOVEMBER

3: Host, "University Showcase - Changing Journalistic Standards" with UNM Journalism Professor Richard Schaefer, KUNM Radio, 89.9-FM.

DECEMBER

3: Host, "University Showcase - The New Mexico Children's Code" with Professor Barbara Bergman, UNM Law School, KUNM Radio.

4: Host, "Folk Routes - Hanukkah Special" with guest co-host, Rabbi Joseph Black of Congregation Albert, KUNM Radio.

12: Co-host, Pledge Drive programming, KNME-TV/Channel 5.

JANUARY

1: Host, "Folk Routes" show with guest co-host, Rabbi Joseph Black, KUNM Radio.

7: Host, "University Showcase - Music of the Millennium" with Dr. Steven Block, Chair, UNM Music Department, KUNM Radio.

FEBRUARY

4: Host, "University Showcase - Our Galaxy" with Professor John McGraw, UNM Physics & Astronomy Department, KUNM Radio.

21 & 28: Instructor, "Promote Yourself or Your Business 100 Ways." Sage Ways learning center.

MARCH

15: Moderator, Business Coaches' Panel, for National Association of Women Business Owners.

18: Guest Host, "Women's Focus" show, KUNM Radio.

19: Co-host, Pledge Drive programming, KNME-TV/Channel 5.

APRIL

7: Host, "University Showcase - UNM's Mental Health Services in the Albuquerque Public Schools" with Professor of Psychology Lisa Forrest and program counselor Dana Hanisee, KUNM Radio.

8: Host, "Folk Routes" show with guest artist, singer-songwriter Richard Berman, KUNM Radio.

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