admin posted on December 04, 2011 09:31
The Town of Matthews has received a top award from the N.C. Association of Government Information Officers. Annette Privette Keller, the Town’s Communication Director, received first place in the Excellence in Communications Campaign/Media Kits Category for the “Biweekly Recycling Implementation Plan”. The award was presented at the group’s annual conference held in Chapel Hill.
The “Biweekly Recycling Implementation Plan” involved communicating with citizens about the transition from once a week recycling using small bins to biweekly recycling using large roll-out carts. The communications plan included a series of direct mail pieces including a calendar, social media, news releases and advertisements. In the first two months of implementation recycling tonnage has increased significantly from 122 tons in August 2010 to 199 tons in August 2011; 124 tons in September 2010 to 169 tons in September 2011.
Each year, the N.C. Association of Government Information Officers presents Excellence in Communications Awards to state and local government information officers, for their work in communicating to the public the services, projects and plans that citizens need to know about and become engaged with. Awards are presented in the categories of Speech Writing; News Release Writing; Feature Writing; Regular Publications; Special Publications; Graphics; Social Media; Websites; Broadcast Programs; Broadcast/PSA Advertising; Exhibits; Campaign/Media Kits; Special projects; and Photography. The entries are judged by communication professionals from around the U.S.
Keller has been with the Town of Matthews since 2008 and is responsible for internal and external communications, including media relations, the website, social media, etc. A graduate of UNCG and UNCC, she has a master’s in public administration and is the past president of the N.C. City and County Communicators.