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Introduction to the Media <br />If,your Board meetings always have media <br />present, you quickly learn how to act AND <br />watch your tongue. <br />If you are like most <br />Park Rec CBMs you <br />usually see the media 0' <br />when a burning local <br />issue has raised its <br />ugly head. If you have <br />had no experience in this <br />area, don't make the mistake <br />of ignoring what the media <br />wants. They want a story. A <br />tree planting does not excite <br />them. They want controversy <br />—dissent—page 1 news— <br />and can only get it from <br />CBM comments. <br />Be careful of what you say, they go to press, <br />you don't. <br />The Board Member's Mouth <br />Under the Constitution you are guaranteed <br />free speech. No one ever argues that point. <br />As a Park Rec <br />Board member, it is <br />smart to let the Board <br />Chair talk to the media <br />for the Board and the <br />other 6 refer all ques- <br />tions to the Chair <br />during his or her term. <br />Most CBMs are not `�, <br />experienced with media _ ~-` <br />people who are looking' ����.. w - <br />for a story. The other <br />30,000 board members will <br />testify that at one time or another they had a <br />garbled story in the media which got them in <br />trouble. So a word to the wise! <br />If you are attempting to obtain support on a <br />specific community issue for Park Rec never <br />go to the MEDIA first. You first go to the other <br />6 CBMs on your Board. Never forget that you <br />need 3 other CBMs to vote like you do to take <br />action. Don't bruise them unnecessarily. <br />After action is taken on the issue and you <br />bruised some people, it is more difficult to get <br />their support on the next item on the agenda. <br />And, some CBM have long memories. <br />Dirty Linen <br />If there is something you do not like about <br />the Board, the staff, the program, or the <br />facilities, do not tell the residents FIRST. <br />If you do that, you give the media and the <br />community a controversy. This is not in the <br />best interests of an outstanding Park Rec <br />operation. <br />Talk to the other Board members or the ad- <br />ministrator. Always try to solve this type of <br />issue in-house first. You may not have all the <br />facts, so don't get embarrassed. Often you can <br />solve the problem in a conversation or two and <br />the community will benefit. <br />Meeting Surprises <br />Never let anyone demand you take action on <br />something new that you have never heard of <br />before the meeting. Insist on time to study <br />BOTH sides of the new issue. Ask that the item <br />be placed on the agenda for the next meeting. <br />Request the ADM investigate and prepare <br />recommendations for the next meeting. <br />If local interest groups show up, you can <br />usually find that you are getting only one side <br />of the story. <br />The impetuous CBM who says 'oh it sounds <br />ok let's do it' may end up with a bloody nose. <br />Single Issue CBM <br />Starting out this way is no sin. Many, in- <br />cluding the writer, started out that way. The <br />secret is not to stay that way. You have lots of <br />decisions to make that have nothing to do with <br />your single BURNING issue. No -matter how <br />strong you feel, unless you can convince 3 <br />other CBMs to agree, you lose. BUT, by being <br />cooperative and being reasonable and sym- <br />pathetic with the other CBMs you will be sur- <br />prised how fast the other 3 votes appear. <br />20 21 <br />