Organizational Development for Knowledge Management at Water ...

COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Contest. A process for raising community awareness of the significant but unseen role the
drinking water Utility plays in their everyday lives. This is particularly effective for school-age
youth. For example, teenagers may be asked to write a poem or short story about the
importance of water to their community, with winners (and their parents) given an award and
personal tour of the drinking water utility by the Utility manager, complete with appropriate
recognition in the local paper. In this way the contest serves as a learning lesson for youth
as well as raising awareness within the community of the contribution made by, and
effectiveness of, the Utility. Conversely, adults in a stakeholder population might be asked
to submit their ideas for how the Utility might better serve the community. Several ideas
would be selected and implemented, again in the context of high visibility. For example,
perhaps a press conference where the idea(s) and plan(s) for implementation are released
following by a dinner hosted by the Utility. Contests are self-selective by their nature,
involving individuals through the potential of personal reward and/or recognition who
otherwise might not engage. They are also a way of spreading the feeling of connectivity
and ownership among customers and the larger stakeholder group in general. See Exhibit
below.
Demonstration. A practical application of something by example. Generally complements
some other scheduled event, taking advantage of a gathering of stakeholders. Can be used
to teach or inform or convince. For example, during a city council meeting using a computer
model of a city’s drinking water supply system to demonstrate how additional expansion will
be integrated with the current system to better serve the community. Or, using a projection
microscope during a high school science class to help students see first-hand how bacteria
in water can be treated.
Exhibit. A show or display held separately or in conjunction with another event at a point in
time that makes available for public enjoyment, learning and consideration a group of
objects or products related to the drinking water utility, perhaps with a demonstrated
relationship to anticipated future changes. An exhibit might be created from the results of
the contest (above) and placed in a public location. A specific type of exhibit is the
Photograph Exhibit, which may be particularly poignant to illustrate need and/or the
effectiveness of utility plant changes underway. A Floating Exhibit is the movement of the
show or display from one location to another. This is particularly effective in a
geographically dispersed stakeholder community.
Festival. A high-energy, joyful (festive) celebratory approach to knowledge sharing.
Effective when held in conjunction with a special day or celebration pertinent to the utility; for
example, the opening of a new plant, the addition of a pumping station, or a new repair
facility. Might include food booths, games, Picture Maps of the water system and other
exhibits, all geared toward helping stakeholders understand more about the work of the
drinking water utility.
Tours. Physical and mental sharing of spaces and places. This might entail offering
structured tours at specific times for the public at large, or staying open to visits and tours by
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