3CMA

3CMA Webinar Series: Demystifying Digital Accessibility Thursday, November 14, at 2 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. Pacific Time Some might think of web accessibility as something that purely falls on the IT folks, coders, and programmers. But anyone who works on content or communication needs to know how to make their work accessible to people with disabilities. In this webinar, you’ll get helpful information on: -Writing alternative text for images -Writing link text for links -Understanding color contrast -Understanding headings -Tips and tricks to address accessibility when you have a limited staff with limited knowledge About the Speaker Patrick Garvin spent 15 years working in newsrooms at daily newspapers, including the Boston Globe, where he worked on information graphics and digital projects. He now works as a front-end developer in St. Louis, focusing on user experience and accessibility. He also teaches web design and accessibility at the Missouri School of Journalism. He works with individuals and organizations to make their digital work more accessible for people with disabilities. Learn more at patrickgarvin.com or follow him @patrickmgarvin Register Today! https://lnkd.in/eb9aPc3v

3CMA Announces New Board Members and 2025 Annual Conference Destination The City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA) remains committed to advancing communication and marketing in local governments across the country. With a mission to equip public communicators with essential resources, training, and a collaborative network, 3CMA empowers its members to foster more informed and engaged communities. Membership is open to communication professionals in city and county governments, offering access to invaluable tools and industry-leading best practices. The newly appointed Board of Directors will play a crucial role in guiding 3CMA’s continued success, ensuring that its members remain at the forefront of effective and innovative government communication. The new Executive Board members are: President: Annette Privette Keller, Director of Communications — City of Kannapolis, NC President-Elect: Chris Floore, Chief Communications Officer — Macon-Bibb County, GA Vice President: Brian Ligon, Communications & Marketing Director — City of Mont Belvieu, TX Treasurer: Renae Jackson, Equity & Engagement Director — City of Decatur, GA Secretary: Jay Warren, Director of Communications & Legislative Affairs — City of Arlington, TX Immediate Past President: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director — City of Edina, MN Executive Director: Scott Lehtonen — 3CMA Board of Directors (https://lnkd.in/ex9rMt26) Class of 2025 Class of 2026 Class of 2027 In addition, 3CMA is excited to announce that its 2025 Annual Conference will take place from September 3-5 at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas/Clark County, Nevada. The conference will feature a robust lineup of workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities tailored to meet the evolving needs of public-sector communicators, offering attendees a chance to learn from industry leaders and connect with peers. For more information about membership or the upcoming conference, please visit www.3cma.org.

In Athens, GA for the GMA Annual Conference? Stop by and say hi!

A big shoutout to 3CMA Members Kara Roberson (City of Wentzville, MO) and Sara Bustilloz (City of Round Rock, TX) for representing at the ICMA Annual Conference in Pittsburgh earlier this week! Their session, "Social Media and the Evolution of City Communications," delivered impactful insights to city leaders from across the nation, sharing best practices for navigating social media in local government. With the ever-changing landscape of social media, where some platforms have seen diminished reliability and others a surge in engagement, Kara and Sara challenged leaders to think critically about: - How their cities’ social media strategies are evolving to meet new realities - How they are engaging with residents - Their top priorities for social media use - How they are adapting to meet the growing expectations of their communities

For Immediate Release - 3CMA Announces 2024 Savvy Award Winners Sept. 6, 2024 (Arlington, TX) – The City-County Communications & Marketing Association announced the 2024 winners of its national Savvy Awards Competition during a ceremony at the Loews Arlington Hotel on Thursday, Sept. 5. The Savvy Awards, held in conjunction with 3CMA’s Annual Conference, recognize outstanding local government achievements in communications, public-sector marketing and resident-government relationships. The Savvies salute skilled and effective city, county, agency or district professionals who have creatively planned and carried out successful innovations in communications and marketing. 3CMA accommodates local government organizations of all sizes and budget classes by judging entries in several different population groups. Over 1100 entries in 38 categories were received. 3CMA utilized professional communicators from across the United States as judges who review every entry and provide constructive comments on the winning entries. 94 first-place Savvy Awards were presented. 94 second-place Silver Circle Awards and 93 third-place Awards of Excellence were also presented. The list of all award winners is available online at: https://lnkd.in/eTDxi8GA

Ten Social Media Tactics for Local Government to Increase Reach and Engagement Tuesday, October 15, Noon Eastern Time, 9 a.m. Pacific Time Join us for an outstanding 3CMA webinar from across the pond as author, strategist, podcaster, and presenter Joanne Sweeney joins us from Galway, Ireland. Joanne will share practical strategies you can implement right away on how to spend your time with social media wisely and effectively to get results. She takes away the sense of being overwhelmed, and her energy will inspire you to take action. Here’s what you can expect. -Trends to adopt and why -How to adapt your social media planning efforts to remove overwhelm -Vertical video storytelling -How to write captions that build curiosity and clicks -Animation and graphics for engagement -Tools, apps, and software to free up time -Analytics that matter and how to communicate impact About the Speaker: Joanne Sweeney is the owner of the Public Sector Marketing Institute and The Digital Training Institute based in the Galway Metro Area in Ireland. She has a 20-year career in communications that evolved from traditional to digital as a broadcast journalist, PR practitioner, digital marketer, podcaster, blogger and three-time author. She works with public sector agencies, governments, business and media companies on digital transformation, digital marketing, and social media strategy. Her regular webinars and podcasts delve into many areas of communication, with a focus on the public sector. Follow her on X @JSTweetsDigital or on Instagram @jsgramsdigital. Register Today: https://lnkd.in/dFkppCk6

2024 3CMA Savvy Finalists! The Savvy Awards, presented at 3CMA’s Annual Conference, celebrate exceptional achievements in local government communications, public-sector marketing, and resident-government relations. These awards honor the talented professionals in cities, counties, agencies, and districts who have creatively developed and executed successful communications and marketing initiatives. Each year, the number and quality of entries in the Savvy Awards competition continue to rise, reflecting the growing expertise and innovation among communication and marketing professionals in local governments and agencies. These programs demonstrate a commitment to enhancing marketing and communication strategies with residents. The 3CMA Office is thrilled to announce this year’s finalists for the Savvy Awards! With over 1,100 entries across nearly 40 categories, this has been an extraordinary year. To view the full list of finalists, please visit the 3CMA website here: https://bit.ly/46H97g1

3CMA Webinar Series | Farmers, Trolls and Poison Worms: How AI Can Create Reputation Headaches for Government Communicators Wednesday, August 7, 2 p.m. Eastern Time, 11 a.m. Pacific Time We've all seen the webinars and blog posts about the myriad of ways artificial intelligence can boost our creativity, streamline content creation, and connect more effectively with our constituents. AI does have many benefits. Still, there's a whole other side of AI – a dark and treacherous side – where opportunistic schemers, scammers, conspiracy theorists, and even foreign governments are using AI to spread disinformation and hate, sow confusion, and turn neighbors against neighbors in today's ever-escalating culture wars. We need to talk about this as government communicators and how we can help put the “civil” back in civil discourse. Join us for a one-on-one chat with Jon Goldberg as we learn about the dangers of “malicious AI,” the warning signals to watch for, and best practices for protecting your city or county’s reputation, relationships with key constituents, and broader public image against harm. About the speaker - Jon Goldberg Jon Goldberg is Reputation Architects, Inc.'s founder and chief reputation architect (reputationarchitects.com), a strategic communications and reputation risk management advisory firm. Jon is dedicated to building, protecting, and restoring reputations in a world of evaporated trust and unprecedented stakeholder engagement. Trained as a journalist, Jon founded Reputation Architects in 2009 after more than 25 years as an advisor to corporate and non-profit executives and boards. He was a senior leader at some of the world’s most prominent communications firms, including Porter Novelli and Edelman Public Relations Worldwide, and was a front-line spokesman. A frequent author, speaker, and media commentator on reputation risk and crisis immunization strategies, Jon is a past chair of the Public Relations Society of America’s Counselors Academy. He serves on the executive board and is a U.S. ambassador-representative of the International Association of Risk and Crisis Communication. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and an MBA in finance from New York University. Register Today: https://lnkd.in/gK-2Ugff #3CMAWebinar #WeGetGov

3CMA Webinar Series – 60 Ideas in 60 Minutes THURSDAY, JULY 18, 2 PM. EASTERN TIME, 11 A.M. PACIFIC TIME If you’re looking for inspiration for your next great idea and want to invest in what will likely be the most productive hour of your week, you’ll love this webinar. We’re taking one of the most popular sessions from annual conference, with three of the best government communicators, and updating it with 2024 inspirations and successes. We’ll share ideas to make your workload easier, exciting ways to have fun in your workplace, and concepts to enrich the lives of your residents and employees. The panel of seasoned communicators will share ideas on AI, graphic design tricks, resident engagement, DEI initiatives, and employee communication. Join us for this 75-minute webinar, with time at the end for your questions and inspirations. Register Today: http://bit.ly/3xpxul9 #3CMAWebinarSeries #WeGetGov

3CMA WEBINAR SERIES – LEADERSHIP FOR A LIFETIME: HOW THE PAST PREPARES US FOR THE FUTURE TUESDAY, JUNE 11, NOON EASTERN TIME, 9 A.M. PACIFIC TIME Everyone has the potential to lead. One key is to apply your individual talents in a group setting to help create an unstoppable and productive team. Our June webinar speaker knows how to do that in local government, with a lifetime of service in law enforcement. He will share how to enhance your leadership as a government communicator, whether you are the team leader, a member of a communications team, or a one-person shop. During the webinar, you’ll gain insights into the four types of teammates and practical strategies for dealing with challenging team members within your local government. Our speaker, Paul Butler, is a nationally recognized leader and speaker who works with local governments throughout the United States and worldwide. He helps individuals use their previous experiences and lessons to prepare for the future. Our 3CMA members who recommended Paul Butler say he inspired them to be even stronger leaders at work and better people in their personal lives. Register Today: https://lnkd.in/eziNP8M8 About the Speaker: Paul Butler is an internationally renowned speaker who has trained and inspired audiences from Europe, Africa, South America, and across North America. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and an associate’s degree in criminal justice. Paul also has 27 years of service in law enforcement positions, including chief of police, which helped him develop answers to questions and cures to problems most people face at work and in life. He believes the power of a positive attitude can take you to the top or help you find happiness and pride in your current position. Learn more at www.paul-butler.com