Page 75 - July 2020 Board Meeting Agenda_Neat

BOARD PAPER

Agenda Item: 4.29 Public Information Committee

Author: Michelle Lanham

Date of Meeting: July 23 2020

Type of Report: For Information Only

Update:

As mentioned in our previous board report, the Public Information Committee’s goal is to focus on both
external and internal public information outreach. In regards to internal outreach, a primary committee
objective is to inventory and catalog areas of vehicle crime and/or investigative expertise possessed by
our members. Such a directory of talents would be valuable to not only our existing members from a
networking perspective, but could also be instrumental in attracting new members who may be in need
of acquiring advice on related matters. With this in mind, the committee has drafted a survey that will be
submitted to the Survey Committee for review and approval in order to acquire such information from
IAATI members. If approved by the Survey Committee, results of the survey will be discussed in the next
Public Information Committee board report and a preliminary directory will be available for board review.

In regards to external outreach, the continued goal of the Public Information Committee is to secure a
subscription to Cision, the premiere software product used by organizations for reaching international
traditional and social media outlets. Potential funding for a Cision subscription through the IAATI ATPA
Committee was unsuccessful due to the expiration of the Cision pricing proposal. It is the PIO
Committee’s understanding that the ATPA Committee is now considering an alternative media outreach
product for their use, which may potentially also be used for IAATI as a whole. Should such a promotional
product not become available through the ATPA Committee, the Public Outreach Committee will return to
the original plan of reaching out to like-minded associations/organizations that may have an interest in
sharing the cost for a Cision subscription.

On July 6, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued via Twitter their official
proclamation of July as Vehicle Theft Prevention Month. A customizable IAATI press release was created
to piggy-back off the NHTSA announcement and sent to IAATI chapters/branches for publication on their
social media sites or through local traditional print/broadcast outlets. The PIO Committee understands
that the NHTSA proclamation may not carry much reference weight outside the United States, but we
hope branches outside the United States may find value in the contents of the press release for
announcing similar organizational initiatives.