About

Overview

Delivering effective communications is one of the most important tools a committee has for developing and achieving its objectives. Each committee should therefore have a communications portfolio that does the following:

• Maintains timely communications on a regular basis

• Supplements general TRB communications (e.g. TRB Weekly, TR News, and TRB social media) with communications of specific interest to committee members, friends, and others in its community

• Communicates the committee’s scope, objectives, programs, activities, schedules, and responsibilities

• Enables interaction on activities involving multiple members and friends; and involving other committees with common research interests

• Permits the committee chair as well as subcommittee chairs and project leaders to communicate with members and friends to keep activities on track and on schedule

• Enables committees to exchange ideas and information with other committees related to subject areas of common or intersecting interest

• Reminds volunteers that they are part of TRB and the larger community

• Provides announcements for new services and finished products

The TRB online directory includes a web page for each committee that contains the title, scope, and membership roster of the committee. In addition, each committee should employ a combination of tools in its communications portfolio that achieves the objectives listed above in a manner best suited to its audience. These tools may include MyTRB messaging announcements or newsletters, online meetings, conference calls, and/or others. Communications tools and contact lists should be used for TRB committee business only, and should not be used to advertise outside products, to promote the accomplishments of an individual or group, or to solicit applications for job openings.

Committee Communications Coordinators (CCC)

Committees may designate up to two members to be the Committee’s Communications Coordinator (CCC). The role of the CCC is to work with TRB staff, chair, and other committees to help accomplish the following:

• Identify existing tools that have been, or can be, applied by committees and TRB

• Identify how communication tools can encourage broader participation in TRB and committee activities

• Determine how the committee can support members’ and friends’ communications and facilitate increased information exchange in support of committee and TRB activities

• Share and evaluate experiences with other committees

• Identify communications options that are most appropriate for different audiences

• Identify and evaluate new options that may be available in the future; and how committees and TRB should be preparing for them

• Develop and deliver a portfolio of communications options are the most appropriate for a specific committee

• Identify possible TRB actions that can help to facilitate committees’ communications portfolios

Committee Chairs should communicate with their TRB staff representative to appoint a new or to replace an existing CCC.  The TRB staff representative will contact Brie Schwartz to complete the appointment of the CCC.