Debra Durant
Bascom Palmer Eye Institute

Fred Seely
The Eye Research Foundation of Jacksonville

Presented by the Media Relations Committee

You’ve done press releases and put them up on the Web. You’ve got an Experts Guide and a photo library, and you will provide B-roll.
You’ve done backgrounders, factsheets, and marketing brochures. Your star sources will make themselves available, but you still can’t get your institution into print or on the air. This panel, featuring broadcast and print journalists, will help you figure out what really works in communicating news about eye and vision research.

Elizabeth Buchanan, Executive Producer
Ivanhoe Broadcast News

Pick ONE of the following topics and join your
colleagues in a lively discussion.

Ideas, Topics, and Programs. The sharing of ideas and projects is always popular. Bring samples of some of the great—or not so great—projects your institution has produced during the year. The group will review, discuss, and critque the samples. This is a great way to get new ideas, tips, and treasures from your colleagues!

Tracy Perkins
University of Wisconsin Medical School

Marketing and Development: How Community Outreach and Education Programs Can Support Your Organization’s Goals. How does providing community education help your institution? What impact
can a community eye screening program have on your overall outreach program, your organization’s revenues, and your relationships with your immediate community? How can promoting clinical endeavors and research programs build good will, provide better educated clients, and contribute to a fundraising campaign? Examples from Duke and Vanderbilt Universities will address these and other issues. All are invited to bring samples of programs to share.

Judy Wolfsberger
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Sandy Scarlett
Duke University Eye Center

Developing a Strategic Marketing and Communication Plan. What does it take to develop a strategic plan for marketing and communications? Who are the people who can help put it in place? Who will execute it? What are the problems and pitfalls? Learn more about the process from the experiences of the University of Wisconsin Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.

This session will provide an update of legislative activities during the first session of the 106th Congress and their impact on eye and vision research. This will include an analysis of funding and budgetary issues, as well as information about legislation that impacts the Federal research infrastructure and research at your institution. Tips will also be provided on how to communicate and develop relationships with Members of Congress and their staffs. These tips include suggestions about effectively communicating with Congress, such as preparing for meetings, crafting your message, and scheduling congressional visits to your institution.

VISION: A School Program for Grades 4–8

Learn how a few paper clips, a little petroleum jelly, and some sunglasses can help you design a community outreach program.

An Overview of Low Vision Rehabilitation Models: Practice, Research, and Education

Presented by the Collaborative Programs Committee