A community relations policy puts the commitment in writing and spells out guidelines under which the company will participate in community affairs. Craig Miyamoto, APR created a sample that can be adapted to meet various corporate needs. He wrote:
1. As part of this community, we are committed to being a good neighbor. As such, we pledge to be responsive to the concerns and the welfare of those with whom we share the land.
2. We will work toward building a positive, open relationship and interdependence among all that care about this community’s well-being. We will be forthright and open in all of our dealings with the community.
3. We believe in the need for two-way communication with the community at large, and will seek its feedback. This feedback will be a valuable part of our operations and will become an integral part of our decision-making process.
4. Finally, we pledge that any decisions impacting on the community will be communicated to them in a timely and accurate manner.
The value of such a policy statement is that it provides broad guidelines on a company’s intentions, on the way it sees its role in the community, and on its commitment to be a good neighbor. And, THAT'S good community relations.
This excerpt originally appeared on www.evancarmichael. It was written by Martin Cohn, who heads his own PR agency, Cohn Public Relations and has been in the business for over 30 years.