October 31, 2007

Anyone interested in receiving the twice-monthly newsletter by e-mail may subscribe at the County's web site at www.catawbacountync.gov. Those interested in subscribing should look for a link labeled "Subscribe To Our Newsletter" on the right hand side of the page.

"As new technology has brought significant changes in the way citizens access information, and the ways in which they want to receive information, Catawba County Government is striving to respond to those changes by offering more ways to provide information, electronically, to the public," said Dave Hardin, Catawba County's Public Information Officer. "We began offering Catawba County E-News in September 2006, and we now have almost 650 subscribers. It’s an exciting new tool that allows us to offer citizens a direct way to stay informed about everything Catawba County Government is doing. Awards from 3CMA are extremely prestigious and difficult to win. We are delighted that 3CMA has recognized Catawba County E-News with their Silver Circle Award!"

“The E-News has accomplished what it set out to do – inform residents and promote the County's Web site as a resource,” said the 3CMA panel of judges. “Its design is simple, but very effective, taking full advantage of the technology, without overwhelming the user.”

Catawba County E-News is e-mailed to subscribers twice each month, with occasional additional issues as the timing of events may warrant. The newsletter includes brief presentations of stories on different issues, which contain links subscribers may click on to be taken directly to Catawba County's web site for more information on that story. Hardin said certain items are featured regularly, but the newsletter will continually focus on the latest news and services provided by Catawba County Government.

"We include a short summary of the items on every agenda of the Catawba County Board of Commissioners, and a link to more information on each meeting," Hardin said. "But the heart of most issues of Catawba County E-News is information of importance during any given time frame. We are planning some refinements to content in the coming weeks, including the featuring of the most significant story at the top of every issue, and a few ideas we gleaned from other winners in the 3CMA competition."

“Several County staff members deserve recognition for the success of Catawba County E-News,” Hardin added. “Marcia Hardy and Lindsey Cearlock of our Technology Department selected and tested the software I use to create each issue of the e-newsletter. Marcia Hardy created the basic design which was recognized by the judges. John Mull designed programs that actually distribute the newsletter by e-mail. And our Information Technology Administrator, Valerie Jones, Chief Information Officer, Terry Bledsoe and Assistant County Manager, Lee Worsley, provided valuable suggestions and guidance as the newsletter was developed, with input from County Manager Tom Lundy and the Board of Commissioners. They made a wonderful team that built this great new tool for distributing information about Catawba County to our citizens, and now Catawba County E-News has been recognized twice on the national level. I’m grateful for their hard work.”

For more information on Catawba County E-News, you may go to www.catawbacountync.gov to subscribe, or contact the Catawba County Public Information Office at 828-465-8464.