Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/876725
22 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | OCTOBER 2017 Communications Committee Among our several responsibilities, we are tasked with administration of our "Four Seasons Survey System." This enables the application of better practices from the consumer survey industry under the guidance of professionally experienced survey administrators. Survey opportunities are communicated via the AM Report, email, and the community website. We understand that some residents are not technically-inclined and may be unable to utilize a computer to participate in surveys. This has not diminished our response rate, which was an average of 63 percent on our first two surveys (with a whopping 507 respondents in August). According to industry gurus, surveygizmo.com, response rates for internal surveys (workplace, etc.) are "30 to 40 percent on average, compared to an average 10 to 15 percent response rate for external surveys." Our approach is delivering results that exceed industry averages and previous efforts. That said, we continue to explore solutions that will enable all interested residents to participate while preserving data integrity. Why is data integrity important? The purpose of our surveys is not to conduct a vote (we have mandated procedures when a vote of the association members is required – and residents are invited by U.S. mail to participate). Surveys gather "intelligence" so that committees can formulate informed recommendations and our Board can make decisions — without the costs associated with mailing and data entry. Surveys often serve the role of "myth busters," insulating us from our personal biases regarding any given topic. Notably, survey data helps decision makers differentiate between the "loud and the many." For these reasons and many more, we need to ensure that our surveys are free from tampering. We remind residents that we need their responses to our surveys, but there is no need for residents to advocate or solicit others to participate. Let's leave the survey management in the hands of our committees and community leadership. This enables evaluation of our approaches and provides guidance on future improvements of the survey process. The committee commissioning the survey and the Board will determine when survey results will be posted for interested parties to review. This affords the Communications Committee time to prepare reports or analysis and allows the requesting committee to digest the data. While we will always provide the data, residents need to know that the timing of the share will not be immediate. Many thanks to all who have participated in our new "Survey System" so far… keep up the great work! Note: Meeting time for the Communications Committee has changed. Our October meeting will be at 10 am on Oct. 18 in RCN. ~ Martha Baumgarten