The Woodlands Township Communications wins statewide award for digital newsletter

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands Township Communications Department won an Award of Excellence at the Texas Association of Municipal Information Officers (TAMIO) conference on Thursday, June 6, 2024, in San Antonio. The Township was recognized for the recent relaunch of its flagship e-newsletter, Talk of the Township.

The competition included a record-breaking 688 entries with the Township as one of only three finalists in the category of Population Over 75,000 for E-Newsletter. The Township entry focused on the redesign of Talk of the Township and its relaunch in January 2024. Since its relaunch, the newsletter has increased engagement by 25% and increased its subscriber count by nearly 3,000. Talk of the Township is sent on Fridays and includes information about the Board of Directors, Township programs and activities, upcoming community events and more.

“We are thrilled to receive the Award of Excellence for Talk of the Township at this year’s TAMIO conference,” said LeaAnn Petersen, Director of Communications. “This recognition showcases the hard work and dedication of our team. Special acknowledgment goes to Kacie Gurney, our Communications Project Manager, who envisioned and managed the e-newsletter's relaunch. Her creativity and commitment to producing engaging emails have greatly enhanced our communications efforts.”

In addition to the redesign of Talk of the Township, the Communications team has redesigned several departmental newsletters in 2024 and supported the relaunch of those newsletters alongside Township staff. The designs are complementary and intended to be readily identifiable as Township communications for subscribers.

Enhancing resident communication is a strategic priority for the Township Board of Directors. Effective communication is critical for fostering community engagement, transparency and trust. The implementation of the new email delivery system and the relaunch of Talk of the Township are significant steps toward achieving these goals. This communication project is part of a broader effort by the Communications Department to align with the Board’s vision.

TAMIO, an affiliate of the Texas Municipal League (TML), advances and promotes the exchange of information and ideas among Texas cities, provides professional development opportunities to government communicators, assists with municipal relations and promotes recognition for achievement in communications with citizens.

To subscribe to the award-winning Talk of the Township newsletter and other department newsletters such as Neighborly News, The Poolside Pulse and The Earthwise Explorer, please visit www.thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov/subscribe.