The British Columbia Cattlemen's Association (BCCA) has been the official voice of cattle ranchers throughout British Columbia since 1929. For over 75 years, the Association has represented the interests of 1,500 beef producers across the province.
The BCCA knew it was time to invest in its web presence. It wanted to keep up with the times and, even more importantly, stay in touch with its 1,500 members stretched across the vast province of BC. BCCA had a site, but few visitors. The only regular change to their site was the posting of the BCCA bi-monthly newsletter. They didn’t know how to get started, but they knew where to start: they contacted ideaLEVER Solutions.
The BCCA adopted SiteCMTM one year ago and realized its value immediately when they posted proposals and funding applications for members. They got the right information to the right people -- quickly and effortlessly.
Because the site carries current media releases and the latest official Association statements, local and national media now visit the site regularly. With easy access to accurate information, the media report more accurately. Media coverage continues to be an important source of information to those affected by the beef industry directly and indirectly. That includes all of us.
Time and money is saved in designing, producing and distributing costly publications. “We used to rely solely on our print publications. We can communicate far more regularly – and less expensively - through our web site”, says communications coordinator Elaine Stovin.
The number of visitors to the Association web site is growing by the day. Now that updates are made daily, users come back again and again. And, they spread the word.
The BSE crisis erupted in the spring of 2003. Thousands of cattle ranchers in BC were desperate for immediate answers. Quarantines. Investigations. Financial Aid. The industry and its stakeholders were in jeopardy. Communication with members became more important than ever before in the 75-year history of the Association. The Association office became a flurry of activity, starting with teleconferences at 7:30 each morning. The flurry continued well beyond sunset.
“We were able to post updates on our web site within minutes of receiving information. Members, the general public and the media could access current, unbiased information throughout the crisis,” explains Elaine Stovin.
Easy to use and accessible from any computer, SiteCMTM saved the day. The person with the most accurate, up-to-date information – the BCCA Communications Coordinator – made the changes herself. She could attend a news conference and then walk down the hall to her computer and make changes before the reporters had packed up their TV cameras. The cost of hiring a webmaster to make the dozens of content changes needed each day would have blown the entire Association budget. Not to mention the fact that information would have been outdated before it was posted.
“I was even able to make updates in the evening from my home computer,” adds Elaine. Changes could be made 24/7. And they were.
“We are working with BC beef producers to make it through the biggest agricultural crisis in Canada’s history. ideaLEVER Solutions has been by our side every step of the way.”
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