This would involve raising awareness of the need for such programs and working with various groups and agencies to achieve the desired outcome. One of OSPE s first undertakings would be to commission a comprehensive membership survey by a professional opinion research firm, to determine what professional engineers in Ontario see as the priority issues of concern to the profession, and to identify the kinds of services they want their advocacy body to provide. By separating the two activities, there is greater likelihood that external advocacy communications will receive the attention they deserve. After all, the raison d etre of the renewed member-interest society is to advance the interests of members on strategic issues that involve extensive communications with external audiences. It is also important to recognize that most of the activities involved in advocacy are those commonly known as Public Affairs.
Public relations is more limited in scope and is usually directed toward the media and the public.
It tends to be centred around events and happenings, as well as goodwill initiatives such as sponsorships and donations. It often requires long-range planning and recognition that the process of change takes time. Revenues Expenditures Item Amount Item Amount 1. Program Funding 1. It has not yet been determined whether the chapter system will join OSPE, remain with PEO or be shared jointly.