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 Member
Profile:
Margaret (Peggy) Eberle
The
ability to communicate effectively is a gift. It's also an art, one that West
Salem resident Peggy Eberle has practiced since her first job, as a high school
cub reporter at the Albany Democrat Herald.
With more than 20 years reporting for newspapers,
writing for magazines, and directing communications policy for state government
agencies, Peggy is starting her own consulting company, simply called Eberle
Communications. "Having worked as a reporter and in public affairs, I
understand what makes the media work," she said. "And I understand how
government works. The combination should be a valuable asset to my clients,"
she added. Peggy's compelling interest in people and their stories attracted
her to communications. Her talent found employment possibilities wherever she
went. After reporting on student activities and society-at-large for the Albany
paper, she went on to write for daily newspapers and even contributed to
stories written for Time and US magazines.
Meanwhile, Peggy was raising two children. Married
while still in college, she and the family moved from Oregon to Eau Claire,
Wisconsin and then to Fairbanks, Alaska. She had married another reporter, Joe
Sand, who also taught college journalism. In Wisconsin, Peggy wrote for the St.
Paul (Minn.) Pioneer Press. In Fairbanks she tutored homebound students for the
local school district. Upon their return to Oregon, in 1977, Peggy was the
Oregonian's mid-valley reporter, in Salem, for eight years.
Since 1985, Peggy (the reporter) has been Peggy (the
public communications manager). Half of those years were spent with the Mental
Health & Developmental Disabilities Division (in the Department of Human
Resources). The challenges were many. For example, how do you put a good face
on aspects of our society that are difficult to convey and often misunderstood?
One part of her job was to educate the media (in the midst of Oregon State
Hospital residents' escapes) that "mental health patients are human, and not
generally dangerous to others." Another part of her job was to prepare the
families of institutionalized residents to answer reporters' probing questions.
Because of her success there, she was asked to apply
for a similar job at the Economic Development Department. And that's where
Peggy has been since 1991 -- formulating communications policy, writing
compelling stories, answering media inquiries, giving media awareness training
to people throughout the state, and organizing statewide conferences, called
"The Challenge of Change."
Peggy's had some challenges of change in her own
life. During the time she was working for the state, her husband passed away
and her children Neal and Kaia, have grown up. Both college graduates, Neal 28,
writes screenplays in his spare time when he's not doing data analysis for
Portland's Gilmore Research. Kaia, 25 is a Portland freelance writer, also
attending graduate school at Lewis and Clark College.
The transition from public employment back to
private enterprise has given Peggy a chance to look at the value of both
worlds, and the need to communicate more effectively between them. "Mass media
has become faster, tougher and more pervasive," she said. Ironically, as the
airwaves offer up vast new possibilities, the need to communicate simply has
become more urgent. "In order for a lasting impression to be made on an
audience, you must make seven separate impressions," Peggy said. "So, as more
technology creates more competition for the audience's attention, you must
continue to create more simple messages, then repeat them over and over. That
makes complex messages increasingly challenging to convey," she added.
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 With
Spring Just Around the Corner...
Salem Electric recommends the following tips for your
spring outdoor clean-up.
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Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before each use for
frayed power cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housings. If the product
is damaged, stop using it and have it repaired or replaced.
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Pay attention to warning markings on electric tools and
appliances. Don't allow tools to get wet. When using tools or extension cords
outside, make sure they are marked for outdoor use.
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Use and store power tools away from water sources to help avoid
electric shock. Never use electrically operated power tools in the rain or
electric lawn mowers on wet grass.
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Have a qualified electrician install Ground Fault Circuit
Interrupter (GFCI) receptacles in outdoor outlets. After installation, test
your GFCIs monthly.
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Never carry an appliance by the cord and never pull on the cord
to unplug the appliance.
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Metal ladders conduct electricity. Watch out for overhead wires
and power lines.
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