A few quick thoughts regarding Elizabeth's questions:
> 1. Have you set up committees or designated individuals in
> leadership roles (i.e. president, vice, secretary, etc.)?
Yes definitely. But keep in mind that everyone is a leader. Terms such as
president, vice and secretary have no place in community meetings. They are
too hierarchial because what each individual contributes is equally valuable
and that must be stressed often. Yet there should be a person or persons
that drive the project and keep it on track. Sets the meeting dates, agenda
and facilitates task assignments. This person keeps everyone informed
between meetings and tracks that assignments are being completed on
schedule.
>2. Who else should we include? We have some other arts organizations and
also social services agencies, schools, etc. nearby.
This will become very clear once you formulate your vision. Here it would
have been helpful to know what the three goals are to determine a direction.
What is the project? And what is the vision that will drive the project?
Because that is what will sustain the enthusiasm and energy of the project
and bring the people along. Once there is an agreed upon vision you are on
your way.
3. What kinds of goals did you
> set early, and did you accomplish them?
Have two or three people draft the mission and the goals and objectives.
Circulate to the rest of the committee and discuss at the next meeting. Once
this is in place you have your roadmap and everyone is clear on the
direction and steps to get there.
4. Did you get media support?
If you have accomplished the above, you cannot miss getting media support.
The newspapers, local TV stations, radio stations seek out community
projects.
5.> Did you get funding, or establish yourselves as a separate entity?
This depends on the project. For example, perhaps the committee has decided
on a city-wide cultural festival showcasing the arts throughout the city for
an entire month. In this case, a separate entity could be set up to get
funding in the way of grants, corporate sponsors, etc. Perhaps it would be a
leadership summit for high school students hosted by one of the institutions
with experts from other participating institutions and mentors from the
nearby college. In this case, you may be able to seek out just one or two
underwriters for the project.
6. Is
> there any advice you want to offer to us. Most of our meetings have
concerned what we hope to do, but we have had no agendas.
Nora, I think this is the key right here. Hoping does not get people
excited. Doing gets people excited. Look at your local news--whats going on?
whats in the air? when I read your letter, I could not help wondering what
has brought on the transformation of the metropolitan part into a botannical
garden? Look around at your committee--where is the best energy--who sits on
the edge of their seat at the meetings? who looks ready to jump into
something? who is the most enthusiastic? Perhaps invite some student leaders
from the local college. And most important of all--how diverse is your
committee. Is the community's diversity represented on the committee?
Sound like great potential for a wonderful event. Keep the list informed
about your progress and feel free to contact me off list.
Terri McNichol
Ren Associates
707 Alexander Road, Bldg. 2 Suite 208
Princeton NJ 08540
Ren, a Chinese cardinal virtue, stands for benevolence and universal
empathy, encompassing five values of courtesy, magnanimity, good faith,
diligence and kindness-simply translated, it means humanity.
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