2009.06.15 EDA Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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- -------------- -- B R & E Suggested Agenda for the Community Commencement By using this approach,you will demonstrate to the audi- Meeting ence that the projects belong to the Task Force and not to the The suggested agenda described below seems most effec- researchers or state sponsor. In fact,the process of prepar- tive. It was developed after considerable trial and error,and ing and giving this presentation increases the capacity of it reflects the best elements of several BR&E programs.10 local leaders to promote their projects. It also is an opportu- nity to recognize key local leaders in the program. 1. Introduce program. (Coordinator- 10 minutes) 2. Review the program's purpose and history. (Leadership Improving Community Commencement Attendance Team-5 minutes) Some communities may not be able to follow all of these 3. Give Testimonials(business representatives)and/or suggestions because they may have fewer resources than program accomplishments(Coordinator- 10 minutes) others;nonetheless,the following are strongly recom- 4. Present strategy one(Task Force member A- 10 mended: minutes) • Organize and plan the commencement a. Review concept of strategy. collectively. The Leadership Team,consultant,and b. Present highlights of survey results. Task Force members must decide as a,group the c. Summarize the Task Force priority projects. specifics for the community commencement meeting(date,time,place,format, and audience). 5. Present strategy two(Task Force member B - 10 minutes) Make the commencement meeting social. Have 6. Present strategy three(Task Force member C- 10 the commencement meeting in a banquet room or minutes) hotel. Send out invitations with RSVPs. Serve 7. Closing remarks(Coordinator) refreshments or a meal. Some groups have hosted dinners,but this is not essential. Allow time for Method for Presenting BR&E Strategies mingling and socializing. Although it may seem This is the most important part of the meeting—the main that the social aspect of the occasion is being reason for it. The approach has been used in over fifty emphasized more than the content,it really isn't. programs and has proven very successful and popular. It has been an observation that if you want good Select one Task Force member(or Leadership Team attendance and attentive guests,you need to make member)to present each of the strategies in your report. the meeting more than just a meeting to review Have the Task Force member present(five to ten minutes) results—you need to make it a social event. the summary report,closely covering three topics: • Get media coverage. Newspaper articles,radio a. The overall concept of the strategy. spots,and television coverage before the meeting b. The survey results related to that strategy. will help increase your attendance because the c. The projects recommended by the Task Force media coverage gives the event more credibility related to that strategy. and importance than it would receive otherwise. Media coverage after the event,however,is Prepare from one to three overhead transparencies on the probably more likely since there will be more above points. Be sure the print is legible and large enough "news"to report. Encourage"prior"coverage by for everyone to see! An example is included in Appendix C. inviting media representatives to the commencement meeting. The individuals selected to present the strategies should be influential in the community,have good public speaking Do not invite a guest speaker or include an skills,and be willing to report the projects selected by the unrelated controversial topic which will over group rather than their own personal agendas. Now and shadow the purpose of the ceremony,which is then a person doing this gets original,giving his/her own reporting the program's findings. One group personal recommendations rather than,or in addition to, invited a well-known U.S. senatorial candidate to those of the Task Force. This is to be discouraged,since it's speak at their ceremony as a means of drawing a confusing and distracting from the projects selected by crowd and media attention. They got a crowd,the consensus during the Task Force retreat. media,and a campaign speech. Oh yes;he did congratulate them on doing BR&E,but no one 14 — Local Leadership Team Manual