Dear Terry,
I wanted to take a few moments to congratulate your SHW Group and Cambridge Strategic Services’ Shannon Buerk for a very successful visioning conference. In doing so there are some specifics I would like to bring to your attention:
1) I felt we had a very good representation of our volunteer community. We had people from the Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts; North Texas Board of Master Naturalists; Master Gardeners; Master Composters; Lions Club; Special Olympics; school district administrators, teachers, and students; city administrators and managers; and North Lake College. Many of these people are leaders within their own professions and interests. They are people who get things done. So, in that regard, I think we really brought together a dynamic and passionate group of people for the “visioning” process.
2) Also, I believe the venue of Tuesday set the stage for interest and success. TRAC is visually impressive and incorporates most of the things we wanted to discuss for our own Center. Plus, getting our group out of town helped to keep them focused on the task at hand without the distraction of family, business, or community.
3) Now, a few words about Shannon Buerk’s direction of the “visioning” process. As you witnessed, she was masterful at creating a productive environment within which each person felt comfortable:
a) She created a “come-and-go” casual environment which fostered a mutual respect atmosphere.
b) Her “classroom” was not about her being in control.
c) She was sensitive to input from participants.
d) All voices were heard; then she reflected back so that even the speaker understood being heard.
e) She incorporated many sensory vehicles to facilitate the process---audio, visual, drawing, etc.---all very good!
f) Although we had a diverse group of professionals—some administrators and some blue-collar—Shannon made each person feel their opinion to be equal to the next person.
g) Certainly, we will greatly benefit by the development of mission statement, objectives, strategies, and concepts. Those will begin to immediately affect our thinking, grant requests, and capital campaign.
4) In addition to providing credibility for the building, I believe the process moved City, School District, and even North Lake College participants to more “common ground” regarding partnership issues that may come up in the future.
5) Friendships were developed and strengthened as a result of the process. New, passionate contacts were achieved. And, additional momentum was given to our cause.
So, in total, it was a great process! We are getting very positive feedback from attendees, some of which I quote here:
“The ideas that came out of the sessions were absolutely fabulous. How energizing to hear the beliefs from that group. Thanks for pulling it together in such a valuable way.”
Amanda Vanhoozier
Parks Department
City of Coppell
“I have truly enjoyed being part of the team in the last two days. I would love to continue to be a contributor to such a wonderful mission.”
Marijana Clent
Girl Scouts
Terry, I hope the above is helpful. We appreciate you beyond words. Now, the ball is in your court!
Regards,
Lou Duggan
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