[StrategyPlan] our approach to Strategizing

[Jim Stauffer]

Kendra -

Every time I raise a concern or suggest something different you say it's the 
same as what you've proposed. It is not. Your last proposal was to send a list 
of issues to the counties and ask them to write pro/con statements on each. 
I'm proposing the counties tell us what they think are the issues we should 
concentrate on in the long term. Not telling the counties what issues the 
state party thinks we should work on and see if they agree.

The only use I see for an issues list is as an example of the kinds of topics 
we want discussed.

The message I'm proposing is not too long. It is shorter than most GA 
proposals, and it's not a complex topic. My experience has been that counties 
do respond (relatively speaking) to short, succinct projects like this. The 
only lengthy section of the message is the reference list of issues, but I 
assumed we would whittle that down.

The message asks each group to submit a summary of their discussion to the CC. 
I don't object to using a wiki, but I doubt its usefulness so I don't want to 
spend a lot of time on it.

I'd like to hear comments on the two approaches being proposed:

   - Send a list of issues to the counties for their comment.

   - Ask the counties to send us a list of issues.


My main concern is that this project is coming to the counties with no 
forewarning. There's better participation when the project is first discussed 
at a GA. This is now going to need some active support from the CC to promote 
it through the Regional Reps. Or, put this off until after the Spring GA.


Jim





On 12/12/2010 12:42 PM, Kendra Gonzales wrote:

> Hello all,

> I've briefly scanned over Jim's draft to send to County Contacts....its not
> at all disimilar to what we've been proposing. However, I suggest we really
>  simplify the email, offer just a handful of suggested topic items or
> questions for their consideration.

> The email is a bit too lengthy and people might feel overwhelmed when
> reading it....not to say all the content isn't important, but I've found
> that email communication warrants a short and to the point approach because
> its just too easy to hit "delete". As evidenced by this email, I have the
> same problem myself and need to really edit things down for simplicity's
> sake!

> Another missing component is a place to send local ideas and action items
> so we can record and organize them together into the "Plan". How do we
> document everything? I have suggested Wiki....Marnie Glickman has created
> one but specific to her proposal for the first part of 2011. Can we use it
> for the larger picture stuff too?
> http://wiki.cagreens.org/index.php/Green_2012.

> Do we create our own Wiki, or use something else all together?

> Jenni Woodward has also created a Greens Specific virtual space on her own
>  platform:

> CAGreens-Test is reached at: www.weblearningtools.org/CAGreens-Test.
> CAGreenIDEAS.org will be reachable at either cagreenideas.org or
> www.cagreenideas.org .

> I'll create a draft email to the counties as well, and Barry said he was
> going to do one. Maybe between Jim, Barry, and myself we can create a best
> approach.

> Kendra Gonzales
>