Strategic Planning Meeting, Session 1

Notes from Session One
October 25, 2014, 9:00-11:15 am
Woodside Church

Present: Mark Baldwin (UFO Village); Clarence Campbell (Power of One); Joyce Gracey (University Park); Brenda Hussey (Sterling/Myrtle Street NA); Tracy Jones (UFO Village); Joe King (Civic Park) Carma Lewis (Civic Park); Tanya Meeks (FPD); Jane Richardson (Salem); Raynetta Speed (E. Bishop & E. Flint Park); Chris Zowala (Potter/ Longway)

1. GROUP RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
Group Rules
• No side bar conversations
• Put cell phones on vibrate or off
• Inclusive listening
• Stick to guidelines/instructions
• Focus on FNU, not personal views
• Everyone’s opinions are important
• No one person dominates discussion
• MOVE FORWARD — don’t go back to prior meeting discussions
Expectations
• Reveal the challenges and possible solutions
• Strategic plan to move FNU forward to be a group of ACTION
• The outcome will be all inclusive (id who’s missing and go get them)
• Clear action plans
2. INFORMATION GATHERING
What is FNU?
• A collaboration of all city neighborhoods coming together to stand as one in the city
• An assimilation of neighborhood groups gathering to collaborate, strategize and carry out plans to make Flint great!
• A group of citizens from across the city dedicated to improve the quality of life of the individuals living and working in the neighborhoods
• A gathering of leaders of block clubs, neighborhood watches, community groups and organizations interested in bettering Flint by discussion, sharing and participating in improvements.
• An organization of community groups speaking about and sharing the needs of each
• A group of concerned, committed and dedicated leaders in the Flint community who are working towards improving the quality of life for all residents
• A group of neighborhood block clubs and associations that have come together to confront problems and move the City of Flint to a City where people feel safe, have a job and be listed as one of the top 10 cities of the US to live
Why did you join FNU?
• Communication—need to share information
• Because I believe I can make a difference in the community
• I thought we could sit and talk about problems and share solutions and resources to make things easier for everyone
• I wanted to be a part of positive change and correct problems/issues in CoF
• By working together we can work quicker and smarter to make change to positively impact the city
• Be apart of an organization that creates goals and plans to complete the goals and work the plans
• Because I believe in an organization interested in a better Flint
• To help unite Flint as one
• To stay up on the city as a whole. Assist and bring experience to be on one accord
• To make positive difference
• To make a difference, there’s power in numbers
What has FNU done well?
• Graffiti project was done well
• Superb digital communications (sharing info, generosity)
• Joining of the group/growth of the group
• Party store, liquor forum
• Work well together uniting diverse fares
• Professional
• Newspaper
• Court watchers
• Party Store problems (Education)
• Citizen involvement, brought city action
• Blight—citizens taking pride in neighborhoods—putting the city leaders, “feet to the fire” in cleaning it up
• Networking with different groups
• Respect of organization (FNU)
• FNU has become a “clearing House” for information of events in Flint
• FNU welcomed everyone
• The Blight Panel made a great difference in clean and conditions of the appeal of neighborhoods
• The party story panel made sure all the convenient stores follow local, state and federal protocols. Some even welcomed the assistance that was given and made them aware of violations
• The communication panel communicated with the neighborhoods and various groups across the city well. Making Flint a better spirited city
• A blending/uniting of all neighborhoods as one, without loosing their own identity
What has FNU not done well?
• Sometimes it can just be talk and not action
• Some sub groups need more assistance and involvement
• Advertisements with television and newspaper is a great need
• Need improvement and better cooperation across and between neighborhood groups and geographies… united, healthy vs. unhealthy ownership
• Need to find other ways to get many groups to join us
• Get our actions to influence the media (do something over and beyond just to get noticed.)
• Agenda management
• Court Watchers—participation problems otherwise no real fault of FNU
• Being able to say “No” (we don’t want to say no to anything)
• Revisit old issues too often
• Report on “Action items” (success/failure/table)
• No cohesion between newspaper and communication group
• We have incomplete goals in the sub-groups
• Sub group meeting times are not consistent
• We need a better job in welcoming members, visitors and guest to each of our meetings (need Welcome committee & information kit); assimilation
• We digress from the agenda
3. NEXT STEPS
   Session 2 — Saturday, November 1; 11:30am – 1:30pm at Woodside Church (immediately following regular FNU meeting)