Visions Advisory Committee Handout

This handout is designed to give the VISIONS Advisory Board some idea of the flow of the dialog-to-action process and the roles of the various core committees in that process. VISIONS would like to organize a Community-wide Study Circle Program to discuss the problems of poverty and potential solutions to those problems in our community of the Northern Neck. Each step builds on the one before it. Although we have not identified it as such, the conference in June and the Study Circle orientation and organization meetings represented the first step, coalition building. Steps can be revisited. Although we have identified some people who are interested in this dialog process, we recognize that we will need to do further coalition building to organize a larger and more diverse group to engage in the discussion. The committees we have identified to date and their functions are listed at right. Your job as an Advisory Committee member is literally to advise. We will also be asking you to promote this dialog-to-action process in understanding and devising strategies in reducing poverty in the Northern Neck. A tentative timeline is also included at right.

VISIONS: Building Assets and Community October 5, 2009

Each of the committees has a small core group who will drive the work of the committees. As the tasks become larger, more members may be recruited for specific tasks relating the overall process. The following working committees have been identified at this stage: COMMUNICATION Marilyn Warren, Paula Fisher and Susan McFadden have agreed to spearhead this group. Their mission is to develop a consistent message for VISIONS, including branding, marketing, logo development, and talking points for public relations and promotions. RECRUITMENT Led by Ken Rioland and Merthia Haynie, this committee will actively identify and recruit facilitators and participants for the community dialog on poverty. Their initial task is to recruit for one pilot study circle this fall. PLANNING Alison Towles and Dave Alberts are in charge of planning at this point. This committee is in charge of the logistics of the dialog process, including scheduling facilitator training and study circles, identifying venues, developing support (transportation, childcare, etc.) and all the other details. For now, that planning includes the pilot study circle to be conducted this fall. RESOURCE SHARING Cindy Balderson of ConnectRappahannock and Alison Towles are a small committee of two devoted to beginning the process of identifying what agencies, nonprofits, churches and others are currently doing to help people in need. We will begin monthly meetings on October 15th, 2009, but the ultimate goal is to have Connect serve as an electronic resource sharing vehicle. TENTATIVE TIMELINE October-November 2009: Pilot study circle December 2009: Evaluation, planning and recruitment for larger study circle process in January or February

January 2010: Kick-off event January or February 2010: Study circles begin meeting March 2010: Action Forum