Coach Note #5: Team meeting #2

Hello Springfield REV Team,

Our next group meeting is Thursday at 11:30 am. (See the details for joining the meeting at the end of this email.) We will have several items to discuss next time, so please take a look at those ahead of time. 

Agenda:

• Updates from team members

• Discuss the community capacity questionnaire and initiative expectations survey (See the previous coach note for these and please complete them).

• Discuss community metrics

• Review the Development Opportunity Profile

• Discuss the community survey (See attached & the information to send out to the community below.)

Survey Information:

Here is some language you can use to share the survey and invite people to participate: 

"Springfield was recently selected to participate in the REV program sponsored by the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation. The program is designed to help rural communities create more vibrant economies by finding and supporting local entrepreneurs — from business startups to existing businesses that want to grow. 

The first phase is to understand the current state. As part of this early work, community members are invited to complete a short survey called the Entrepreneurial Confidence Index.  The index is designed to measure local entrepreneurial culture and attitudes. We plan to do this survey annually to assess the impacts of REV activities. 

Here is a link to the survey page == https://sites.google.com/umn.edu/entrepreneurial-confidence-1/home

The deadline for completing the survey is 3/31/21."

Resources

• Be sure to look at the resources in our REV folder. Link to REV Folder

• Please take a look at the community metrics tracker that we will use throughout the project: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1e5aXywU0BSisNugJZbyD7zGHhrtZtfXr6bWa5xb_Thk/edit#gid=0 

Questions

• John and Wendy asked: "Wondering about getting community feedback on the best way to make our project most successful. Wendy and I are looking at this, for starters. Maybe we can talk about this at our next meeting. Also, looking at a newspaper article explaining it. How soon should this happen? We did look at the example you sent and could work off that."

• My Reply: 

• Thanks for the questions. Yes. Let's talk about this at our next call. But, maybe there is something you and Wendy can make progress on right away.
  
  My suggestion is to start by letting the community know that this is happening and that you'd like to hear from them with ideas. A simple article similar to the one from Fairbault County is probably enough.  The key is to inform people and provide them with a way to get involved if they want to do so. You might also let them know that the team will be putting out a community input survey this Spring. There are several surveys in the REV toolkit to choose from. In terms of timing, maybe you could have a draft article ready for our next meeting, then we can discuss it before sending it out.
  
  You could also have each member of the committee member talk to at least two people about the project. They can ask: 1.) what's exciting about this project? 2.) What would be a great success if we accomplished it? It's a simple way to expand participation and get some of that feedback to help craft the project.
  
  We'll be going through some more of the tools in the coming weeks, so there will likely be additional ways to get input from people. The best type of engagement work is work that empowers more people to contribute, so that's where I'll always try to lead the group.
  
  I've assembled some examples from other communities and included them here:
  https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1L0D0DHQTdgvl5fVyZuOdtt14kNQLg1Uq
  
  You'll see some social media pages, annual reports, and updates from Alumni.
  
  Is that helpful? Let me know. I'm happy to clarify or elaborate.

• Remember you can find past emails on the project website: https://springfieldrev.blogspot.com/ 

Progress

• Please see the meeting minutes from our last meeting here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1w-vt6-N-2Y1a_zceCLOwuzWdN_HnCWN0aLsz6uVvBDg/edit

• The group assigned roles and responsibilities.

• Documentor (for 2/4) - Derek Tonn

• Michelle Berberich volunteered to work as Outreach Coordinator, with

• Keith Kottke supporting Michelle in that role.

• Paul Pieschel volunteered to work as an Entrepreneurship/Resources Coordinator

• John Ryan volunteered to work as Communications Coordinator and a "liaison" between this REV group and the City Council, as well as talking with local media.

• Derek Tonn volunteered to serve as Technology Coordinator.

• Wendy Krier volunteered to serve as the Documentor, beginning at our February 18 meeting.

• Community Coordinator - Joe Stremcha

Zoom Meeting Information

Joe Stremcha is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Springfield REV Board

Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2981990028?pwd=N2g2azl4R2JQcVF0bjNlQVVoK3JtZz09

To join by phone.

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        +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)      

Meeting ID: 298 199 0028

Passcode: 759114

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kerIA2HuUj

Neil Linscheid

Educator, Community Economics

Center for Community Vitality

University of Minnesota Extension

Extension Regional Office, St. Cloud

3601 18th Street, Suite 113

St. Cloud MN 56301-6012

Phone: (651) 334-2373

Email: lins0041@umn.edu

Web: http://www.extension.umn.edu/community