From Mission to Vision (and everything in between)

[Mattyoung]

The Trees & Hills Mission Statement:

<i>“Trees & Hills brings together cartoonists in Vermont, New
Hampshire, and western Massachusetts to produce, publish, and promote
comics, share resources, and build creative connections in our diverse
communities.”</i>


I like it. I think it draws everything T&H wants to be into one
concise (ish) point from which we can move forward. And if the
mission statement is our point of departure, then our shared values
are the landmarks that determine where we want to go. And (to
stretch the metaphor a bit) our Vision statement is a record of the
course we set.

(from about.com:) "Effective organizations identify and develop a
clear, concise and shared meaning of values/beliefs, priorities, and
direction so that everyone understands and can contribute."

Looking at our mission statement (and Colin's great comic version of
it), I'd say we value, at the most basic level:

-Comics
-Positive Community Building (in this regard, do we favor regionalism
in community)
-Creativity
-Fun!

Is this too basic, too obtuse? Where else do we look for values? I'm
just looking to get the ball rolling and shake the dust off my
cognitive skills.

-Mattyoung.

[Marek Bennett]

The ball's rolling, Matt! I was actually thinking of VALUES as the fuel
that goes into the vehicle that carries you over the (perhaps overly)
metaphorical landscape...

To be more concrete, they are not THINGS you value, but ideas that fuel the
THINGS / PROGRAMS / SERVICES you do (and produce). Here's what I found on
ABOUT.COM:

"Values are traits or qualities that are considered worthwhile; they
represent an individual’s highest priorities and deeply held driving forces.
"Value statements are grounded in values and define how people want to
behave with each other in the organization. They are statements about how
the organization will value customers, suppliers, and the internal
community. Value statements describe actions that are the living enactment
of the fundamental values held by most individuals within the organization."
--
http://humanresources.about.com/od/strategicplanning1/a/organizvalues_2.htm

Thus, while we might value "fun" and "community building," I think we need
to look behind these concepts and ask WHY we value them. What are the
values that drive us all to spend our time making (and talking about)
comics?

I keep coming back to beliefs, or axioms. For example:

-- All people can create comics.
-- Everyone has stories to tell.
-- Authentic self-expression and communication are inherently humanizing and
empowering.
-- Artists need communities.
-- Communities need artists.
-- Human societies need accessible, fertile, community-based arts like Dick
Cheney needs a spankin' (or vice-versa)

&c., &c. ...

-- M.