i have posted this in files too, for easier reading

[tamm...@gmail.com]

Results of group coaching session Monday December 10th, 2007

1. Possible outcomes for session:
· Getting clarity about connection/role of umbrella organization
· Get clarity about our vision and actions
· Get clarity about a timeline with tasks and strategies mapped out
· Get clarity about form, shape and structure of this network
· Figure out what's unique about us; how we fit into the larger
picture, what we can offer that other organizations/networks don't or
can't.
· Get a clearer definition of who we are.

2. What might be included in our vision (may include mission, mandate,
etc.)?
· Being 'the voice' for urban agriculturalists in Vancouver (so that
we can have clout, power and influence)
· Ensure that there are resources and technical support for community
gardens
· Being a source of up-to-date information
· Education, outreach, hands-on workshops
· Advocacy, links to various levels of government
· Make policy recommendations
· Being 'the Hub'

3. What do we consider to be the main categories, or areas of activity
that we
are involved with?
· Networking: Might include making contact with community gardens,
reaching out to potential 'allies' or 'partners' with whom we have
overlapping interests or something to share, some type of IT
structure, (ie website, listserve) to support our networking, tabling
at events, education (how-to materials or a vehicle or access point to
them), info sharing, visits to other cities or exchanges with other
cities.
· Research
· Creating policy recommendations
· Creating strategies for delivery (ie implementation)
· Monitoring activities; acting as 'watchdog'
· Creating and maintaining internal governance structure (ie decision-
making, a framework for effective use of time in meetings)

4. When the six categories are positioned on a visual pie chart, each
one is given a rough number that evaluates our current level of
clarity about it (ie what we know we need to do, how we will do it,
etc. NOT how well we are doing it right now). 0=Absolutely no
clarity, and 10=perfect clarity

· Networking: 8
· Creating governance structure: 2
· Research: 6
· Creating recommendations: 7
· Acting as 'watchdog': 2
· Strategies for delivery of recommendations: 2

5: Q: If we were to bring our level of clarity even one point
higher on any of these
categories so that it would create an impact on all 6
categories, which
category would it be?
Structure for governance and meetings was strongly
identified, and Strategies
for delivery of recommendations was also identified
(less strongly). It was
pointed out that very few of these other categories was
possible unless
Governance was addressed.

5. With these preceding areas of priority in mind, what are some
actions we
might take that would move us forward?
· Devote one meeting to setting up a one-year action plan and map out
all the steps needed.
· Create some guidelines for meetings to ensure we stay on track and
make effective use of our times together.
· Create a model for decision-making.
· Create some type of system for accountability (we know who is doing
what and by when)
· Create a list of recommendations (specific to City guidelines)
· Create a listserve and manage it responsibly (so recipients don't
feel like they're being spammed or otherwise overloaded by
conversations intended for more core members)

I wanted to mention that in terms of visioning, we could have
gone much further about getting really clear about a vision--I just
asked everyone: 'What might a vision include?' so what was documented
tonight was very rough and preliminary.

IMHO, some next steps might be actually drafting a vision statement
using the material in this document.

Hope to cross paths with you and I wish you well with the network in
08!

Amanda