Hello Everyone:
I think that John Dewey (philosopher 1859-1952) would have loved our TWLC efforts. He said: "What the best and wisest parent wants for his (her) own child that must the community want for all of its children. Any other idea is narrow and unlovely; acted upon it destroys our democracy."
I'd like to schedule our next meeting for the steering team. Please let me know which dates work best for you in May as follows, 4, 5, 10,11,12, or 13. I'd rather not go into the next week because our meeting with the large group is scheduled for May 24th. Meeting earlier will allow ample time for any preparatory work that needs to happen before the meeting. We also need to confirm a place.
Take care and take time to enjoy the school vacation week,
Rosemary
Monday, April 19, 2010
Friday, March 26, 2010
meeting summary
Please let me know if you have changes, additions, and/or suggestions to the agenda.
Meeting Summary
March 24, 2010
Lisa Beaulieu, Tom Kenworthy, Paul Ouellette, Donna Morelle, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Using the draft agenda from the last meeting, the group talked through a working agenda.
We decided against the nine dots activity from the Art of Possibility and instead decided to ask participants to share a memory from the World Café. This activity will serve to reconnect the participants and us to a shared experience. Tom suggested another introductory activity that we will use at the May meeting. Assets such as the Franklin Farm would be written on an index card. Participants would be paired and discuss what they know about the asset (e.g. have you visited, historical significance, current use, etc).
As we discussed the agenda, we realized that we were trying to accomplish too much for an initial meeting with new members. We discussed the website and determined that a premiere of the site would be the best way to begin. (BTW, I did remind the group that this idea was in fact our original plan for this meeting.) Lisa will take the participants through a tour of the site. This will be followed by a group discussion on how to launch this site to the broader population including all World Café participants and town residents.
We will set the dates for the next two meetings with the group which means that the steering team will need to meet in the interim weeks to plan. The Town Assets would be the May agenda focus and the World Café summaries would be the June agenda focus. Packets will be made for all participants with these summaries to take home. This approach will give us time to finish categorizing the assets. Please try to move this work along as quickly as possible.
We talked about the necessity of demonstrating collaborative leadership at these meetings. All steering team members will have opportunities to lead pieces of the agenda over the course of the next three meetings.
Paul offered to bring the easel and pad for the group discussion. Donna will bring supplies including name tags, index cards, pens and sharpies. Donna will bring some of the summary working sheets from the Café. These sheets will be hung around the room. Participants can browse through the sheets before the meeting begins.
Ryan will be asked to check on internet access, availability of a projector and any restrictions on hanging paper with library administration.
Lisa will post the World Café summaries and the newly categorized assets (once completed) on the website.
Rosemary will draft a simple agenda for Cindy to send to the participants. A RSVP will be requested.
Linda and Rosemary are continuing work on the creation of a word file with all of the index card summaries.
The final working agenda is:
Town Wide Learning Community
April 5, 2010 6:30-8:00 pm
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions Donna and Paul (20 minutes)
What was your most memorable experience at the World Café?
Rengage group to the shared experience that brought us together
Summary of Efforts to Date Rosemary (5 minutes)
A brief summary of events leading up to this meeting to provide a context for the evening’s work
Premiere of Cumberland’s Town Wide Learning website Lisa (15 minutes)
Share the major communication effort/foundation since the World Café and use it to engage the group in a discussion of ideas and next steps
Next Steps with Communications - Group Discussion Donna and Lisa (30 minutes)
Summary of the Evening’s Work and Next Steps - Donna and Paul (10 minutes)
Next Meeting Dates – Donna (5 minutes)
May - Assets
June – Summaries of World café Discussion Questions
Adjourn
Participants will leave with a packet containing the assets and the summaries from the World Café discussions. The agenda for the evening will have the Town Wide Learning Community url.
Respectfully Submitted:
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Meeting Summary
March 24, 2010
Lisa Beaulieu, Tom Kenworthy, Paul Ouellette, Donna Morelle, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Using the draft agenda from the last meeting, the group talked through a working agenda.
We decided against the nine dots activity from the Art of Possibility and instead decided to ask participants to share a memory from the World Café. This activity will serve to reconnect the participants and us to a shared experience. Tom suggested another introductory activity that we will use at the May meeting. Assets such as the Franklin Farm would be written on an index card. Participants would be paired and discuss what they know about the asset (e.g. have you visited, historical significance, current use, etc).
As we discussed the agenda, we realized that we were trying to accomplish too much for an initial meeting with new members. We discussed the website and determined that a premiere of the site would be the best way to begin. (BTW, I did remind the group that this idea was in fact our original plan for this meeting.) Lisa will take the participants through a tour of the site. This will be followed by a group discussion on how to launch this site to the broader population including all World Café participants and town residents.
We will set the dates for the next two meetings with the group which means that the steering team will need to meet in the interim weeks to plan. The Town Assets would be the May agenda focus and the World Café summaries would be the June agenda focus. Packets will be made for all participants with these summaries to take home. This approach will give us time to finish categorizing the assets. Please try to move this work along as quickly as possible.
We talked about the necessity of demonstrating collaborative leadership at these meetings. All steering team members will have opportunities to lead pieces of the agenda over the course of the next three meetings.
Paul offered to bring the easel and pad for the group discussion. Donna will bring supplies including name tags, index cards, pens and sharpies. Donna will bring some of the summary working sheets from the Café. These sheets will be hung around the room. Participants can browse through the sheets before the meeting begins.
Ryan will be asked to check on internet access, availability of a projector and any restrictions on hanging paper with library administration.
Lisa will post the World Café summaries and the newly categorized assets (once completed) on the website.
Rosemary will draft a simple agenda for Cindy to send to the participants. A RSVP will be requested.
Linda and Rosemary are continuing work on the creation of a word file with all of the index card summaries.
The final working agenda is:
Town Wide Learning Community
April 5, 2010 6:30-8:00 pm
Agenda
Welcome and Introductions Donna and Paul (20 minutes)
What was your most memorable experience at the World Café?
Rengage group to the shared experience that brought us together
Summary of Efforts to Date Rosemary (5 minutes)
A brief summary of events leading up to this meeting to provide a context for the evening’s work
Premiere of Cumberland’s Town Wide Learning website Lisa (15 minutes)
Share the major communication effort/foundation since the World Café and use it to engage the group in a discussion of ideas and next steps
Next Steps with Communications - Group Discussion Donna and Lisa (30 minutes)
Summary of the Evening’s Work and Next Steps - Donna and Paul (10 minutes)
Next Meeting Dates – Donna (5 minutes)
May - Assets
June – Summaries of World café Discussion Questions
Adjourn
Participants will leave with a packet containing the assets and the summaries from the World Café discussions. The agenda for the evening will have the Town Wide Learning Community url.
Respectfully Submitted:
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
meeting summary 3.09.2010
Town Wide Learning Community Steering Team
Meeting Summary
March 9, 2010
Linda Rosasco, Karen Freedman, Tom Kenworthy, Dorothy Gould. Lisa Beaulieu, Donna Morelle, Ryan Pearson, Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Karen shared information about The Villages, a planned learning community in Florida. The Villages are zoned as a Community Development District for adults ages 55 years and older. Residents pay a monthly amount to live there, similar to a condo fee. The Villages adopt core values such as hospitality, innovation and creativity. There are multiple websites and a printed newspaper with all course offered. There are several different villages in Florida. One has a population of 70,000 residents. Each village has a town square and nightly entertainment. One of the villages has a k-12 charter school for children of people working in the village. A local business supports some activities in a community. A Residents’ Academy is offered for people to learn about government and to meet elected officials. There are aspects of this learning community that could serve as a prototype for Cumberland’s Town Wide Learning Community endeavor. One example that we discussed is ease and accessibility of information regarding opportunities offered in The Villages.
Rosemary shared information about the World Café in Reading MA which we read about in a journal article. She spoke with Deborah Gilburg of Gilburg Leadership Inc. The World Café was held in response to tensions regarding growth and development in Reading. The Reading World Café was designed to engage residents in conversations about possibilities, dilemmas, priorities and next steps for Reading. An open invitation was issued to all residents and the café was held in an athletic field house. The results confirmed the direction of Reading’s strategic plan for its administrators. Also, sixty participants agreed to continue contributing to the strategic plan agenda via small working group process. Learning about this process was useful but it still didn’t help us to think about how to continuously incorporate the World Café data in our plans to move forward.
Debroah Gilburg shared some interesting information about brain research and the World Café. The power of the World Café is in the bonds that are created in terms of feelings and experiences. The bonding helps to break down the stress response inhibiting the neocortex which is responsible for higher order thinking, creativity, vision and strategy. It is the shared feelings that people want to recreate which probably explains why some people want to experience the World Café again.
The Transition Plan and Communications Plan are standing items on the agenda. Dee and Karen agreed to assist Lisa in the development of the website. There were no additional updates at this time. The group also discussed the role of a local education fund as a resource to town wide learning in the future. Lisa will explore the development of a fund for our purposes.
The group reviewed the agenda for the large group meeting. The draft agenda included:
Welcome and Introductions
Icebreaker (nine dots exercise from the Art of Possibility?)
Building the Context
Storyboard
Assets
Group Activity
Next steps including sequence of meetings and dates
We recognized the need to “ground ourselves” in the information before we proceed with this meeting. We also discussed the need to share information with the group to help them develop their context together with us. As a steering team we need to incorporate time to revisit the data from the World Café at each meeting. We discussed using the assets to reconnect and reengage the larger group with the World Café meeting. We discussed using the summary sheets from the three questions to begin a story board with the group as a group activity. At this time, based on our research, we are not opening up the meetings to other participants outside the World Café experience. As the work evolves, there will be opportunities for broader inclusion.
Before our next meeting we will:
Review and reorganize the assets into themes. Rosemary will start and the list will be passed in a predetermined order among all group members. Everyone will be included as the list passes from one member to the next.
Donna will prepare a working agenda with times.
Linda and Rosemary will type all of the index card information in a word file.
Ryan will check the availability of the Hayden Center on April 5, 6, and 7. Rosemary will determine Paul’s availability on those dates as well. We need to make our best effort to have all steering team members at the first large group meeting.
Once a date is confirmed, Donna will send out a save the date email to the larger group.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday March 24th from 6:30-8:00 pm. At this time, we cal all make it! Yeah!
Meeting Summary
March 9, 2010
Linda Rosasco, Karen Freedman, Tom Kenworthy, Dorothy Gould. Lisa Beaulieu, Donna Morelle, Ryan Pearson, Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Karen shared information about The Villages, a planned learning community in Florida. The Villages are zoned as a Community Development District for adults ages 55 years and older. Residents pay a monthly amount to live there, similar to a condo fee. The Villages adopt core values such as hospitality, innovation and creativity. There are multiple websites and a printed newspaper with all course offered. There are several different villages in Florida. One has a population of 70,000 residents. Each village has a town square and nightly entertainment. One of the villages has a k-12 charter school for children of people working in the village. A local business supports some activities in a community. A Residents’ Academy is offered for people to learn about government and to meet elected officials. There are aspects of this learning community that could serve as a prototype for Cumberland’s Town Wide Learning Community endeavor. One example that we discussed is ease and accessibility of information regarding opportunities offered in The Villages.
Rosemary shared information about the World Café in Reading MA which we read about in a journal article. She spoke with Deborah Gilburg of Gilburg Leadership Inc. The World Café was held in response to tensions regarding growth and development in Reading. The Reading World Café was designed to engage residents in conversations about possibilities, dilemmas, priorities and next steps for Reading. An open invitation was issued to all residents and the café was held in an athletic field house. The results confirmed the direction of Reading’s strategic plan for its administrators. Also, sixty participants agreed to continue contributing to the strategic plan agenda via small working group process. Learning about this process was useful but it still didn’t help us to think about how to continuously incorporate the World Café data in our plans to move forward.
Debroah Gilburg shared some interesting information about brain research and the World Café. The power of the World Café is in the bonds that are created in terms of feelings and experiences. The bonding helps to break down the stress response inhibiting the neocortex which is responsible for higher order thinking, creativity, vision and strategy. It is the shared feelings that people want to recreate which probably explains why some people want to experience the World Café again.
The Transition Plan and Communications Plan are standing items on the agenda. Dee and Karen agreed to assist Lisa in the development of the website. There were no additional updates at this time. The group also discussed the role of a local education fund as a resource to town wide learning in the future. Lisa will explore the development of a fund for our purposes.
The group reviewed the agenda for the large group meeting. The draft agenda included:
Welcome and Introductions
Icebreaker (nine dots exercise from the Art of Possibility?)
Building the Context
Storyboard
Assets
Group Activity
Next steps including sequence of meetings and dates
We recognized the need to “ground ourselves” in the information before we proceed with this meeting. We also discussed the need to share information with the group to help them develop their context together with us. As a steering team we need to incorporate time to revisit the data from the World Café at each meeting. We discussed using the assets to reconnect and reengage the larger group with the World Café meeting. We discussed using the summary sheets from the three questions to begin a story board with the group as a group activity. At this time, based on our research, we are not opening up the meetings to other participants outside the World Café experience. As the work evolves, there will be opportunities for broader inclusion.
Before our next meeting we will:
Review and reorganize the assets into themes. Rosemary will start and the list will be passed in a predetermined order among all group members. Everyone will be included as the list passes from one member to the next.
Donna will prepare a working agenda with times.
Linda and Rosemary will type all of the index card information in a word file.
Ryan will check the availability of the Hayden Center on April 5, 6, and 7. Rosemary will determine Paul’s availability on those dates as well. We need to make our best effort to have all steering team members at the first large group meeting.
Once a date is confirmed, Donna will send out a save the date email to the larger group.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday March 24th from 6:30-8:00 pm. At this time, we cal all make it! Yeah!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
meeting summary
Summary of Meeting held February 22, 2010
Thomas Kenworthy, Dorothy Gould, Donna Morelle, Lisa Beaulieu, Ryan Pearson and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Tom shared research on fostering collaboration and expanding learning communities to help guide our work. Literature on professional learning communities is related to our work in building town wide learning and especially useful since there is not a lot of research available about next steps following a world café process such as Cumberland’s event. Research including group collaboration, developing a learning community, sustaining a learning community and expanding a learning community was explored.
Using this information, the group discussed ways to use the data that we have already gathered to reconnect the larger group to the world café event and to move forward. The importance of keeping the work manageable was discussed. Therefore, an outcome of the larger group work would be the development of three mutual and manageable goals. This would help to manage “multiple initiatives syndrome” and to measure our success with evidence of progress.
Methods to frame and share the world café information was also considered. We could use the charts to create storyboards that visually depict how the conversation evolved at the world café. We also discussed the 3C’s: Communicate, Collaborate and Cooperate along with the Cumberland is ready theme. Information on the town’s assets would also be shared as a foundation for conversation. Donna will request the word document from Carol so that we can create themes to facilitate discussion. Stewardship was also discussed as a theme. For example, restrictions on building and fields came about because open access led to damage. Changing the norms around use also means talking about contributors, caretakers, and consumers of resources. (I know, three more C’s, I couldn’t resist.) Tom shared the first chapter from The Art of Possibility which could be used as an ice breaking activity.
Transition, including the role of the steering team, should be an ongoing topic for discussion with the steering team.
Lisa shared information about communications. There are three tiers of communication including: working group, larger group that participated in the world café and the community at large. We need to address all three groups with various communications beginning with the website. Tom shared information from the Providence School Department on their three methods for all communication including, print, person, and digital media. It is important for us to explore other alternatives to web based communication especially for residents without access to a computer.
Lisa is looking for a “partner in crime” to work with her on communications. This person would help to provide ongoing feedback as communications and marketing efforts take shape.
The next meeting will take place on March 9, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 pm and the larger group meeting is scheduled for Monday March 29th at the Hayden Library. Thanks to Ryan for making the arrangements.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Thomas Kenworthy, Dorothy Gould, Donna Morelle, Lisa Beaulieu, Ryan Pearson and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Tom shared research on fostering collaboration and expanding learning communities to help guide our work. Literature on professional learning communities is related to our work in building town wide learning and especially useful since there is not a lot of research available about next steps following a world café process such as Cumberland’s event. Research including group collaboration, developing a learning community, sustaining a learning community and expanding a learning community was explored.
Using this information, the group discussed ways to use the data that we have already gathered to reconnect the larger group to the world café event and to move forward. The importance of keeping the work manageable was discussed. Therefore, an outcome of the larger group work would be the development of three mutual and manageable goals. This would help to manage “multiple initiatives syndrome” and to measure our success with evidence of progress.
Methods to frame and share the world café information was also considered. We could use the charts to create storyboards that visually depict how the conversation evolved at the world café. We also discussed the 3C’s: Communicate, Collaborate and Cooperate along with the Cumberland is ready theme. Information on the town’s assets would also be shared as a foundation for conversation. Donna will request the word document from Carol so that we can create themes to facilitate discussion. Stewardship was also discussed as a theme. For example, restrictions on building and fields came about because open access led to damage. Changing the norms around use also means talking about contributors, caretakers, and consumers of resources. (I know, three more C’s, I couldn’t resist.) Tom shared the first chapter from The Art of Possibility which could be used as an ice breaking activity.
Transition, including the role of the steering team, should be an ongoing topic for discussion with the steering team.
Lisa shared information about communications. There are three tiers of communication including: working group, larger group that participated in the world café and the community at large. We need to address all three groups with various communications beginning with the website. Tom shared information from the Providence School Department on their three methods for all communication including, print, person, and digital media. It is important for us to explore other alternatives to web based communication especially for residents without access to a computer.
Lisa is looking for a “partner in crime” to work with her on communications. This person would help to provide ongoing feedback as communications and marketing efforts take shape.
The next meeting will take place on March 9, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 pm and the larger group meeting is scheduled for Monday March 29th at the Hayden Library. Thanks to Ryan for making the arrangements.
Respectfully Submitted,
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Sunday, January 24, 2010
meeting summary and next meeting February 10th
Hello Everyone:
Please disregard my first message. Here is the corrected version of the meeting summary. I have already deleted the other one. Please let me know if I have captured everything.
Meeting Summary of the Town Wide Learning Community Steering Team
January 21, 2010
Linda Rosasco, Carol Bissanti, Lisa Beaulieu, Tom Kenworthy, Karen Freedman, Donna Morelle, Dorothy Gould, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
This was our first meeting together following our very successful World Café and our last meeting with Carol (at least for a time).
Carol led us through the summaries of the World Café work that she provided. Each of had a chance to share our reflections on the day. Carol distributed index cards and we had to write what action we thought would have the biggest impact and the first step we need take as a group. The discussion that followed lead to the following action steps:
1)Send thank you notes to all participants of the World Café. Donna and Paul will sign the letters as co-sponsors. Rosemary and Donna will draft the letter and send it out to the group for review. The letter should be sent by the first week in February.
2)The summaries of the World Café need to connect to research, where applicable, to form a framework for our basis of action.
a.We need to continuously review the information on the cards and sheets to stay connected to the messages. Karen suggested capturing the images on shutterfly. Lisa offered to scan the images.
3)The steering team needs to research models for and definitions of “authentic collaboration.”
4)Communication is key. The district has a communications plan and Lisa will adapt of draft of the plan for our purposes. The District’s Communication Team may be an important partner at future meetings of the group.
5)Lisa also will look into website hosting and tap into resources from the Tech Club through the RI Foundation. The website will be populated with our work to date and will be a go to place for information.
6)Donna will investigate incorporating a general twlc identification in the web email rather than a specific person’s name.
7)The steering team needs to develop a transition plan to include: goals and objectives of this effort, role of the steering team, role of a broader group, identification of norms to help achieve the goals, development of a council of collaboration or some other guiding body, funding from potential sources such as RI Foundation, Annie E. Casey and Foundations for Leadership.
8)Karen will investigate The Villages and Disney’s give a day, get a day program in Florida as potential models to replicate for family based learning.
9)The steering team needs to plan a meeting in the near future with the expanded group of participant who expressed interest in the work.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday February 10, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Please disregard my first message. Here is the corrected version of the meeting summary. I have already deleted the other one. Please let me know if I have captured everything.
Meeting Summary of the Town Wide Learning Community Steering Team
January 21, 2010
Linda Rosasco, Carol Bissanti, Lisa Beaulieu, Tom Kenworthy, Karen Freedman, Donna Morelle, Dorothy Gould, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
This was our first meeting together following our very successful World Café and our last meeting with Carol (at least for a time).
Carol led us through the summaries of the World Café work that she provided. Each of had a chance to share our reflections on the day. Carol distributed index cards and we had to write what action we thought would have the biggest impact and the first step we need take as a group. The discussion that followed lead to the following action steps:
1)Send thank you notes to all participants of the World Café. Donna and Paul will sign the letters as co-sponsors. Rosemary and Donna will draft the letter and send it out to the group for review. The letter should be sent by the first week in February.
2)The summaries of the World Café need to connect to research, where applicable, to form a framework for our basis of action.
a.We need to continuously review the information on the cards and sheets to stay connected to the messages. Karen suggested capturing the images on shutterfly. Lisa offered to scan the images.
3)The steering team needs to research models for and definitions of “authentic collaboration.”
4)Communication is key. The district has a communications plan and Lisa will adapt of draft of the plan for our purposes. The District’s Communication Team may be an important partner at future meetings of the group.
5)Lisa also will look into website hosting and tap into resources from the Tech Club through the RI Foundation. The website will be populated with our work to date and will be a go to place for information.
6)Donna will investigate incorporating a general twlc identification in the web email rather than a specific person’s name.
7)The steering team needs to develop a transition plan to include: goals and objectives of this effort, role of the steering team, role of a broader group, identification of norms to help achieve the goals, development of a council of collaboration or some other guiding body, funding from potential sources such as RI Foundation, Annie E. Casey and Foundations for Leadership.
8)Karen will investigate The Villages and Disney’s give a day, get a day program in Florida as potential models to replicate for family based learning.
9)The steering team needs to plan a meeting in the near future with the expanded group of participant who expressed interest in the work.
Our next meeting will be held on Wednesday February 10, 2010 from 6:30-8:00 pm
Respectfully Submitted
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Monday, January 11, 2010
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Next meeting
Hello Everyone:
I am still on my TWLC high and I predict you all are too. I am looking forward to our next meeting to debrief with all of you. I've had some "mini debriefs" and / or "gushes" already with some of you.
If you'd like, and in preparation for our time together, it may be helpful to jot down any ideas, reactions, next steps, and the like related to our TWLC experience over the course of the next week and a half.
Also, Lisa suggested that we send thank you notes to all of the participants. We could sign them at our next meeting. I think some type of follow-up and acknowledgement is a great idea. Thoughts?
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2010 beginning at 7:00 pm. Please note the time change.
It has been both a personal honor and exceptional professional experience to be a part of this with all of you. I look forward to our future endeavors.
Rosemary
I am still on my TWLC high and I predict you all are too. I am looking forward to our next meeting to debrief with all of you. I've had some "mini debriefs" and / or "gushes" already with some of you.
If you'd like, and in preparation for our time together, it may be helpful to jot down any ideas, reactions, next steps, and the like related to our TWLC experience over the course of the next week and a half.
Also, Lisa suggested that we send thank you notes to all of the participants. We could sign them at our next meeting. I think some type of follow-up and acknowledgement is a great idea. Thoughts?
Our next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2010 beginning at 7:00 pm. Please note the time change.
It has been both a personal honor and exceptional professional experience to be a part of this with all of you. I look forward to our future endeavors.
Rosemary
Sunday, December 20, 2009
TWLC World Cafe items to review
Hello Everyone:
I hope you all enjoyed this blizzard of 2009. I love a winter wonderland yet still take comfort that the winter solstice begins tomorrow.
Carol has provided a few items to review prior to our next meeting on Monday December 28 from 10:00-11:30 am. We will finalize these items when we meet. Attached are:
1) draft agenda
2) world cafe questions and
3) entrance/exit questions.
School District Logo DRAFT Chamber Logo
CUMBERLAND TOWN WIDE LEARNING COMMUNITY
WORLD CAFÉ
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon
9:00-9:15 Gathering of Community Members:
Committee Members greet guests
9:15-9:35 Doorways to Our Dialogue
Donna Morelle, Paul Oullette, Mayor, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
9:35-9:45 Framing Our Conversation
Carol Bissanti
9:45-11:00 Creating New Knowledge for Town Wide Community Learning
Café Hosts and Guests
11:00-11:15 Break Time
11:15- 11:50 Connecting Conversations to Deepen Our Intentions
Café Lead Facilitators and Carol Bissanti
11:50-12:00 Transforming Our Conversation
Donna, Paul, (Rosemary and/or Team Members)
CAFÉ QUESTIONS TO FINALIZE
The following questions represent our last draft. Please be prepared to accept or make a final revision at our December 28th morning meeting. Look at these questions in terms of the information you are trying to gain to move your agenda forward and think about them through the lens of the guests who will be “new” to the discussion
1. How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town’s culture (defining the action)
2. If our success was completely guaranteed and Cumberland became a model for town wide learning, what bold steps might we choose to take? (creating forward movement)
Is this question asking: “What bold steps might we choose to take to guarantee that Cumberland will become a model for town wide learning?”
3. What would it look like if Cumberland was renowned as a “learning community” for all residents? (creating a shared vision)
CAFÉ ENTRANCE/EXIT ACTIVITIES
As we discussed, there are a variety of entrance and exit activities that could be designed to assist to establish a “mindset” and/or gain additional information that would help to move the agenda forward post the Café. The following are some examples. Please review carefully. As you consider them think about the committee next steps and what additional information could be gathered at the Café that would assist in committee action planning. Remember we want these activities to compliment the questions, not be repetitive. Suggestions are welcomed. We need to finalize these activities at the December 28th meeting as well.
ENTRANCE/EXIT EXAMPLES:
1 What do you think are the town of Cumberland’s greatest assets? (Question on a sheet of paper, answered individually and returned before the activities begin)
2 List what you know currently exist in our community that could provide a foundation for building a town wide learning culture (Easels with paper where guests could develop a list, etc.
3 Please prioritize the actions that were summarized today that you think are the most important or that you think will make the greatest impact as we start action planning.
(Guest place dots on summary café sheets #1-3 or #1-4 as they exit)
I hope you all enjoyed this blizzard of 2009. I love a winter wonderland yet still take comfort that the winter solstice begins tomorrow.
Carol has provided a few items to review prior to our next meeting on Monday December 28 from 10:00-11:30 am. We will finalize these items when we meet. Attached are:
1) draft agenda
2) world cafe questions and
3) entrance/exit questions.
School District Logo DRAFT Chamber Logo
CUMBERLAND TOWN WIDE LEARNING COMMUNITY
WORLD CAFÉ
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9, 2010
9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon
9:00-9:15 Gathering of Community Members:
Committee Members greet guests
9:15-9:35 Doorways to Our Dialogue
Donna Morelle, Paul Oullette, Mayor, and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
9:35-9:45 Framing Our Conversation
Carol Bissanti
9:45-11:00 Creating New Knowledge for Town Wide Community Learning
Café Hosts and Guests
11:00-11:15 Break Time
11:15- 11:50 Connecting Conversations to Deepen Our Intentions
Café Lead Facilitators and Carol Bissanti
11:50-12:00 Transforming Our Conversation
Donna, Paul, (Rosemary and/or Team Members)
CAFÉ QUESTIONS TO FINALIZE
The following questions represent our last draft. Please be prepared to accept or make a final revision at our December 28th morning meeting. Look at these questions in terms of the information you are trying to gain to move your agenda forward and think about them through the lens of the guests who will be “new” to the discussion
1. How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town’s culture (defining the action)
2. If our success was completely guaranteed and Cumberland became a model for town wide learning, what bold steps might we choose to take? (creating forward movement)
Is this question asking: “What bold steps might we choose to take to guarantee that Cumberland will become a model for town wide learning?”
3. What would it look like if Cumberland was renowned as a “learning community” for all residents? (creating a shared vision)
CAFÉ ENTRANCE/EXIT ACTIVITIES
As we discussed, there are a variety of entrance and exit activities that could be designed to assist to establish a “mindset” and/or gain additional information that would help to move the agenda forward post the Café. The following are some examples. Please review carefully. As you consider them think about the committee next steps and what additional information could be gathered at the Café that would assist in committee action planning. Remember we want these activities to compliment the questions, not be repetitive. Suggestions are welcomed. We need to finalize these activities at the December 28th meeting as well.
ENTRANCE/EXIT EXAMPLES:
1 What do you think are the town of Cumberland’s greatest assets? (Question on a sheet of paper, answered individually and returned before the activities begin)
2 List what you know currently exist in our community that could provide a foundation for building a town wide learning culture (Easels with paper where guests could develop a list, etc.
3 Please prioritize the actions that were summarized today that you think are the most important or that you think will make the greatest impact as we start action planning.
(Guest place dots on summary café sheets #1-3 or #1-4 as they exit)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
TWLC meeting 12/16/09 at 6:30-8:00 pm
Hello Everyone:
This will serve as a meeting reminder for tomorrow evening. The agenda so far, is as follows:
1)Donna will share the responses to date and we will discuss reach out strategies to invitees that have yet to respond.
2) Identification of facilitators.
2)Donna,Lisa, and Carol will report out on their site visit to BRT and their recommendations on set up and logistics.
3) Donna and Paul will report out on their meeting with Mayor McKee.
4) Carol will guide us through the final details of our planning and work to be completed between now and January 9th, including materials, supplies, food and beverages ect.
5) We can keep in contact via email and blog over the holidays but we should schedule one more meeting just prior to the TWLC in case we need it.
I am looking forward to our discussion tomorrow. Please let me know if you can not make it.
Take Care,
Rosemary
This will serve as a meeting reminder for tomorrow evening. The agenda so far, is as follows:
1)Donna will share the responses to date and we will discuss reach out strategies to invitees that have yet to respond.
2) Identification of facilitators.
2)Donna,Lisa, and Carol will report out on their site visit to BRT and their recommendations on set up and logistics.
3) Donna and Paul will report out on their meeting with Mayor McKee.
4) Carol will guide us through the final details of our planning and work to be completed between now and January 9th, including materials, supplies, food and beverages ect.
5) We can keep in contact via email and blog over the holidays but we should schedule one more meeting just prior to the TWLC in case we need it.
I am looking forward to our discussion tomorrow. Please let me know if you can not make it.
Take Care,
Rosemary
Sunday, December 13, 2009
"From cradle to college to community building"
Not to get ahead of the ball, however, I came across a very unique organization based out of Harlem who's slogan is "From cradle to college to community building."
The slogan really caught my eye and made me think. In addition, it's similarity to something we might create to capture our young to old learning concept was apparent.
It is a much broader and deeper organization that I think we have ever imagined and in many ways applies more to inner-city populations but it truly offers some grounding on the limitless opportunities to this kind of community work. I think it also reminds us that student achievement is linked to many many factors we so often forget or don't spend enough time addressing.
Please take a look at their website when you have some time. http://www.hcz.org/home
They even offer different workshops for communities around the country to attend to gain a personal touch and feel for they work they do. Something really worth exploring some day.
Hope everyone is ready for the holiday and I will see you on Wednesday!
The slogan really caught my eye and made me think. In addition, it's similarity to something we might create to capture our young to old learning concept was apparent.
It is a much broader and deeper organization that I think we have ever imagined and in many ways applies more to inner-city populations but it truly offers some grounding on the limitless opportunities to this kind of community work. I think it also reminds us that student achievement is linked to many many factors we so often forget or don't spend enough time addressing.
Please take a look at their website when you have some time. http://www.hcz.org/home
They even offer different workshops for communities around the country to attend to gain a personal touch and feel for they work they do. Something really worth exploring some day.
Hope everyone is ready for the holiday and I will see you on Wednesday!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Cumberland is ready now
It's been exciting to wait for the mail and see that we've already had a turnaround on the RSVPs, even though invitations have only been in folks' hands for 3-4 days.
If the first wave of RSVPs is any indication of whether "Cumberland is ready now," I think we're on the right track.
Thanks so much to everyone for your thoughtfulness generating the invitation list. Your knowledge of the town, combined with your passion for learning in Cumberland, is a dynamic combination.
If the first wave of RSVPs is any indication of whether "Cumberland is ready now," I think we're on the right track.
Thanks so much to everyone for your thoughtfulness generating the invitation list. Your knowledge of the town, combined with your passion for learning in Cumberland, is a dynamic combination.
Monday, December 7, 2009
December 3rd meeting summary
Cumberland Town Wide Learning Community Steering Team
Meeting Summary
December 3, 2009
Donna Morelle, Paul Ouellette, Lisa Beaulieu, Ryan Pearson, Carol Bissanti and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
We welcomed Paul L. Ouellette, Vice President of Community Development and Workforce Training, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the steering team and partner in this effort.
The holidays arrived a bit early, with Donna bestowing a gift of reading to all of us. Each of us received a The World Café book, The World Café Resource Guide, The Art of Powerful Questions, World Café laminated reference card and a copy of the dissertation that started it all. Thanks to Donna for ordering the books and taking advantage of a great package deal. If you could not make the meeting, contact Donna to pick up your books.
We reached agreement on the following three questions:
1. What would it look like if Cumberland were renown as a "learning community" for all residents? (shared vision)
2. How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town's culture? (defining the action)
3. If our success was completely guaranteed and Cumberland became a model for townwide learning, what bold steps might we take? (creating forward movement)
We still have time to refine the questions if necessary. If you have any other ideas about these questions, please let me know. We may also choose questions to ask at the beginning and end of the world café to solicit additional input.
We reviewed the list. Members of the strategic planning team, including Karen and Rosemary, were added to the list. We decided to have the school principals on the list serve as participants instead of facilitators. When we meet again, we will determine other potential facilitators based on the number of respondents. Donna and Paul will meet with Mayor McKee soon to discuss the event and invite him to give greetings.
We decided to limit the participants to local stakeholders only, so we removed Commissioner Deborah Gist from this list. The group agreed that we would like to communicate our efforts to Ms. Gist and other State officials at some other point in time.
Lisa shared the invitations and response cards. They look great. Cindy Chabot and Donna worked on the mailing list. Most of the invitations were mailed by Friday December 4th.
Carol, Donna, and Lisa will visit the Blackstone River Theatre to help inform specific arrangements for that day. Carol is working on a materials list.
The group will meet again on Wednesday December 16th from 6:30-8:00 pm. We will review the RSVP list to date and plan our work based on the number of responses. We may need people to make phone calls ect. We also need to determine our parting messages to the group on January 9th. How will we communicate with them following the meeting? What are the opportunities for involvement? ect..
Respectfully Submitted:
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Meeting Summary
December 3, 2009
Donna Morelle, Paul Ouellette, Lisa Beaulieu, Ryan Pearson, Carol Bissanti and Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
We welcomed Paul L. Ouellette, Vice President of Community Development and Workforce Training, Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, as a member of the steering team and partner in this effort.
The holidays arrived a bit early, with Donna bestowing a gift of reading to all of us. Each of us received a The World Café book, The World Café Resource Guide, The Art of Powerful Questions, World Café laminated reference card and a copy of the dissertation that started it all. Thanks to Donna for ordering the books and taking advantage of a great package deal. If you could not make the meeting, contact Donna to pick up your books.
We reached agreement on the following three questions:
1. What would it look like if Cumberland were renown as a "learning community" for all residents? (shared vision)
2. How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town's culture? (defining the action)
3. If our success was completely guaranteed and Cumberland became a model for townwide learning, what bold steps might we take? (creating forward movement)
We still have time to refine the questions if necessary. If you have any other ideas about these questions, please let me know. We may also choose questions to ask at the beginning and end of the world café to solicit additional input.
We reviewed the list. Members of the strategic planning team, including Karen and Rosemary, were added to the list. We decided to have the school principals on the list serve as participants instead of facilitators. When we meet again, we will determine other potential facilitators based on the number of respondents. Donna and Paul will meet with Mayor McKee soon to discuss the event and invite him to give greetings.
We decided to limit the participants to local stakeholders only, so we removed Commissioner Deborah Gist from this list. The group agreed that we would like to communicate our efforts to Ms. Gist and other State officials at some other point in time.
Lisa shared the invitations and response cards. They look great. Cindy Chabot and Donna worked on the mailing list. Most of the invitations were mailed by Friday December 4th.
Carol, Donna, and Lisa will visit the Blackstone River Theatre to help inform specific arrangements for that day. Carol is working on a materials list.
The group will meet again on Wednesday December 16th from 6:30-8:00 pm. We will review the RSVP list to date and plan our work based on the number of responses. We may need people to make phone calls ect. We also need to determine our parting messages to the group on January 9th. How will we communicate with them following the meeting? What are the opportunities for involvement? ect..
Respectfully Submitted:
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat
Friday, November 20, 2009
Karen's response
Hello Everyone:
Karen had some trouble with the blog, here is her feedback:
I like them all, I would propose making the first question a little simpler though, like "How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town's culture?"
Rosemary
Karen had some trouble with the blog, here is her feedback:
I like them all, I would propose making the first question a little simpler though, like "How can we collaborate to make learning a core component of our town's culture?"
Rosemary
Monday, November 16, 2009
third question
Hi
I agree. We need to engage stakeholders and they need to see how they can benefit. Would we get at that in responses to the first question about collaboration and community assets?
Rosemary
I agree. We need to engage stakeholders and they need to see how they can benefit. Would we get at that in responses to the first question about collaboration and community assets?
Rosemary
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