Henry Raymond
Fairfax News => Current News & Events => Topic started by: Mark Hunziker on January 20, 2009, 11:12:00 AM
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Citizens for Fairfax Community [formerly Fairfax Community Common] Minutes: 6:30-8:30 PM, 1/19/09
In attendance: Ann Lemieux, David Lounsbury, Shari Langois, Trevor Russell, Mary Taylor, Suzie Jones, Peggy Bushey, Elizabeth Griffin, and Mark Hunziker
Mary suggested that it would be good to have the parents-with-kids-in-school demographic represented on the Board’s Executive Committee.
Action*: Suzie was elected to replace Mary as Vice President.
The new drafts of the Bylaws were reviewed. New suggestions for the group’s name were discussed. Though no proposed ideas were considered “perfect,” the consensus was that we needed to change it from “Fairfax Community Common” to avoid confusion with the “Fairfax Commons” mini-mall.
Action: “Citizens for Fairfax Community” was adopted as our new name.
No other changes to the Jan. ’09 draft of the Bylaws were suggested.
Action: The Bylaws were approved and adopted.
The adopted Bylaws are identical to the version attached to the recent “meeting reminder” email, except for the name change. You can get a copy whenever you need it from the Secretary (Mark). Many thanks to Mary for her excellent word-smithing work, and to River Arts for supplying the original template upon which our version is based.
The conversation moved to the task of putting together a proposal to present to the Selectboard that is as concrete and specific as possible. The thinking here was that in order to put together the needed specifics (a budget, specs for the community center building, etc.), we need to make final decisions on what activities we expect to host in the facility. (Note that this can be planned in phases; as in: “We want to be able to house activities A, B, and C initially; and we want to be able to expand at some point to add activities D, E, F, G, and possibly H and I.”) Once we determine the activities, we can gather info. for estimating revenue and costs, calculate parking needs as well as building layout and size, check out possible grant sources, etc. Much preliminary work has already been done along these lines; but we need to review the possible activities and come to a final decision on them. We expect to do this at our next meeting. A list of the activities ideas that were brainstormed several months ago is attached to this email. This also includes some local organizations, and may be useful in that committee’s work (see below). Your additional suggestions or comments are appreciated.
The conversation then focused on getting more input and continuing to expand support from the community as a way of gathering more information about the needs of the community and also demonstrating broad support for our proposal. It was agreed that we will approach organizations in the community which might be supportive of our goals (and, in many cases, want to use the community center for their activities), and invite them to become organizational “members” of Citizens for Fairfax Community. We also decided to create a brochure that says who we are and what we’re about, to aid in spreading the word; and to gather input about what people want in a community center. We would like to have this brochure ready in time to distribute it at Town Meeting.
Homework*: Dave will compose a form letter that introduces us to organizations and solicits their participation.
Homework: Trevor, Liz, and Sheri will reach out to and attempt to enlist local organizations.
Homework: Trevor will put a brochure together.
While we are probably about two months away from having a concrete proposal ready for the Selectboard; it was felt that we should bring them informally into the loop without further delay –to basically say howdy, this is who we are, what we’re up to, etc.
Homework: Susie will get us on the Selectboard calendar for this brief and informal introduction; and, with Mark, will be our representative at that meeting. Other CFC members are encouraged to attend; and I’ll let you-all know when it is scheduled.
Next Meeting: February 16, 6:30-8:30 at the Hunzikers’ home. (Third Mondays of the month will be the norm.)
Tentative Agenda:
▪ Reports on “homework” activities
▪ Follow up on homework activities (E.g. plan for Town Meeting Day outreach)
▪ Make decision on which activities to include in community center (for proposal)
▪ Divide up fact-finding, number crunching homework for proposal
Respectfully submitted,
Mark Hunziker
* “Action,” in this secretary’s minutes, will always denote a decision of record that was made “official” because it was voted on and passed by the members in attendance. “Homework” denotes between-meeting work that a member or members have committed to doing.