Earlier this year, the Southern Crossing Neighborhood Association (SCNA) was selected along with several other organizations to participate in the Civic Equity Project (CEP). This is a two-year project aimed to enable and/or teach organizations such as neighborhood associations to become better engaged to serve in civic dialogue and decision-making in Bend and Central Oregon. While this two-year project is limited to board members, this planning workshop is open to all those who are sincerely interested in serving now or in the future.

Mark your calendars: Monday, July 24, 2017 
Time: 4 to 8 pm
Location: Aaron & Heather Jone’s home, 61478 Ducan Lane, Bend

Click here to RSVP!

The difference neighborhood associations make in this world? 
 
The associations’ members’ work is voluntary and is focused on improving the livability of the neighborhood. The goal of a neighborhood association (NA) is to ensure and increase democratic participation in the city. NAs rely on the participation of its residents to set the agenda. In short, what you put in is what you get out.

The Bend CEP’s initial planning workshop is a half-day strategy workshop to craft a shared vision/strategies for your organization for the next two years.  We will use this, alongside the results of your organization’s Capacity Index (OCI), to determine your organization’s learning and development plan (ODP). 
 
This plan reflects your commitment and will help inform the kind of technical support that will be made available to you during the Civic Equity Project. 
 
This workshop is the second stage of what has been referred to as the ‘Scan n’ Plans’.
 
Outputs: 
Participants in this workshop will contribute to the creation of the following products:

1. A two-year practical vision for what impact your organization wants to work towards.
2. Rough strategies for how to achieve key elements of that vision.
3. An organizational development plan (ODP) reflecting your organization’s commitment to improve in key capacity areas.

What to Expect:
During this four hour workshop we will spend:

30 min                       Reviewing Overview Documents and framing our Current Reality
1 1/2 Hours               Creating our Practical Vision
30 min                       Discussing Strategies to move it forward.
30 min                       Reviewing the OCI findings and discussing options for how to address
1 hour                        Creating your Organizational Development Plan
 
Who should participate?
Participants who took part in the Organizational Capacity Assessment—“the ‘Scan” should also attend this workshop.  However, Partners encourages your organization to also include in this event others who are invested in the organization’s success over the next two years.  This should include Board and Staff leadership but can also include: key program leaders, volunteers taking on leadership of key elements of your vision, partners who are essential to your success, community members who may be able to help represent the diversity of perspectives that should be included in your thinking, or other stakeholders that can either help or hinder your progress.
 
Prep Required:
In order to prepare for this workshop organizations should have completed the following:

• Advocacy Capacity Tool (ACT) online assessment and sent your results to Partners.
• Organizational Capacity Assessment in-person focus group discussion facilitated by Partners. (The Scan)
• Compiled overview documents of the organization sent on to Partners.  Examples of key overview documents include Mission and/or Vision statements, Strategic Plans, Annual Reports, Surveys of community or beneficiary input, Brochures or other descriptive documents of the organization or it’s major programs

Don’t worry, most of the prep has been completed!  

Please attend. Become a member, attend a meeting, join the board, volunteer for a committee, make a donation and above all, let your voice be heard. This is your opportunity to help set the course for the future of the Southern Crossing NA. In the meantime, thank you to our sponsors, Aaron and Heather Jones, who are hosting the location for this 4-hour planning event.