— from Fred Klein —
There’s still time for YOU to register and participate…starts this Saturday at 1 p.m,
Just imagine…Being part of a process where contentious issues are raised and dealt with in a non-coercive, respectful, and surprisingly gentle manner.
Just imagine…Doing the hard work to reach a consensus-decision, one which everyone may not feel is the best decision, but a decision which everyone can live with, and commit themselves not to undermine.
How would YOU answer the question of the Future of Eastsound…?…shall it be…allowed to evolve on its own in accordance with existing regulations and whatever market forces are brought to bear…?…or, shall it be guided by the conscious intentions of the citizens of Orcas Island?
This is an invitation to YOU to be part of a group charged to reach a consensus on a Vision Statement describing our hopes and dreams for Eastsound in 2035; and to draft a statement of that consensus to be published and shared with the community at large.
The premise of this process is that the consensus reached by a group of (say) forty to sixty citizens, representative of our diverse community, will be supported and embraced by the public at large. Childcare will be provided during the working sessions upon request.
Why is a “vision” important? Simple. In the realm of Planning, a “Vision Statement” is the bedrock upon which “Goals and Policies” are based and from which, “Regulations” are derived. In other words, regulations rely upon the specific goals and policies, and goals and policies rely upon the vision statement. It is in the crafting of the vision that ordinary citizens can have a major impact on the regulations under which Eastsound will evolve.
The Eastsound Planning and Review Committee has recently had two well-attended public meetings on the subject of a Vision for Eastsound…the first co-hosted with the Chamber of Commerce on October 13, and the second on October 26, co-hosted by Gretchen Krampf and Jared Lovejoy, was headlined as the “50-50” meeting which successfully attracted the attention and energies of the “under 50” crowd. An estimated 170+ citizens attended these meetings in total.
Needless to say, both meetings generated MANY ideas and diverse opinions over an extremely broad range on just what that Vision for Eastsound should be. With the upcoming revisions to the SJC Comprehensive Plan, now is the time to focus that energy and craft a Vision for the future of Eastsound that can be fully embraced by our diverse community.
Reaching a consensus is not the easiest thing in this world…it takes time, commitment, energy, and effort. But just think what’s possible when we’re all pulling on the same end of the rope? The Eastsound Vision Workshop FIRST SESSION begins on SATURDAY, January 7th, and with THREE additional sessions…within ONE WEEK…consensus will be reached on an issue which otherwise would be an open question for months if not years to come.
To accept this invitation…First, review the Workshop Process Outline. Second, follow instructions to register online.
”If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there.”
This is an initiative of the Eastsound Planning & Review Committee Vision Group
[This story has been updated with a corrected link to the Workshop Process Outline.]
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Is it true that if you can’t make one session you are not allowed partake in the rest?
Gerry…as I’m sure you can appreciate, consensus-building is a process which requires a group of folks to gather and sort out issues about which individuals hold a broad spectrum of opinions.
The process is not served by having people popping in and popping out…attending one meeting and not the next, or alternatively, showing up for the final session with the implication that whatever occurred prior to one’s arrival was not important enough for the newcomer to have listened to.
Those who cannot attend the four sessions but CAN attend the FIRST session, may attend as “observers”; to do this, please fill out the online registration form.
Towards the end of that first session, there will be time allotted for observers to share their comments.
Gerry Lawlor had a legitimate question. I went to those “Vision for Eastsound” sessions; we gave our contact info to be notified of workshops. I was never contacted. So how is this a “democratic” process? How will the results be “consensus” when people are excluded?