Hello John, Has the Park Board ever considered taking a retreat to look at some of the communication problems? During this process you could also start developing a strategic plan (long term planning).
I have participated in this process through my work and as a volunteer on the Sierra Club Board. This is a very health process for any organization. My organization uses Michael Groh to facilitate the process and produce a final report-plan. He is very good and lives in the city of Minneapolis. His number is 612-721-7130, if you have interest in discussing the process with him further. Thier are many other consultants that do this type of work as well that you might want to consult. Just a suggestion that might help solve some of the communication problems the Park Board is having. Ken Bradley creating a long range plan --- John Erwin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Dear List Readers, > > As an elected official I can not believe what > happened at the Park Board > meeting this evening. Although this action reflects > badly on the > institution of the Park Board, I am compelled to let > the public know. The > majority of the Board committed what I consider to > be a gross abuse of power > that all citizens of this city should be outraged > at. In fact, those > citizens who were there were outraged. Bob Gregor, > former Minneapolis > Alderman, was there and said it was the most > outrageous behavior he has > seen! > > Five of the nine Commissioners elected an interim > Superintendent who had not > even applied for the job, even though we had several > semifinalists (4) who > were exceptional and had expressed an interest in > continuing our interview > process. These Commissioners circumvented our > process and pulled a > candidate 'out-of-the-hat' after discussing this > among themselves without > involving 4 of the 9 Commissioners on the Board. > Their actions exhibit > exactly what disillusion citizens about politicians, > were unprofessional to > say the least, were disrespectful to those citizens > that the un-consulted > Commissioners represent, and did the institution of > the Minneapolis Park and > Recreation Board great harm. > > We were given a 2-page resume with little or no > information after the motion > to appoint this person was made at the meeting! I > don't even know if the > new Superintendent meets the minimum requirements > that we identified as > necessary! Although the candidate has a degree, I > don't know in what!! No > interview! I have never even met this person and I > was supposed to vote on > him tonight to run our Park System! > > What I do know is that we have had formal complaints > to the Park Board about > the behavior of this individual, and that he is a > friend of several > Commissioners who voted for him. Outrageous! What > about the great > candidates who we and the search firm already > identified as exceptional from > all over this country that had great ideas on how to > take this system to the > next step? What a difference some of them could > have made. It would have > been appropriate to interview the candidate!!!!! > > Some of you know that I am a professor at the > University of Minnesota and > became involved with the Park Board to make a > sincere difference with the > parks in Minneapolis. I can tell you with certainty > that the actions of > these Commissioners hurt our Park system and is > getting in the way of the > management of that system. It pains me to write > this letter at all, but > someone has to say something! > > Please take note of the Commissioners who voted to > circumvent the process > with disregard for the citizens of this great city > and the institution of > the Minneapolis Park and Recreation System: Bob > Fine (Southwest), Marie > Hauser (South), Walt Dziedzic (Northest), Jon Olson > (North), and Carl Kummer > (Southest). > > Also note those Commissioners who have a regard for > our Parks, the integrity > of the system, who have respect for those citizens > they represent, and who > tried to select the best possible Superintendent: > Vivian Mason (west), > Annie Young (City-wide), Rochelle Berry Graves > (City-wide), and myself > (City-wide). > > > Call Commissioners directly or call the Park Board > main office at 230-6400 > and ask for their number. Their e-mail addresses > and numbers can also be > found at www.minneapolisparks.org. Express your > concern! Write editorials! > This is our park system and we need to take it back! > Above all, remember > who was there for all of you next election cycle and > who was not! > > Sincerely, > John Erwin > City-Wide Park Commissioner > > > > REMINDERS: > 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the > list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing > it on the list. > 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. > > For state and national discussions see: > http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html > For external forums, see: > http://e-democracy.org/mninteract > ________________________________ > > Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic > Discussion - Mn E-Democracy > Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New Yahoo! Photos - easier uploading and sharing. http://photos.yahoo.com/ REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
