Scott, You can call me at any time. I post pretty regularly with my email and phone number and it is all over the web.
The content of the project website is accessible to anyone. Only the download material is password protected. Anyone can get a password -- all you need is an email address. If you have a problem getting access to the site you can email [EMAIL PROTECTED] I apologize if that is too many characters for your email provider. We have received emails before from people using aol and have hooked them up in less then a minute. As posted on the main page you can also contact either Council Members Niziolek or Benson. [EMAIL PROTECTED] which has 4 less characters then the webmaster of the MCEP site. I am sure my assurances will not alleviate your concerns but there is absolutely no intention or interest by anyone involved in either disengaging community groups or centralizing citizen participation. It is about engaging residents and the council in a policy conversation about the definitions, framework, problems and opportunities associated with the City's current range of opportunities for engaging the community with the functions of government. As you will see from the posted notes from both the NRP-facilitated discussion, the discussions by immigrant communities and the Convening Group the focus has been about increasing accountability by all stakeholders and increasing access by traditionally unrepresented communities. Joseph Barisonzi [EMAIL PROTECTED] 612-518-5536 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, December 03, 2004 6:36 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Mpls] Community Engagement I would be interested in any information about the Community Engagement Project. It has been difficult to participate. The web site is an unfriendly locked door and after repeated attempts to breach the password/ login barriers combined with a non functioning email that expires in 24 hours, I have given up on the web site. It is such a bad design, you can't even get information about the project without a password. I haven't had any luck with telephone connections either and there are too many characters in the email address to send an email to Joseph Barisonzi. It took me years to figure out what outreach means. It means you have to go outside the office and make an effort to connect with folks where they are and not expect everyone to be able to come to an evening meeting. I am a neighborhood president and the only reason that I know about this project is from the Mpls. Issues list. Have any neighborhood groups been contacted? They might have something to add to the discussion. I realize that there is a laudable goal of looking at ways of engaging folks who have not been engaged in neighborhood groups and I would love to have a discussion about how more folks can have a say in decisions that effect them. Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not being followed................ I have considerable concerns that this may really be an effort to disengage community groups and centralize citizen participation in a city office. I am hoping to find out more. Thanks, Scott Vreeland Seward 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 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
