MAINE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
STRATEGIC PLANNING MEETING and
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

A Strategic Planning Meeting was held at Miller’s Restaurant in Bangor on Friday, January 31, 2003 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Attendees are listed on the attached Attendance Sheet.

Mr. Howard Dupee, of Coastal Enterprise, Inc. facilitated the meeting, which covered MCDA strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the organization.  Subcommittees were then formed to address specific areas; i.e. communications, finance, advocacy, professional development and membership/organization.  A complete listing of subcommittee members and their tasks are attached.  

Following the strategic planning meeting, a general membership meeting was held (Reference January 17, 2003 Executive Committee Meeting Minutes). 

I.	Nomination and Appointment of Executive Board Members: Tony Levesque moved to confirm Joella McBreairty as Secretary, Isaac Wagner as New Executive Board Member At-Large, and Chuck Morgan and John Simko as Current Executive Board Members At-Large; seconded by Matthew Eddy.  The vote was unanimously in favor.  

II.	Treasurer’s Report:  Ron Harriman, Treasurer, presented an update to the Treasurer’s Report as stated and accepted by the Executive Committee on January 17, 2003.  The dues renewal invoices were mailed out in December.  Last year, MCDA collected $2,100 in dues; to date, we have collected $1,350.  

III.	Other Business:
	(a)	Orman Whitcomb reported on the following:

		1.	OCD staff is currently scoring applications on the Downtown Revitalization Project and 				are awaiting the housing assistance program 	applications.  It is anticipated that there will 				be many Innovative Housing  applications submitted.

		2.	Dann Lewis is serving as Acting Commissioner of DECD.  The Governor 	will soon be 				announcing the nominee for this position.

		3.	CDBG allocation for this year is $88,000 less than last year.

		4.	A proposal to designate Cumberland County as an urban county (entitlement community) 			is underway.  They must meet three specific tests in order to receive the designation.  				This would mean that communities in Cumberland County would be taken out of 					competition for the State’s CDBG program funds, but would also mean that the funding 				formula for the State would change and could possibly result in a 20% reduction of 				CDBG funds from HUD.

The meeting adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

Submitted by,

Joella R. McBreairty
Secretary
STRENGTHS:

*	Ability/Desire to Work Together

*	Internal Network

*	Creates a Larger Voice

*	Tenure and Experience of Members

*	Credible Voice

*	Connection to Funding Sources

*	Multiple Resource Base

*	Institutional Knowledge

*	Available Financial Resources

*	MMA Partnership

WEAKNESSES:

*	Lack of Focus/Enthusiasm

*	Undertaking Time Consuming Projects

*	Large Geographic Area (Difficult to get together as an organization)

*	Funding Cycle Turnover

*	Lack of Connection with Communities, esp. 	Southern Maine

*	No Connection to Entitlement Communities

*	MCDA Website Outdated

*	Technological Difficulties

*	Lack of Outreach/Visibility

*	MMA Partnership (Are we taking advantage of the services they offer)
(Cont’d)

*	Need to Share Resources

*	Too CDBG-Focused

*	Lack of Program Follow-Through/Development

*	Lack of Attendance/Participation

*	Need to Provide More “Gainful” Meetings

Discussion:  Several years ago, MCDA established an Action Plan.  MCDA has accomplished all of the goals set under that action plan and this organization should focus on the preparation of a new action plan.

OPPORTUNITIES

*	Pool of Potential Members

*	Develop Newsletter/Communication

*	MMA – Improved Services

*	Annual Roundtable Discussion for Planning

*	Chance for More Regional Meetings

*	Greater Use of Telecommunications

*	Recruit Students/Interns

*	Share Responsibilities

*	Increased Opportunities for Professional 	Development (Planning, Economic Development)

*	Membership “Perks”

(Cont’d)

*	Legislative Activities/Issues

*	Catalyst for Municipal Regionalization 

*	Tap into Other Knowledge Sources 
	(MSHA, CEI, HUD, RD, Colleges/Universities)

Discussion:	MCDA currently has a general services agreement with MMA.  An opportunity exists to expand services with them.  

The Newsletter is an opportunity for MCDA, but people need to be willing to do it.  People joining the organization need to have a personal commitment.  Members need to respond to requests for information, articles should be submitted to keep the newsletter current, etc.

THREATS:

*	Membership Funding

*	Individual Participation Due to Lack of Funding

*	Lack of Time

*	Rapid Change

*	Members Wearing Too Many Hats – 	BURNOUT!
 
*	Inability to Follow-Through

Discussion:  Membership renewal is oftentimes dependent upon municipal budgets.  When municipalities face budget constraints, they are forced to choose between services and dues to organizations.  Another threat is when CDBG funding is not successful, current members are forced out of the organization because of the inability of the towns to pay their dues.

GOALS AND IMPORTANT EVENTS:

1.	January – Dues

2.	February – Update website? 

	*Executive Committee to meet and establish calendar (Include Finance 		Committee and Professional Development Committee)

3.	March – Bangor Committee Reports (March 14th)

4.	April – CD Day at the Legislature

5.	May – CDBG Implementation Workshop

6.	June 6th? – Fort Fairfield

7.	July

8.	August – CD Appreciation Day

9.	September 

10.	October 8 and 9  – MMA Annual Convention

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE:

Newsletter Committee Members:

Isaac Wagner
Mary Walton
Joella McBreairty
OCD – Mike Baran

Tasks:

1.	Newsletter Design/Format/How Often?
2.	Report back to MCDA by Mid-March
3.	Communicate with MMA on web costs
	* Design of Website
	*List Serve
	* Maintenance
4.	MMA services for communication services
5.	Annual Report
6.	Who do we communicate to?
7.	Provide links and contact information
8.	Explore methods of communication (electronically, in person, teleconference)

Newsletter Requirements:

*	Timely
*	Brief
*	Distribution – electronic, paper, postal, MMA
*	Include Current/Future Events
*	Celebrate successes/technical issues
*	Determine audience
*	Recruitment piece
*	Production?
*	Informational?
	-	Bullets
	-	Web Links
*	Annual Edition
*	Website

MEMBERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITTEE:

Membership and Organizational Committee Members:

Tony Levesque
Matthew Eddy
Al Smith

Tasks:

1.	How to attract new members?
2.	Who should be a member?
	-	Unsuccessful CDBG applicants
	-	Engineering services
	-	CDBG Certification List
	-	Planners
3.	Develop new partners
4.	Create draw/explain services
5.	Roles and responsibilities of members
6.	Types of membership (individual, municipal, non-profit, affiliate, )
7.	Delivery of services – regional organizations

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:

Professional Development Committee Members:

  Lynne Paul
  Executive Committee

Tasks:

1.	Develop programs
	-	Annual MMA
	-	General Meetings
	-	Workshops
	-	Training opportunities
2.	Resource Directory
3.	Dialogue with OCD Re:  Certification, Lead, Housing, Etc.
4.	Fostering Technology Transfer
5.	Celebrate/Recognize outstanding performance (AT MMA, CD Day)

ADVOCACY COMMITTEE:

Advocacy Committee Members:

  Ron Harriman
  Chris

Tasks:

1.	Define MCDA’s role?
	-	State issues 
	-	Federal issues (How to use resources)

2.	Linkage/partners
	-	Policies /Rules

3.	Legality of Lobbying
	-	Testimonial
	-	Educating Public

4.	Shared Analysis on Regional Issues

FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Finance  Committee Members:

 Ron Harriman
 Executive Committee

Tasks:

  1.		Raise funds – Spend Funds
 
   2.		Develop Operating Budget

   3.		Dues Structure

   4.		Goal Setting