beginning summary

It is exciting that it is finally time to work on the family preserve. It is exciting to hear the ideas you have, the understanding of what needs to be done, and the expertise we have within our family group. The gates have been opened and we are ready and raring to go. therefore, let me recap where we are;

Mike has the legal entity of the family organization in order as a non profit org. He will open a bank as needed.
The CFLLC has given the family (the MacDonald Family Association) the go ahead to work on the family land (MacDonald Family Preserve).
Aaron has been nominated and accepted as the Master Plan Chairman.
1st step is to brainstorm by Charette groups (an intensive, fast, study group)
The Charette's will answer these 2 questions:
FIRST QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU WISH COULD BE AT THE FAMILY PRESERVE?
2ND QUESTION: HOW DO YOU WISH TO USE the land? What do you want to DO at the land?
All of the family is divided by geographical groups are each a Charette group and will to brainstorm ideas for the master plan.
1) California; 2) Idaho; 3) Iowa/Michigan; 4) Utah; 5) Washington East; 6) Washington West;
[OK, you know who you are ;go organize, come up with a plan by Easter time and get ready to report what you think could be a master plan.]

Evan will get a web "forum" set up and running for everyone this week. Jenny will be a fellow consultant with Evan. Jenny and Evan will let us know when we can use it.
A small "forum" is through GoogleGroups. Check em out! groups.google.com This is a free service that (aside from having a message board/forum) lets members build pages with information, upload files (like maps, photos, blueprints, Scottish music and videos of grandad playing the bones ... click here: http://is.gd/pB8K ). Evan (and Lindsay and
Nina) www.evanandlindsay.com

Granddad wrote about some improvements that need to be made to have a working family preserve. Check out his ideas in the attachment.


Aaron's direction's
A master plan takes four major steps: 1) Brainstorming, 2) Analyzing the brainstorming ideas, 3) Developing a plan from the ideas and 4) Revising the plan. Here's how step 1) happens when there's "community" involvement (this step is also called the Charette):

A) Gather together, pick a facilitator for the group,
B) Facilitator directs the group's discussion and asks people to write and draw the ideas,
C) Each group sketches up their own master plan based on their ideas and
D) Each group presents to the whole family by using the "FAMILY FORUM" where we gather comments and review ideas (the Critique stage).

(Jan's little note here - as an artist, I have an opinion of what makes for a useful critique. A critique must be a 'what works' and 'why' and 'what doesn't work' and 'why' and 'suggestions to make it work.')

Steps 2) and 3) will be done by the architect or planner, Aaron, who after presenting the master plan back to the "family", also completes step 4) for final review.


Lastly, the upcoming gathering at the Falls for General Conference is an excellent opportunity for the Washington East group to have a Charette.
All you other Charette groups, when are YOU meeting?

What do you think?
Janice
keep the ball bouncing