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Regional
Advisory Council 11 Planning
Retreat October
4, 2001 NESPAL
Introduction On Thursday, October
4, 2001, members of the Regional Advisory Council (RAC) for Region
11 met at the NESPAL Center in Tifton, Georgia for a planning
session. Susan Peacock, Senior Community Economic Development
Consultant, facilitated the session on behalf of Irwin, Satilla,
Colquitt, Okefenoke and Slash Pine EMCs. Agenda The Process Following welcoming
remarks by chairman Jerome Tucker and introduction of facilitator
Susan Peacock the group participated in an introductory icebreaker.
Participants were then asked why they were in attendance. Responses
are listed below. Why Are You Here? Situation Analysis Participants were asked
to name the strengths of the region that were not already covered
during the READI certification process. The following items were
listed: Strengths The group was then
asked to identify weaknesses of the region: Weaknesses Magic Wand Participants were then
asked to imagine they each had a magic wand and could make any
change to the region that they desired. The following responses
were recorded. Issue Identification Participants were then
asked to identify issues that have the potential to hinder the
"magic wand" elements identified above from becoming
a reality OR things that must be done in order to reach the vision.
They are as follows: Critical Issues/Barriers/Or
Things That Must Be Done The issues were categorized
and prioritized by the group as follows: Action Planning The above issues were
further consolidated and the top vote-getting issues were posted
on the wall for idea generation. The following definitions and
instructions to use in their planning: Regionalism Addressing common
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and issues across county
boundaries, in order to pursue shared interests and goals,
with collective resolve and resources. Mission of RACs To promote regional
approach to community and economic development throughout
the state service delivery regions, through multi-jurisdictional
and private – public partnerships Questions to
Ask During Action Planning Does this plan fit
our Mission? Are other groups
already doing it? Is there another
group more appropriate to address this? Is it Specific? Is it Measurable? Is it Attainable? Goals and Plans Goal 1: Regional
Tourism Small Group Members:
Horace, John, Jeanie and Sandy Action Step 1: Research
multi-county tourism project Begin 2/02 and complete
by 5/02 Action Step 2: Assess
cost of adding additional counties Begin 6/02 and complete
by 8/02 Action Step 3: Education
other counties to value of participating Begin 8/02 and complete
by 11/02 Action Step 4: Add
other counties to tourism initiative Begin 11/02 and will
be on-going Who’s Responsible?
RAC and RDC; John and Horace to be point persons for this project Goal 2: Develop
a Series of Best Practices Forums for Ag Tourism and Water/Resources Action Step 1: Organize
meeting, select dates and locations Begin 2/1/02, check-in
6/01/02 and complete by 12/31/02 Who’s Responsible?
RAC partner with RDCs, Region 1* staff Action Step 2: Contact
resource people Begin 2/1/02, check-in
6/01/02 and complete by 12/31/02 Who’s Responsible?
RAC, Region 1* staff *"Region
1" was written on your small group worksheets, so I wasn’t
sure if this was supposed to be a cooperative effort with Region
1 or really was meant to read Region 11. Goal 3: Promote
Regional Leadership and Vision Small Group Members:
Scott Purvis, Steve Nance and Lamar Park Action Step 1: RAC
sponsor the Georgia Academy for Economic Development and Regional
Leadership Begin 2/02 and complete
by 6/02 Who’s Responsible?
RAC/regional staff Funding: DCA and the
Rural Development Council Action Step 2: RAC
sponsor Academy reunion to include graduates and elected officials Will be held 9/02 Who’s Responsible?
RAC/regional staff Funding: DCA/local
sponsors Action Step 3: Identify
and share best practices statewide Begin 2/02 and will
be on-going Who’s Responsible?
RAC/regional staff and will utilize other RACs/RDCs Action Step 4: Encourage
and promote elected officials training Begin 2/02 and will
be on-going Who’s Responsible?
RAC/regional staff Funding: Governor’s
incentive program Action Step 5: Host
regional legislative report by state representatives and senators Begin 4/02 or 5/02 Who’s Responsible?
RAC/regional staff Funding: local sponsors Goal 4: Hold/Sponsor
Regional Sales Team Training Small Group Members:
Michelle, Jerome, Hazel, Saralyn Action Step 1: Get
Region 6 program information To be done in 2/02 Who’s Responsible?
Michelle Nelson Action Step 2: Form
task force To be done in 2/02 Who’s Responsible?
Saralyn to contact/involve Georgia Power, EMCs, MEAG, DITT and
RAC members Action Step 3: Review
Region 6’s program Begin 3/02 and complete
by 6/02 Who’s Responsible?
Saralyn as assistance of Georgia Power, EMCs, MEAG, DITT and RAC
members Action Step 4: Plan
program and recruit participants Begin 6/02 and complete
by 8/02 Who’s Responsible?
Saralyn as assistance of Georgia Power, EMCs, MEAG, DITT and RAC
members Funding: DITT for printed
materials, etc. Action Step 5: Hold
training program To be held 9/02 Who’s Responsible?
Saralyn as assistance of Georgia Power, EMCs, MEAG, DITT and RAC
members Funding: Will require
participant fees to cover meals/breaks Goal 5: Hold Regional
FAM Tour with all Economic Development Professionals in the Region
(RAC Members Included!) Small Group Members:
Hazel, Saralyn, Michelle and Jerome Action Step 1: Form
task force and invite Tom Croteau (GDITT) to meeting Action Step 2: Set-up
calendar to coordinate with RAC meetings Action Step 3: Plan
tours Action Step 4: Implement
tours Who’s Responsible?
Saralyn, Hazel, Michelle and Jerome Begin 1/02 and complete
by 12/02 Funding: Need sponsors
for buses, need to video best practices, will have refreshments
provided by communities that are visited Goal 6: Support
the Sponsorship of Delivery of the CHOICES Program by Business
People to Students (usually an 8th grade program) Small Group Members:
Kelly, Wendy and John Adams ** Need to see Bill
Tillman, STW Coordinator at VSU to get more information on this
program Action Step 1: Put
CHOICES presentation on the RAC agenda Begin 2/02 and complete
by 5/02 Who’s Responsible?
Kelly Action Step 2: Invite
key players from industry and schools to this RAC meeting Begin 2/02 and complete
by 3/02 Who’s Responsible?
Regional staff Action Step 3: Facilitate
implementation of program Will be on-going Funding: Local sponsors
– Chambers of Commerce, Family Connections, etc. Goal 7: Update and
Disseminate Best Practices Manual Highlighting Successful Programs
Such As Youth Apprenticeship, Work Ethics, Teachers in Industry,
etc. Small Group Members:
Kelly, Wendy, John Adams Action Step 1: Reconvene
RAC’s Best Practices Committee and update Best Practices Manual Begin 2/02 and complete
by 5/02 Who’s Responsible?
Valerie Palmer with Michelle Nelson Funding: Clerical and
printing costs Action Step 2: Put
Best Practices Manual on web site and disseminate hard copies
to key players in each county. Share Best Practices Manual at
RAC meeting Who’s Responsible?
DCA staff Goal 8: Disseminate
Best Practices Information Through a One-Day Industry and Education
Drive-In Conference (possibly for 2003?) Small Group Members:
Kelly, Wendy, John Adams Action Step 1: Form
planning committee to plan conference Begin 3/02 and complete
by 10/02 Funding: industry sponsors Action Step 2: Arrange
presentations/workshops on Choices, Apprenticeships, Work Ethics
and other relevant issues/topics Action Step 3: Invite
conference participants, advertise and promote Funding: printing costs,
postage, clerical Wrap-up &Adjourn After all reports were
presented by the small groups, facilitator Susan Peacock closed
by telling the group that she enjoyed working with them on their
planning for 2002 and wished them well as they continue to work
on regional initiatives. There being no further
business, the session was adjourned.  
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