2021.08.27--Falmouth Focus, Volume 3, Issue 23--Special Vision & Values Issue

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Welcome to our fourth Vision & Values dedicated special issue of The Falmouth Focus. This new newsletter will run every other Friday (in between regular editions of The Falmouth Focus) and focus exclusively on Falmouth's Vision & Values project.

This edition of the newsletter provides important updates regarding events scheduled to occur in September and encourages you to join the Vision & Values conversation going on right now via the online discussion boards that are up and running on the project portal. 

In This Issue

• Discussion Boards Open
• Meetings
  • Focus Groups Go Virtual
  • Neighborhood Gatherings and Think Tank Postponed
• About Future iQ

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Discussion Boards Open on Project Portal

Ten Discussion Boards are up and running on the project portal at: https://lab2.future-iq.com/town-of-falmouth-vision-and-values-project/focus-groups/focus-group-discussion-boards/overview/. Now is the time for your thoughtful input as a community member. These discussion board topics directly correlate with the Focus Group sessions being held in September and will produce much of the information that will be used in these meetings. Discussion Board topics include:

• Topic #1 Residential development 
• Topic #2 Non-residential development and future Town Center
• Topic #3 Housing affordability
• Topic #4 Shared community areas, green and open spaces
• Topic #5 Connectivity, walkability, and recreation
• Topic #6 Community diversity, inclusivity, and resident experience
• Topic #7 Lifelong community learning opportunities and our school system
• Topic #8 Environmental focus
• Topic #9 Governance and collaboration
• Topic #10 Cost of living in Falmouth

Residents can review in-depth background information on the complexities of each Focus Group topic and provide their input and feedback on the subject. The conversations on these discussion boards are a great opportunity to reflect upon these issues in the comfort of your own home, hear what your neighbors are thinking, and engage with them in a dialogue about issues that are important to you and the future of Falmouth.

Focus Groups Go Virtual

We are looking forward to the Focus Groups scheduled for September 18-23. However, due to the uncertainties regarding the pandemic, the rise of variants, the discomfort many people still have with in-person gatherings, and the need to finalize plans in order to best utilize our staff and consultant resources, the Vision & Values project team has decided to move all Focus Group meetings from in-person to virtual. Dates and times will remain the same and meetings will be held via Zoom. We hope this will allow for the maximum amount of participation from our community without the fears and difficulties posed by large in-person gatherings.

The Focus Groups will continue conversations begun on the Discussion Boards. We really encourage your attendance at these key sessions. See the Focus Group schedule below and sign up for Focus Group sessions at: https://lab2.future-iq.com/town-of-falmouth-vision-and-values-project/focus-groups/focus-groups-sign-up/. Registration is requested in order to gauge attendance numbers and plan accordingly.

For more information on how Focus Groups work and the importance of resident input in this phase of the project, visit: https://future-iq.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Future-iQ-Partners-Foucs-Groups-Tech-Aims-Analysis-FINAL.pdf

Neighborhood Gatherings and Think Thank Postponed

The Neighborhood Gatherings are a chance to get together informally, in different areas of town, and allow residents to meet the Future iQ team. The Think-Tank format involves a great deal of small group discussion and simply works best when neighbors can get together and chat face to face. Therefore, the Vision & Values Project Team has made the determination to postpone both the Neighborhood Gatherings and the Think-Tank (originally scheduled for September) until such time as we can all gather in-person, safely and enthusiastically. Stay tuned for details as we move forward in the project. 

Future iQ has been contracted by the Town of Falmouth to conduct the Town of Falmouth Vision and Values process. You can learn more about David Beurle, CEO of Future iQ, who is leading the process with assistance from the Future iQ team, or Future iQ by visiting the website www.future-iq.com.