2021.10.29--Falmouth Focus, Volume 3, Issue 31--Special Vision & Values Issue

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

In This Issue

• Think Tank, November 6--Register Today!
• Focus Group Videos
• Discussion Boards Still Open 
• About Future iQ

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Register Today for Next Weekend's Think Tank!

Registration is open for the Falmouth Vision & Values Think Tank which will take place next Saturday, November 6, from 8:30am – 12:30pm at the Falmouth High School theater. A hybrid format will allow for in-person and virtual attendance options. Register here. 

Click here to see a video about the Think Tank.

The Think-Tank process helps to define a broad vision, values, goals, and direction. It is conducted as a highly participatory 4-hour workshop that produces a preferred future scenario validated by its participants. The scenario-based Think-Tank is a tool to gain better understanding of community priorities and goals that contribute to the creation of effective strategies and actions for program and resource allocation. A range of plausible future scenarios are developed that act as a testing ground to assess resilience and consequences.

For Falmouth, this process will try to answer important questions such as:

• What should Falmouth become?
• What makes Falmouth unique and special and how can the Town use these characteristics to prepare for the future?
• How will community preferences fit into this vision?

The Think Tank methodology will allow community members to tackle these questions in an engaging and thought-provoking manner. This will then lead to the clarification of the vision and values that will guide the Town’s decision-making into the future and as it prepares for the comprehensive planning process. This is a crucial part of the Vision & Values process and we highly encourage residents to attend.  

To learn more about the Think Tank format and to register, visit the project portal at: https://lab2.future-iq.com/town-of-falmouth-vision-and-values-project/think-tank/overview/. Registration closes at 3:00pm on Friday, November 5. 

Note: Registration is necessary to plan break-out groups both in-person and virtually, provide preparatory materials to attendees, and ensure proper social distancing can be maintained on site. In-person attendance may be limited to accommodate adequate social distancing during the event. COVID related policies in effect for the Town and school facilities at the time of the Think Tank will also be in effect for this meeting. Though not desirable, should pandemic-related circumstances closer to the event require it, we are prepared to shift to a fully virtual event. 

Focus Group Videos Online

Did you miss the Focus Groups? You can watch the conversations that took place at the ten Focus Gruops held from September 18-23. While the small group break-out sessions were not recorded, the large group sessions, where each small group reported back on their discussion, are available for viewing. It's worth listening to the really insightful discussions that took place amongst neighbors about these very complex topics. The Focus Groups were not meant to arrive at any decisions or consensus, but many common themes became apparent over the course of the week. Find the videos here. 

Join the Conversation Online!

The 10 Discussion Boards are still open on the project portal at https://lab2.future-iq.com/town-of-falmouth-vision-and-values-project/focus-groups/focus-group-discussion-boards/overview/. This is a chance to share your opinion and to learn about the views of your neighbors. These discussion board topics directly correlate with the Focus Group virtual sessions that took place September 18-23 and will inform the conversations at our Think Tank on November 6. Follow the links below to join the discussion.

• 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

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.