Progress

Our board has spent the summer meeting every week (yes, that's every single week!) By their own decision, they looked at what we needed to get organized before we could even start our work and realized that it would take a period of continuous regular meetings to put the foundational elements into place so that we could begin the work we all came together to accomplish. The result - meetings every week. Each week we've tackled a different subject: organizational structure, fundraising, financial structure, branding and projects. From these meetings, we've built a strategic plan. We meet this coming Thursday to approve our plan and then we're off and running. It's been a busy summer and it's given all of us a chance to really get to know each other, appreciate differing opinions and approaches and laugh. There's been a lot of laughter. There's no better proof that you've got a great group, then when you hear them give each other a hard time, laugh a lot and then buckle down to business.

When you are in the middle of hard work, you forget what it's taken to accomplish all that has been done. You forget because you are so busy working, and because although most of us dread the idea of hard work, when it's done with others you like and respect, it's actually a lot of fun!

I was taken aback when a good friend (and experienced strategic planning consultant) was very impressed with the work that we'd done over the summer. Her "wow" made me sit back and realize that while the summer has flown by with enjoyable, laughter filled meetings, we've also accomplished a great deal! What likely would have taken 7 months, has now been finished in 2! We're hitting September with a plan and ready to go. More importantly, that condensed 7 months worth of work has built friendships, and a work ethic that will significantly help all work we do in the future.

I am humbled and excited by this amazing board of very bright individuals. Each brings their own area of expertise and passions and, as a whole, they will move our city to amazing places!

I can't wait to watch!

Neighbors building community

I just met my new neighbor in my office. He's just moving in. His name is Dwight and he's an author and an internet marketing guy. My first thought was "interesting, seems like a nice guy, but doesn't really apply to what I've been working on here at the foundation." Clearly I need to check my prejudices at the door. In further conversation, I learn that he not only is an author, but he publishes his work online, has quite a following and provides games and puzzles for his readers to solve. On top of that, he leads tours to the interesting places that he writes about.

He's building community and he's doing it through art and technology!

We talked a bit about the foundation and some of the conversations I've had with other members of the community. We discussed Redmond's interest in healthy living, environmental sustainability, art and technology. It suddenly became clear to me how every business in some way is connected to not only the economic sustainability of our city, but also in the building of community and engagement. We all want to connect and each person has their preferred method. Some will gravitate toward ball fields, others toward the new Redmond Bike Park (currently in the planning stage). Some will connect online through Facebook, Twitter and gaming communities, while still others enjoy the age old "meet at the mall" method. All of these different ways of connecting weave the fabric of our city. How do you like to connect? What ways can Redmond help you in your preferred way of building community?