To: Neighborhood Council Board Members & Stakeholders:

From: Greg Nelson

Re: Next Congress / Convention Planning

Date: August 1, 2007

Dear NC Stakeholder:

More than ever before, the next Congress of Neighborhoods will be designed by the neighborhood councils themselves. Five planning meetings have been held so far, with all board members and stakeholders invited to each one. As you may have read in CityWatch (www.CityWatchLA.com), the event will be held Saturday morning, October 27 at the L.A. Convention Center.

As it is being shaped, the longer-term plan appears to be to hold one big, citywide Congress each year, and then several regional ones throughout the year. This next Congress of Neighborhoods will likely be a "transitional" event that will be smaller than previous Congress events, and one that stresses quality over quantity.

In fact, It is NOT a CONGRESS ... It IS a CONVENTION ... We have a Los Angeles Neighborhood Congress which meets on the first Saturday of each month.

...BUT... Go to these meetings if you can.  I will see you there.

If you can't go to one of the meetings and want me to carry a message to them (recommendation for speakers or topics, etc.) please let me know.

HELP WANTED

It takes a lot of planning to produce a successful Congress. DONE has committed several staff to assist the neighborhood council planners.

We are entering crunch time. The neighborhood councils have to begin making decisions next week.

On Monday, August 6, 6:30 p.m., at DONE's 305 East First Street office (call 213-485-1360 for free parking) the key committees involved with determining the workshops and involvement of the city departments will meet again. They need greater participation to ensure that good recommendations are considered and adopted.

On Monday, August 13, 6:30 p.m. in the DWP Cafeteria (more free parking!), those who choose to attend will begin making decisions about the program, outreach, and logistics. You will be fed.

Should there be town hall discussions of selected hot button issues? Should there be classroom type presentations in which people learn something? Or would you rather see brainstorming sessions at which an attempt will be made to resolve selected problems? It's an opportunity to be creative, interesting, and meaningful.

SHOW ME THE MONEY

DONE has committed to a barebones budget. The neighborhood councils have volunteered to try and find additional donations to make this an event that meets all the needs of the neighborhood councils.

Therefore, we are making two requests:

1. If you know an organization or individual who may be willing to donate specifically to this event, please give me the contact information, and we'll be happy to follow-up on the lead. We are preparing sponsorship packets.

2. We would like to know if your NC would be interested in donating a yet-to-be-determined amount of your funds to sponsor/host a specific workshop of your choice. Perhaps in partnership with another NC? Your NC's name would be featured prominently in the promotional materials regarding that workshop, you would introduce the participants and welcome the attendees, and you would be able to display information about your NC inside the room. Details will follow if there are enough NCs that are interested in the details.

The designers of the NC system hoped that at some point the Congress would be of, by, and for the NCs. This is an opportunity to see if the NCs are ready for the opportunity.


Questions: