Mansfield

Advocates for Children

Retreat Agenda

 April 4, 2007

5:00 PM               Dinner

· Participants are encouraged to have dinner upon arrival

5:15 PM               Welcome

· Sandy/Joan welcomes the group and discusses the goals of the Mansfield’s Advocates for Children’s Retreat Agenda….  To reflect on where we have been as a group and to plan for the next three years

· Sandy introduces Paul who describes the agenda and how the various activities move the group towards their desired outcomes

5:30 PM         Team Building Exercise

· Paul introduces a team building exercise called, “What I Bring to the Table.”  This twenty minute exercise is designed to provide an opportunity for the group to learn about each other and some of the unique talents that each of us brings to our work.

· After the exercise, Paul will spend a few minutes discussing this activity and linking it with goals of this strategic planning session.

6:00 PM         Reflections

· Paul will facilitate a conversation regarding “Mansfield’s Journey” via Mansfield’s Advocates for Children and Discovery.  Sandy will demonstrate using a timeline the path that early learning has taken.

· Paul will facilitate a conversation regarding:  What is your vision for early learning in Mansfield by 2009?

6:30 PM         Where do we go from here?       

                        Issues to be addressed

· What does it mean to be a member of Mansfield’s Advocates for Children?

· What kind of investment is required of members?

· Collaborative structure discussion that includes leadership questions (chair, co-chair), sub-committees.

· Are the sub-committees that are identified in the Action Plan (Membership, Outreach, Parent Engagement, Data Collection, Publications, Publicity and School Readiness) the right ones for Mansfield’s Advocates for Children?

· Should members be expected to serve on a sub-committee?

· Why come to a meeting?

8:00 PM         Next Steps and Closing

Retreat Agenda created by Presenter Paul Vivian