2015 CSNA Planning Retreat Minutes

[Lee Cruz]

THANK YOU to all who attended the 2015 Annual Planning Retreat. In preparation for the February Monthly meeting, where we will finalize our plans, please find below the minutes of the retreat. Many thanks again to our retreat facilitator Dieniz Costa and our retreat notetakers Nathalie Bonafe and Christel Maning. Thank you also to New Haven City Hall staff who attend our retreat: Steve Fontana from the Office of Economic Development and Doug Hausladen Director of Transportation. We appreciate the support.

Minutes for CSNA Annual Retreat, January 24, 2015, 10am-1pm, Quinnipiac Marina

Facilitator: Dieniz Costa

Attending: Deniz C, Lee C, Susan O, Nathalie B, Mary Ann M, Kathleen F, Sally E, Tambira A, Paul H, Christel M, Diane P, Steve F, Pat B, George M, Tim B, Doug H, Tom B, Lisa F.

There was an acknowledgement of the fact that this is the 10^th year of the CSNA!

AGENDA:

- Connecting Stories: ice breaker

- Coming Together

- SMART goals

- Building up CSNA

- Leading

- Relationships

Welcome: Lieutenant Darcia Siclari, our new Fair Haven Police District Manager (203-688-2218).

Opening: We began with Connecting Story, where we went around the circle and individuals told stories about CSNA memories/impressions from 2014. These included the beauty of the river, acts of neighborliness like helping to shovel snow, and events like Fall Festival, Riverfest, Halloween, Easter Egg hunt, traffic calming, tutoring, and community gardening.

Dieniz then shared the results of her pre-retreat survey which showed people’s desire to maintain and expand various CSNA activities such as the Community Garden, Dining Out and Soup nights, Riverfest, and a wish to start/bring back other things like play groups, walking groups, bike stands, and a vendor guide (a list of local businesses and service providers that we trust and appreciate).

We next created a month-by-month list of items we want to do in 2015, following the SMART guidelines (each goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time bound). The full calendar, along with names of individuals who wish to be involved in each, will be presented at CSNA’s next monthly meeting in February. Items will stay on the list only if there is at least one individual who will take charge of an item; all other items will be moved to an “Idea Parking Lot” where they will remain until a “driver” is found.

The most up to date draft of the month-by-month activity plan is also linked on our home page at the bottom of the Who we are and What we do section. Always check the calendar on the home page for the latest information and updates on this plan.

We ended with a discussion of leadership and outreach. There are many opportunities to take the lead on an issue you care about; getting involved helps bring in fresh ideas and also prevents burn out among those who have taken the lead for many years. We also want to keep bringing new people into CSNA. Our goal is to have a CSNA table at all of our events and at the weekly Farmers Market during the summer. We would also like to do some canvassing and reach out to new homeowners/renters. The Economic/Community Development group, which meets monthly at Christel’s house, will take this on. Finally, we want to maintain and expand our connections to local businesses and to other community organizations that support us (e.g., Quinnipiac Marina, Grand Apizza, CARE). This includes inviting them to be sponsors on our website, talking with them about how best to promote our mutual interests, and showing our appreciation for their support (e.g., by listing supporters of Riverfest on a poster that will be on display at the event). 

2015 Events and Activities 

*check events on our calendar for updates and changes*

 

Note: Contacts listed below are community leaders. If you would like to support an activity as a volunteer or donor, please email us at [e-mail] and we will put you in contact one with the leader associated with the event. All residents, local business owners, and workers wishing to volunteer are welcome. 

 

If you would like to start a new activity or event, please share your idea at one of our meetings and/or through a blog post on this website.

 

Everyone is welcome to join in. Please get involved in the activity or event of your choice!

 

January, March, May, July, September, November: Dining Out Nights (Econ Dev Working Group)

 

January-June, September-December: Quinnipiac Terrace Homework Club continues, Wed 3-4:30 (Mary Ann, Sally, George)

 

January-December:  Yoga Class at Library, 3rd Saturday of each month (Sandra)

 

February, April, June, August, October, December: Soup Nights (Econ Dev Working Group)

February: Joan and Patrick; April: Nathalie; June: Diane

 

February- December: Fair Haven Management Team, Police Substation (Diane)

 

February: Crepe Day (Natalie)

 

March: Meeting re Clinton Avenue (Doug H)

 

April: Spring Clean-up at Chatham Square Park, Dover Beach, and other possible locations (Joan, Pat, Lee)

 

April: Easter Egg Hunt at Chatham Square Park (Mary Ann, Sally)

 

May: Mary Wade Fair Haven Parade (David H)

 

May 2: Fair Haven Family Stroll fundraiser for early childhood education at Quinnipiac River Park (Diane, Paul)

 

May 3: Riverfest at Quinnipiac Marina (Eco. Dev. Work Group)

Movie at Park (evening of Riverfest)

Tour of Grand Ave restaurants (after Riverfest)

 

June: Exchange Street Block Party (Tom)

 

June: Music Events (Nathalie)

 

June-August: Community Garden at Clinton Avenue School (Mary Ann, Sally, Melissa)

 

June-October: Farmers Market Table (George)

 

 July: Art in the Park at Chatham Square Park? (Mary Ann, Sally)

 

September: Fall Festival at Chatham Square Park (Tambira, Hope, Lee)

 

October: Halloween at Chatham Square Park (Mary Ann, Sally, Nathalie, Diane)

 

November 1: Day of the Dead Bike Ride (Tambira)

 

December: Christmas Caroling and Music (Nathalie)

 

December: Christmas Tree Lighting at Quinnipiac River Park (Nathalie, Beth, Joan)

 

January 2016: MLK Weekend at Peabody (Tambira)

 

January 2016: Retreat (Lee)

 

Ongoing Project: Strong School Project SPACe (Lee)

 

Ongoing Project: Walking Trails (Kathleen, Tim)

 

Ongoing Project: Photo Calendar Collaboration with Grand Apizza (Susan O)

 

*Note: everything here is subject to change! Please get in touch with the contact person(s) directly or by emailing us at [e-mail] to get involved and/or if you have a question.

2015 Meetings Date Locations and Contacts

This list also appears on our website, right column, above the map.

CSNA Monthly Meeting, 3rd Wed of each month, Mary Wade Home, 6pm

Monthly meeting Volunteer facilitators:

-       Feb: Lee

-       March: Mary Ann

-       April: Nathalie

-       May: Sally

-       June: Tom

-       July: Christel

-       August: George

-       September: Mary Ann

-       October: Sally

-       November: Tom

-       December: potluck and end-of-year celebration, no facilitator

 

Economic Development Work Group, 2nd Monday of each month, 333 Front, 6pm (Christel)

 

Family & Youth Work Group, meets as needed (Mary Ann)

 

Strong School Project, meets as needed (Lee)