SUFN Social Group - November 1, 2022 7:00 pm Meeting

Attendees:

  • Anna Adachi-Mejia

  • Stephen Gorman

  • Matt Wett

  • Stuart Richards

  • Jeff Swenson

  • Omer Trajman

  • Manu Tesone

Meeting Summary

  • SUFN will be hosting monthly social get-togethers and activities for town residents, to create opportunities for people to come together and get to know each other. It’s important to break down barriers of communication and build personal relationships as much as possible.

  • We’ll be printing magnets, stickers and flyers to increase SUFN’s profile in the community and get our message out to residents.

  • The Social Group will organize “meet & greet” events for department heads, starting with the new police chief, and eventually for the new town manager.

  • We’ll need to fundraise to cover expenses related to events and get-out-the-vote efforts. SUFN will be legally incorporated in VT to follow regulations that apply to groups involved in elections.

  • We will be pushing for an earlier return to in-person Selectboard meetings before the January deadline. One option may be to meet at the Police Department’s community room.

Meeting Notes


Reach out to the Inn and see if they’d be willing to host. Their contribution to the community.

At the point where they can give us the basement.

Perhaps during a low traffic day?


Publicizing when we’re going to meet. Trying to create good fellowship.


Magnets on the backs of cars, make it visible.


There will be some expense as we approach elections. Go fund me or similar as we approach march


How do we organize an organization. Makes sense as we’re looking at spending money to have an independent organization. What’s the fiduciary oversight related to it.


When does the SB need to meet in person? There’s a personal disconnect between people that’s happening because of the Zoom format. Can the SB meet in the police department community room? Tracey Hall basement is better equipment for recording and can hold more people. Propose starting meetings at the Police station community room if Tracy Hall is not an option.


Dan Goulet spoke about bringing SB up to speed. Leave your own agenda at the door and be open minded. Recruit him to be a coach.


Professional website that serves as a virtual gathering spot where we can inspire and educate people about what the situation is in town.


When SB meetings are in person, the breaks during SB meetings are great opportunities to connect with people in town.


There’s a lot of heat and tension in town that could be helped by in person meetings. Looking forward to face to face stuff, talk to the department heads, working with many department heads, they’re all good, have mixed competencies that Norwich can attract and hire but they’re here because they care about the job they’re doing. We wind up treating each other better. That includes the town manager. Matt worked closely with the past three and found all three to be very accessible and easy to talk to coming with specific issues. It would be good for the next town manager to carve out to time to talk to residents face to face.


In public participation at SB, can social group be a group that makes announcements about the things we’re discussing. The social group is planning on hosting a meet and greet on a given day, with a deep focus on community engagement.


Can we be in a breakout room while we’re waiting for the Selectboard. Standup could have another Zoom that people go into when the SB is in exec session.


Other Ideas:

  • New residents, meet and greet.

  • Space for meetings over Zoom / virtual get together

  • Employees and elected officials are unappreciated. Provided some pizza and coke for lunch for folks. Host a dinner for SB, committees, etc.

  • Holiday gift package?


Town has come together on two occasions in incredible form - one during hurricane Irene, every day on listserv someone was organizing where to go and help people out. Disaster gave everyone the opportunity to pitch in.


Second was Dan Frasier during COVID - he took charge of the community and gave people marching orders on who was going to volunteer and help people.


Form social service organizations. Phone tree for plowing and shoveling.