The Strafford Regional Planning Commission (SRPC) staff was joined by 10 Commissioners representing seven of SRPC's 18 communities for an important strategic planning exercise on Friday, Feb. 8. The all-day retreat was held at the Durham Town Library to engage commissioners and staff members in determining SRPC's current role, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for the organization's continued success.
SRPC partnered with contract facilitator Maria Sillari, who is affiliated with the University of New Hampshire's Carsey School of Public Policy. Maria led the day's activities, outlining each exercise and engaging participants in important and exploratory conversations. She was joined by 11 students from professor Mary Friedman's capstone class, which is offered to students in such majors as community and environmental planning, and environmental and resource economics. The students served as facilitators and notetakers for the small break-out groups that met during the second half of the day to tackle topics such as marketing and advocacy, services and data, relationship-building, and professional development.
The retreat culminated with break-out group members summarizing the findings from their sessions. The result was possible actions SRPC can take in the areas outlined above. Maria Sillari will compile the invaluable information gathered during the retreat in a report she will submit to SRPC in the coming weeks.
Next steps include refining the information and action items from the retreat into a strategic plan, which will be presented to Commissioners and constituents at SRPC's annual meeting in June. The plan will focus on ways SRPC can always be improving its connections and services with and among its communities and partners to support the growth of the region we all love.
