Engagement Committee Minutes, 4/12/21

In attendance: Luke Boelitz, Taufiq Dhanani, Jeannie Doherty, Carolyn Jasinski, Doreen Miller (minutes), Heidi Moesinger, Andy Rahamin, Mike Szkolka, Cacilda Teixera

Updates

• Cacilda presented the mission statement and purpose at the last CSHCA meeting on April 5.
• On May 3, a formal vote by the CSHCA paid members will be made to recognize the Engagement
• committee as a formal committee.
  • In the Engagement Committee’s meeting in May, a vote will be made for the co-chairs: Cacilda Teixeira and Jeannie Doherty.
  • Cacilda and Jeannie will plan and run the May committee meeting.
• Amendments to the By-laws have been submitted to the Executive Board for review.
• Mike met with leaders of civic groups from Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan to discuss the problem
• of billboard proliferation.

Website and Webpages

• Andy Rahamin walked us through the committee pages and features on the website.
• All committees should have a page on the site. They should be encouraged to generate content for the website to foster greater visibility on the work they are doing and get people involved.
• Committee pages will be modeled on the Safety Committee page.
  • The page should include:
    • the mission statement and purpose.
    • Chair(s) with a photo.
    • Contact information – a dedicated email specific for each CSHCA committee.
    • A calendar of events and meetings, or link thereto.
    • Postings of minutes, images, and relevant updates.
  • Jeannie will create a simple google form for calendar requests.
  • Mike plans to begin recording segments of the planning committee meetings to capture the presenters’ presentations so that people can stay informed and get involved.
• Post Covid restrictions when we go to a hybrid model of in-person and remote, we will need video
• Heidi and Taufiq volunteered to work with Andy to be trained as web editors. It would be good to eventually have one member from each committee trained to do web editing as well.

Upcoming Elections to the Executive Board

• Focus should be on voter turnout on May 3.
• The election committee will send out an email (or perhaps two) to encourage members to attend and run for office, and for paid members to vote.
• Encourage members to run for one of the 5 open slots for general membership positions on the executive board.

Establishment of Metrics and Goals

• Determine the make-up of the groups within membership so that we can do better outreach.
  • Numbers of paid members, lapsed members, members listed on the email threads
  • Attendance record
  • Involvement in committees
  • Street addresses of members – to target those areas less involved.
• Goals
  • Make outreach efforts more efficient and effective by using the metrics above.
  • Increase membership and engagement.
  • Highlight accomplishments and needs to draw more people in.
  • Coordinate with other civic groups on matters affecting the greater community.
  • Reach out to other groups: churches, merchants, community groups, schools, local newspapers, sponsors, etc. for the purpose of making the CSHCA more highly visible.

Action Items

• The election board will send out email(s) to remind people of the upcoming elections and importance of attending the May 3 meeting.
• After the May 3 meeting – Organize an immediate push to oppose the Billboard proliferation in anticipation of the May 13 hearing on this issue.
  • Get people to flood Rep. Dan Hunt and Senator Nick Collins with emails and letters addressing this issue.
  • Coordinate with Tim Joyce, Chair of the Billboard Committee
    • Immediately create a Change.org petition to be shared on various platforms.
      • Mike will send Jeannie all the information he has regarding this issue.
      • Jeannie will draft the language and have Tim look it over before posting. It should not look like it is coming from the CSHCA.
• Keep all social media sites current (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), and determine what kinds of items get posted.
• Make CSHCA more visible by
  • Generating content for the website.
  • Reaching out to other neighborhood groups and organizations.
• Find someone to be the calendar gatekeeper.
• Determine the active membership, click-through rates on emails, paid members, read emails.
• Review the attendance record.
• Determine metrics and reaffirm goals.
• Get the Billboard Committee up on the site and grow the committee.
• Cacilda will put ideas into a powerpoint to share with committee members.
• Explore the possibility from changing from a 501c4 to a 501c3.

Next Meeting

• Cacilda and Jeannie will plan and run the May meeting after being elected.
• Determine how best to reach out to community stakeholders
  • Who should best reach out?
  • Which stakeholders should be contacted first?
  • What questions should be asked?