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PVGrowsAgenda Updates Board Plan

Organizing Committee MeetingJune 30, 2010

www.springfieldinstitute.org


PVGrowsAgenda Update Board Plan

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Agenda

1. Introductions (5 mins)2. Update (10 mins)3. Board development (10 mins)4. Strategic plan discussion (40 mins)5. PVGrows presentation (20 mins)



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Update• Hampshire Council of Governments• Direct Democracy grant• African Diaspora proposal• Wellness Leadership Council• Promise Neighborhood Committee• Wednesday Rides• Amherst College class• Blog, events



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Board Development

• Current structure/membership• Proposed structure: Board of directors, advisory board, committees• Appointment process• Membership criteria: Diversity (race/ethnicity, geography, sector, etc.)• Timeframe: New slate by 8/1• Commitment: 3 year terms, 4 meetings per year, serve on 1 committee, help

shape direction of SI, ambassador for SI



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Strategic Plan

What is it?This strategic plan is a tool for defining and managing our work, holding ourselves accountable, tracking progress, and creating real impact. The tool is a linear progression, binding our vision to concrete goals and deliverables.



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Strategic PlanHow will it be used?With the help of a formal protocol (below), the plan helps us allocate financial and human resources, track progress, and make our work accessible to a range of stakeholders.



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Vision

A prosperous, vibrant, equitable, and sustainable region supported by institutions and residents engaged in public policy and community initiatives.

prosperous: growth, jobs, where you raise your kidsvibrant: artful, diverse, “on the map”equitable: opportunity, justice, low disparitiessustainable: environmentally and financially



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Support organizations to implement innovative and transformative projects through capacity building, analysis, strategic communications and planning with broad community participation.

Mission



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Goals

Provokecritical thinking about successful models

Engageresidents to shape policies and projects

Improveeffectiveness of partner organizations



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Goal 1Provoke critical thinking about successful initiatives

Recent projects• Digital and print articles• Voting/Census participation• Amherst College course

Areas of interest• School reform• Transformation Indicators• Demographic data bank• OpportunityNation



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Goal 2Engage residents to shapepolicies and projects

Recent projects• Breaking the Silence• Direct Democracy project• Social Innovation Lab

Areas of interest

• Eco organizing• Riverkeepers• Social change calendar• Civic Engagement Center• Princeton Alumni Event• Candidate workshops



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Goal 3Improve effectiveness ofpartnering organizations

Recent Projects• Hampshire Council of Govts.• African Diaspora Project

Areas of interest• MOCHA • Neighborhood Councils• Enfield senior living RFP



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Current Structure

Project Director

Intern Intern

Board of Directors

Deputy Director

Advisory Board

Executive Director



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Aspirational Structure

Grant Writer

Development &Communications

ResearchFellows

Policy Director

Field Workers Research Analyst(s)

Policy Analyst(s)

Board of Directors

Community Organizer

Advisory Board

Alumni Assoc.Executive Director

Research Director



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PVGrows PresentationIntroductionbyVan Jones

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SmF3B3734E



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“Pioneer Valley Grows is offering new loan options and creative financing opportunities for enterprises that help bring more local food to markets and fill food system infrastructure gaps in the Pioneer Valley.”

“We are now looking for committed entrepreneurs whose well-researched plans provide solutions for handling, processing, or distributing local agricultural products, and improve sales for farm-related businesses. Plans can be in various stages of completion: you do not need to have a complete business plan to receive consideration for financing.”

PVGrows OverviewPVGROWS is a membership

organization, dedicated to providing opportunities for collaboration,

partnership and innovation among people dedicated to enhancing the

ecological and economic sustainability and vitality of the Pioneer Valley Food

and Agriculture system

The Local Food Movement(s) Three Connected Components (Described Many

Ways) Economic Self-Reliance (Local Economies) Food Security (Less Vulnerability to Global Shifts) Food Justice (Access/Nutrition)

Three Realities It is Happening – Decades of Hard Work (More

Farmers, Farmers Markets, Sustainable Practices) Government & Big Business Notice The Movement is Unfunded – No Capital

PVGRows: The Local Response Loose Collaboration of Self-identifying Food System

Participants (Farmers, Activists, Entrepreneurs, Investors)

Identified Key Gaps in Local Food System: Collaboration, Experienced Entrepreneurs, Financing, Just Access and Physical Infrastructure

Comprised of Working Groups (Infrastructure Finance, Land Preservation, Farm to School, Policy, Food Access, Etc.)

Staffed by Part-Time Coordinator, Hosted by CISA @ S. Deerfield Office

PVGrows Infrastructure Finance

Collaboration between Foundations (Solidago/Frances Fund and Lydia B. Stokes), Lenders (WMEF, CFNE, FCCDC, ET) and Ag Focused Groups (CISA, NESFI, DAR)

Put out Call for Plans Developing Loan Fund – Partner Fund Between

Lenders and PRI Makers Future Goals: More Entrepreneurial Development &

Creation of Community Capital Fund

Value Add of PV Grows Zero Fee Collaboration with Some Staff Support:

Position Food Sectors for Food Movement Opportunities & Bring Sectors Together

Loan Fund: Higher Risk, Slightly Below Market Rate, High Touch, Proactive Effort to Fill Gaps in Local Food System

Organizing at Pioneer Valley Scale – Still Small Enough to be Personal, but significant opportunity to meet needs of underserved communities while revitalizing the local food economy

Our Take on the Hardwick, VT Model: Vertically Integrated Food System at Local Scale

Future Efforts

Increase the Participant Base Be Disciplined Investors to Build Scale Raise Community Capital to Bring Secure,

Critical Infrastructure Back Focus on Supporting Food Security/Food

Justice Efforts in Hampden County Food Access Food as a Right Entrepreneurial Activity

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