Strategic Planning Committee
Chair: Brad Neuman
Members: Dee DeCarlo, Barbara Guttmann, Diane Fitzgerald, Zac Bleicher, Phil Graff, Ray Clark, Consultant: John Engman
Contact: planning@oldtowntriangle.com
Strategic Planning for the OTTA
In the review of potential projects at the January 2022 annual meeting, members assigned a high priority to preparing a strategic plan to best serve our community. A subsequent application to Compass (compassprobono.com) provided an independent consultant on a pro bono basis to start the planning process. In August, the planning process was launched and now includes 21 residents serving on five committees. The Strategic Planning committee meets weekly at 3pm in the Triangle office.
Interviews with over 20 current and former governmental officials and board members are in progress as part of the assessment process, identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The committee and subcommittee members are also serving as focus groups providing critical input as well as direction. A survey to solicit input from all residents in the Triangle is also being developed.
While the development of specific goals and action plans will extend well into next year, we hope to be able to share the results of the assessment phase with members at January’s annual meeting.
Your comments and suggestions are always appreciated and can be sent to planning@oldtowntriangle.com.
Statement of Purpose
STRATEGIC PLANNING PURPOSE STATEMENT
At the January 2022 annual meeting reviewing potential Major Projects, the members assigned a high priority to preparing a strategic plan to best serve our community. This includes:
A. Preparing an objective analysis of where we are now (using an independent consultant to get confidential unvarnished responses)
B. Soliciting input from members, nonmembers, business owners and government officials
C. Defining who the community is and their most pressing needs (e.g., safety, streets and sanitation, parks, facilities)
D. Identifying the most critical organizational issues
E. Developing a lower risk, less divisive, and more effective advocacy strategy including planning and zoning issues
F. Identifying other opportunities for meaningful cultural, economic and social improvements
G. Ensuring effective, transparent, democratic, and representative governance promoting knowledge of and involvement in the Association
Committee Members
Planning Committee
Zac Bleicher, Dorothy DeCarlo, Diane Fitzgerald, Phil Graff, Brad Neuman (Chair)
John Engman (Consultant)
Subcommittees
1. Community Development: Planning, Development, Improvements
- Chair: Phil Graff
- Gene Brockland
- Karl Hjerpe
- Steve McClellan
- David Raino-Ogden
- Jennifer Yengoyan
2. Stakeholders: Constituency, Community Engagement, Membership, Events, Programs, Marketing
- Chair: Dorothy DeCarlo
- Sandy Bredine
- Vi Daley
- Jacob Ringer
3. Governance: Setting Policy, PR, Continuity/Leadership/Training, Bylaws, Advocacy
- Chair: Zac Bleicher
- Beth Burk
- Chris Nelson
- Aneta Tomaszkiewicz
4. Finance and Operations: Art Fair, Fundraising, Grants, Art School
- Chair: Diane Fitzgerald
- Shel Beugen
- Claire Leaman
- Leah Marshall
- Rick Rausch
- Ericca Reavis
Survey - Take the Survey Here
Please use this link to take our survey about the Old Town Triangle Association. The survey is anonymous. Thank you for your time.
Survey Results
Results will be updated weekly.
Updated 4/4: Survey Results
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission Statement
Existing:
The Old Town Triangle Association is a community-based, not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents who live in the area of the City of Chicago bounded by North Avenue, Clark Street, and the former Ogden Avenue (“The Triangle”).
Approved new Mission:
Enable those who live and work in the Old Town Triangle to connect, collaborate and care for our neighborhood.
Vision
Approved:
The Old Town Triangle Association will build on its history of success to become recognized by residents and businesses as the center for engagement, information, collaboration and advocacy to maintain and improve our quality of life. We will foster a sense of community and belonging by connecting neighbors, collaborating on issues of common concern and promoting safety, art and preservation.
Values
Approved:
- Community
- Welcoming People and Ideas
- Stewardship
- Integrity
- Respect and Collaboration
Assessment Report
Old Town Triangle Association – Strategic Planning Project – Assessment Report
Submitted by John D. Engman, Consultant – December 10, 2022
Assessment Report Summary
Brad Neuman, Chairperson – Strategic Planning Committee
In December, the independent consultant, John Engman, presented his 23-page assessment report to the OTTA Board of Directors. Based on his interviews, work with the Strategic Planning Committee (SPC) and its subcommittees and the survey, John identified strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
Key strengths included:
- Historical / Architectural / Cultural Programs
- Passionate and strong core group
- OTTA owns property: the first floor spaces at 1763 N North Park (The Triangle Center)
- Strong finances
- Consensus about desire to substantially expand membership
Key weaknesses that were identified:
- Lack of understanding & alignment on Mission
- Not seen as valuable, especially to younger residents
- Siloed structure and culture
- No Board Development Plan
- Few written policies, poor knowledge transfer
From that work, the SPC has suggested that making the OTTA more relevant to more people needs to be a major focus. And for it to be relevant, a goal might be to double member engagement over the next 3-5 years. This would be a combination of more OTTA engagement with existing members as well as cultivating new members.
A culture shift is also recommended, moving from an issue-orientation to people-orientation, connecting and building a sense of community and belonging for everyone. We may not all agree on the most important issues or what to do on those issues, but we can all agree to take care of one another. If we’re not good at taking care of one another, we’re not going to be very good at collaborating to solve issues.
Another culture shift is to make people feel heard and welcomed. Innovation and new ideas need to be welcomed and the refrain “we’ve tried that before and it doesn’t work” needs to be retired.
Mission / Vision / Values
The focus of the existing mission statement is the OTTA is “dedicated to enhancing the quality of life.” While certainly something everyone supports, it does not address what or how to do it. After lots of work reviewing and cataloguing phrases from other mission statement, and much discussion, here is the most recent draft prepared in late January:
Mission: Enable those who live and work in the Old Town Triangle to connect, collaborate and care for our neighborhood.
Vision: The Old Town Triangle Association will build on its history of success to become recognized by residents and businesses as the center for engagement, information, collaboration and advocacy to maintain and improve the quality of life. We will foster a sense of community and belonging by connecting neighbors, collaborating on issues of common concern and promoting safety, art and preservation.
Values: Community, Welcoming (People and Ideas), Stewardship, Integrity, Respect and Collaboration
Note: The OTTA did not previously have a written vision or values.
For More Information
Please feel free to reach out to me or any of the Officers/Directors by emailing us at planning@oldtowntriangle.com.