Enhancing Community Engagement in Ken Lake

Enhancing Community Engagement: Ken Lake Advocacy Projects

Community Engagement

• When an issue becomes a source of conflict or concern within the community, or will be a significant budget item, the board should hold a community “townhall” meeting to provide information and to obtain community input, rather than allowing confusion and misinformation to confound decision making.
  

• Volunteer opportunities within the community will be promoted in meetings and publications and volunteers should regularly be recognized for their services. Committee chairs should make the activities of their committees known and consider how to encourage and incorporate community volunteers. There should be a list of standing committees and their mandate and activities available on website and newsletters.
  

• Volunteers should be encouraged to adopt projects or common areas to steward, as in the Mower Posse (volunteers who mow our common areas lawns for 7 months of the year), the Urban Forest Angels (who have pulled up 100’s of pounds of ivy), and the Geezer Squad (who have built/rebuilt 3 floats, saving thousands of dollars)
  

• Encourage Community-led initiatives, such as the private funding and installation of the carved Wildlife pole at the Sports Park in 2022.
  

• The Board will appoint a board member or community member to be in charge of Community Engagement and to encourage communication and participation of residents.
  

• Annual or biannual community wide questionnaires should be distributed to the community by non-board members to solicit input on membership concerns and aspirations and on board governance.
  

• The Newcomer packet and orientation process should continue and be supported.
  

• The Board of Directors should move toward a higher level of professionalism and training so that it functions more smoothly and does not deter or restrict residents from running for office or volunteering.