Does Your Team Need to Get Away?
Who doesn't? Times are tough, and local governments everywhere are faced with the difficult task of doing more with less. Many groups—for example, city councils, county commissions, boards, and other decision-making bodies—have benefited from the opportunity to discuss priorities and improve communication in a setting outside their regular meetings. The Vinson Institute has organized and facilitated such opportunities, called retreats, for years.
Find out if your group could benefit from a retreat. Do any of the following statements apply to you?
Our goals for the next one, three, and five years areunclear or poorly defined.
Relationships in my group could use improvement. The economic downturn has made it important for us to refocus our planning for the next few years. After meetings, I often wish we had more time to discuss tough issues and initiatives in more depth. We would benefit from the opportunity to talk about issues in a different setting, away from the "heat of the battle." Whatever the reason, there are important issues in our community that our team has not addressed.
If any of these statements describe your group, retreat can help address your concerns. Vinson Institute retreats are a convenient and relatively low-cost way to get down to the business of planning in a relaxed, informal environment. An experienced facilitator will guide your group through a customized agenda that addresses your specific needs. The goal is to establish better communication and relations, identify and discuss initiatives, and develop medium- and long-term plans for the future.
the Planning Retreats page for more information on planning retreats. Contact Catherine Bennett (bennettc@uga.edu, 706.542.3512) to talk about setting up a retreat for your group.
