Heart & Soul seeking feedback via mailers
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News from Polson Heart & Soul
POLSON — Polson area residents have been speaking about what they love about Polson, and the Polson Heart & Soul project staff and volunteers have been listening. That has resulted in eight themes and corresponding value statements that Heart & Soul believes reflect the primary values of the local community. To see if they “got it right,” they are placing an oversized postcard in local bulk mail, and asking residents to rate or comment on the value statements.
“This is every person’s chance to provide input,” said Daniel Smith, project co-coordinator. “The back of the postcard contains the value statements that volunteer teams crafted based on input from hundreds of people over several months. Beneath each value statement is a box for comments to be written, and a scale for rating each statement. We hope people will sit down in the comfort of their home, read the value statements and provide us with thoughtful feedback.”
Residents are asked to return their completed postcards by Feb. 21, to one of three official drop-off points: First Resort Clothing or Terrace Flowers & Gifts (both on Main Street), or the Polson Heart & Soul office located in the northeast corner of the North Lake County Public Library. Postcards can also be returned by mail to Polson Heart & Soul, Box 314, Polson MT 59860.
“All returned postcards will be entered in a prize drawing,” Smith explained. “We are planning a community event for March and the drawing for several great prizes will take place there. I hope we have a thousand or more cards to from.”
Before the returned postcards go into the prize drawing, however, volunteers will transcribe the comments from residents. The input will be used to evaluate the eight value statements. “It’s a vetting process,” explained Smith. “We want to see if we got it right, or if we need to continue to work on the value statements before we can call them final.”
The eight value statements are:
• We value a strong local economy that provides opportunities for all residents to live, work and thrive here.
• We value people as the heart of our community, appreciate and respect diversity, and practice inclusion.
• We value an ethical, transparent local government that encourages respectful, civil dialogue, so together we can build a stronger community.
• We value a thriving, diverse, inviting downtown that enhances our sense of community and is safe, fun and walkable.
• We value life-long learning that prepares us for work and life, and results in citizens’ contributions and community vibrancy through collaborative planning and systemic support by educators, parents, students and community members.
• We treasure the exceptional beauty and stewardship of our natural environment and its premier features – the Flathead Lake and the surrounding mountains – which provide us healthy recreational, spiritual, and economic benefits.
• We value our youth, empowering them to serve and grow through engaging activities and leadership opportunities to positively impact their future while building confidence and self-worth.
• We value all the traditions, heritages, and family ties which together unify us as a neighborly community that provides a sense of safety, belonging, and feeling cared for in our daily lives.
Questions or offers to volunteer with the Polson Heart & Soul project can be directed to Daniel Smith at (406) 260-1521.
Polson Heart & Soul is a community planning project for the purpose of reaching out to all members of the community to engage in conversations about our future and how to ensure that Polson is economically vibrant and a great place for all of us to continue to live. For more information about the Polson Heart & Soul project, please visit www.polsonheartandsoul.org, check us out on Facebook, or call us at (406) 260-1521.
