From March 28 – 30, 2011 over 100 community leaders including public officials and a cross section of

stakeholders from the MACC Area

came together for a ground breaking Future Search

focused on 21st Century Governance in the Greater Holland/Zeeland area

What is MACC?What is MACC? Macatawa Area Coordinating Macatawa Area Coordinating

CouncilCouncilo Established in 1993 to encourage cooperation Established in 1993 to encourage cooperation

among neighboring units of government on among neighboring units of government on area wide issuesarea wide issues

o Currently serves as a coordinating body for 7 Currently serves as a coordinating body for 7 townships and 2 cities making up the Greater townships and 2 cities making up the Greater Holland/Zeeland areaHolland/Zeeland area

MACC Geographic Area

Why Future Search? Why Future Search?

We believe the Holland/Zeeland community is a very special place

We recognize the world has changed

We acknowledge that economic forces have impacted the effectiveness of our area business models and the way we must approach our future

Why Focus on Why Focus on Local Governance?Local Governance?

Governments provide essential services

Business provides revenues that flow through government, non-profit and educational institutions

Cost of government services directly impacts economic competitiveness and quality of life

We must find ways to deliver essential government services at lower cost per capita

Government vs. Government vs. GovernanceGovernance

Governance is defined as the act of Governance is defined as the act of governing. governing.

It is essentially how our It is essentially how our governments and other publically governments and other publically approved organizations serve our approved organizations serve our

community. community.

Together we can create Together we can create a bold new future a bold new future

Our Future Search goals: Our Future Search goals: Bring local public officials together with Bring local public officials together with business and community stakeholders to business and community stakeholders to explore new ways to: explore new ways to:

deliver essential services effectively deliver essential services effectively and more cost-efficientlyand more cost-efficiently

be a model for innovation and best be a model for innovation and best practices in local governancepractices in local governance

preserve our exceptional quality of lifepreserve our exceptional quality of life

What is Future Search?What is Future Search?Unique 2 ½ day planning processUnique 2 ½ day planning process

Brings together a large group of diverse Brings together a large group of diverse stakeholders focused on a complex issue or goal stakeholders focused on a complex issue or goal

60-100 participants work in small groups60-100 participants work in small groups

Small groups alternate from all stakeholders to Small groups alternate from all stakeholders to mixed groupsmixed groups

Highly structured and task focused/outcome of each Highly structured and task focused/outcome of each task builds on the nexttask builds on the next

Goal is shared commitment around specific actionGoal is shared commitment around specific action

Future Search PrinciplesFuture Search PrinciplesWhole system in the room – cross section of key Whole system in the room – cross section of key stakeholders stakeholders

Exploration before action – see the big picture, put Exploration before action – see the big picture, put issue in global/historical perspectiveissue in global/historical perspective

Seek Common Ground - focus on mutually Seek Common Ground - focus on mutually desirable futuresdesirable futures

Shared Commitment – take responsibility for Shared Commitment – take responsibility for outcomes and action outcomes and action

LetLet’’s see how it s see how it works…works…

Future Search had 95 participants

representing 10 stakeholder groups

23 Elected and Appointed Officials

18 Business

Representatives

10 Education Leaders

11 Planning Commission and Utilities

representatives

8 Public Safety/Public Health/Transportation representatives

12 Non-Profit and Social

Agencies Leaders

7 Authorities/Operating Entities/Parks Representatives

Participants Participants 95 people representing 10 stakeholder groups95 people representing 10 stakeholder groups

have this show up on first slide and then run have this show up on first slide and then run through first batch through first batch 9 Citizens at Large

2 Youth Representatives

5 State Representatives

All working together…

Focused on a common goal…

Finding new ways for The Zeeland/Holland community…

to improve effectiveness and cost efficiency…

Of local governance…

FUTURE SEARCH PROCESSFUTURE SEARCH PROCESS

TIMELINESTIMELINESKEY EVENTSKEY EVENTSTIMELINESTIMELINES

KEY EVENTSKEY EVENTS

H/ZH/ZGOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

IN 2035IN 2035

H/ZH/ZGOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

IN 2035IN 2035

PROUDS & PROUDS & SORRIESSORRIES

PROUDS & PROUDS & SORRIESSORRIES

IDENTIFYIDENTIFY MAJOR MAJOR TRENDSTRENDS

IDENTIFYIDENTIFY MAJOR MAJOR TRENDSTRENDS

MIND-MAPMIND-MAPEXTERNAL EXTERNAL REALITIESREALITIES

MIND-MAPMIND-MAPEXTERNAL EXTERNAL REALITIESREALITIES

ACTION ACTION AREASAREASACTION ACTION AREASAREAS

COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND THEMESTHEMES

COMMON COMMON GROUND GROUND THEMESTHEMES

FOCUS ON PAST

FOCUS ON PRESENT

FUTURE SCENARIOSCOMMON GROUND

COMMITMENT TO ACTION

DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 2/3 DAY 3

Focus on the PASTFocus on the PASTpre 1970-2000pre 1970-2000

Participants moved about the room and

populated 4 timelines over 20 feet in

length, displaying key events from four

perspectives. Each group then

synthesized the input and told the story of

our community!

Focus on the PASTFocus on the PASTCommunity StoriesCommunity Stories

PERSONAL PERSONAL

heritage, family, faith, entrepreneurship, heritage, family, faith, entrepreneurship, baby boomers moving in, changing baby boomers moving in, changing demographics, uptick in prosperity in 90demographics, uptick in prosperity in 90’’s s followed by decline and loss of jobsfollowed by decline and loss of jobs

GLOBALGLOBAL

round world to flat, now global centric, massive pace of round world to flat, now global centric, massive pace of change, knowledge constantly doubles, wars, natural change, knowledge constantly doubles, wars, natural disasters, social unrest, recessions, fight for natural disasters, social unrest, recessions, fight for natural resources...out of disruption comes opportunity. Innovation resources...out of disruption comes opportunity. Innovation is the theme of our reaction to adversity is the theme of our reaction to adversity

Community stories from the

timelines reflected four perspectives:

PersonalGlobal

Community Governance

timeline stories, continued...timeline stories, continued...COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

settlement of H/Z, demographic shift from settlers settlement of H/Z, demographic shift from settlers to other migrants, economic changes, philanthropy, to other migrants, economic changes, philanthropy, social service, faith, strong work ethic, education, social service, faith, strong work ethic, education, healthcare, governments changing, city annexation, healthcare, governments changing, city annexation, quality of lifequality of life

GOVERNANCEGOVERNANCE

little structural change in local governance since little structural change in local governance since origins, governance challenged by community origins, governance challenged by community growth, opportunities and needs, Holland not growth, opportunities and needs, Holland not immune to global turmoil, need for cooperation immune to global turmoil, need for cooperation across government units, MACC and WMEAC, across government units, MACC and WMEAC, connected global market requires us to changeconnected global market requires us to change

Focus on PRESENT: Focus on PRESENT: Major Trends Major Trends

The group generated a VERY large mind

map describing close to 100 external realities/trends

shaping H/Z governance in these

areas:

‣economic ‣social ‣environmental ‣technical

Every participant then engaged in a multi-

voting exercise documenting major trends having the most significant

impact on

Holland/Zeeland governance

Evaluating the Mind-Map to identify and connect

major trends

Major TrendsMajor TrendsLess $ for government/higher Less $ for government/higher costs/higher expectationscosts/higher expectations

Rate of change accelerating/global Rate of change accelerating/global competition for economic vitalitycompetition for economic vitality

Demographic shiftDemographic shift

Increased # of people in povertyIncreased # of people in poverty

Baby boomers driving aging populationBaby boomers driving aging population

Education gapEducation gap

Building inclusive communitiesBuilding inclusive communities

Prouds and Sorries Prouds and Sorries Each stakeholder group was asked to discuss

how major trends affect what they do.

Stakeholder groups were then asked to

present what they have done that they are most proud of, and most sorry about?

Group presentations were brutally honest and began laying the groundwork for what

was to come…

Prouds and SorriesProuds and Sorries‣Partnerships‣Safe communities‣Framework for collaboration‣People taking risks, thinking outside the box ‣Public/private partnerships ‣Leadership support ‣LGChem‣Macatawa Greenway ‣MACC‣Quality of life

‣Jobs have left Michigan‣Young people are leaving‣complexity of gov’t‣Divisiveness ‣Slow movement on big issues ‣Not focused on future‣Have not embraced diversity ‣Economic segregation in community‣Water sharing agreement ‣Cleanliness of Lake Mac

A sample of the output from all

groups. Prouds and Sorries enable each stakeholder group to

acknowledge and take responsibility for their

actions

Desired Future Desired Future Scenarios - Scenarios - the year is 2035 the year is 2035

This was a time for mixed groups to reflect on their desired futures and dream about what Holland/Zeeland governance could look like in the

year 2035.

Creative presentations allowed for group fun, but everyone took the task seriously, describing bold,

innovative ideas and an inspiring new future for our area....

Finding Finding Common GroundCommon Ground

The large group challenge was to

listen carefully and find the common

ground across all of the thought-

provoking future scenarios.

Common GroundCommon GroundThemesThemes

Equity, Values, FairnessEquity, Values, Fairness

Regional GovernanceRegional Governance

Common Master PlanCommon Master Plan

Status Quo is Unsustainable Status Quo is Unsustainable

Public Safety Public Safety

Optimal Health Optimal Health

World Class Education World Class Education

Diversity Diversity

JobsJobs

Shared Values Shared Values

Common Ground is the starting point from which

diverse stakeholders come together and agree on shared action areas.

10 Action Statements10 Action Statements1.1. We aspire to drive equity, value and We aspire to drive equity, value and

fairness in representation, funding fairness in representation, funding and servicesand services

2.2. We aspire to plan and deliver high We aspire to plan and deliver high quality public services throughout the quality public services throughout the MACC Area using a regional delivery MACC Area using a regional delivery system, where it makes sense. system, where it makes sense.

3.3. We will create a dynamic, long-term We will create a dynamic, long-term community plan that supports a community plan that supports a world-class economic environment world-class economic environment and promotes a strong quality of life and promotes a strong quality of life for all. for all.

Groups formed around the 10

common ground themes and spent

many hours working through the

challenging task of creating action

statements around each

Action Statements, cont’dAction Statements, cont’d4.4.We commit to being a world-class We commit to being a world-class benchmark for community governance benchmark for community governance effectiveness, cost efficiency, flexibility and effectiveness, cost efficiency, flexibility and planning.planning.

5.5.We aspire to a public safety system that We aspire to a public safety system that works cooperatively as a component of the works cooperatively as a component of the judicial system.judicial system.

6.6.We will assure conditions exist for all We will assure conditions exist for all people in our community to achieve optimal people in our community to achieve optimal health. health.

Action Statements, cont’dAction Statements, cont’d7.7. We aspire to a healthy, innovative We aspire to a healthy, innovative

economic environment allowing us to economic environment allowing us to lead our region and state in the rate of lead our region and state in the rate of new jobs created. new jobs created.

8.8. We aspire to create a World Class We aspire to create a World Class Education System in the Education System in the Holland/Zeeland Area.Holland/Zeeland Area.

9.9. We aspire to embrace diversity in all of We aspire to embrace diversity in all of its forms as an enrichment to our its forms as an enrichment to our community.community.

Action statements cont’dAction statements cont’d

10. In all of our work going forward, we agree to a set 10. In all of our work going forward, we agree to a set of shared values including: of shared values including:

Participants knew they were

representing their community in this process, and that

these action statements would

help shape our future.

Future Search Future Search is just a beginningis just a beginning

We have opened the door for bold possibilities We have opened the door for bold possibilities

Now the real work starts!Now the real work starts!

Action Statements lay the groundwork for Action Statements lay the groundwork for community collaboration and leadership around community collaboration and leadership around a set of priorities a set of priorities

Over the next 60 days, process, structure and Over the next 60 days, process, structure and community leadership will be be put in place to community leadership will be be put in place to develop more detail and a clear communication develop more detail and a clear communication plan plan

Future Search Action AreasFuture Search Action AreasImplementation framework Implementation framework Bring together community champions for each action Bring together community champions for each action

area and clarify overlaps/redundancies (April-May)area and clarify overlaps/redundancies (April-May) Finalize Action Statements and produce Future Search Finalize Action Statements and produce Future Search

community report (May)community report (May) Establish committees, plans, process and support as Establish committees, plans, process and support as

needed to begin working effectively (May-June)needed to begin working effectively (May-June) Inform and involve broader community (ongoing)Inform and involve broader community (ongoing) Monitor and report progress (May-June)Monitor and report progress (May-June) Implement and celebrate ongoing results Implement and celebrate ongoing results

Future Search Future Search Original Planning CommitteeOriginal Planning Committee

Dick Haworth (Chairman Emeritus, Haworth) co-chairDick Haworth (Chairman Emeritus, Haworth) co-chairTim Hemingway (Board Chair HBPW) co-chairTim Hemingway (Board Chair HBPW) co-chairJim Brooks (Chair, Model Community Initiatives)Jim Brooks (Chair, Model Community Initiatives)Steve Bulthuis (Executive Director, MACC)Steve Bulthuis (Executive Director, MACC)Janet DeYoung (Executive Director, H/Z Community Janet DeYoung (Executive Director, H/Z Community Foundation)Foundation)Jerry Felix (Manager, Park Township)Jerry Felix (Manager, Park Township)Terry Hofmeyer (Supervisor, Laketown Township)Terry Hofmeyer (Supervisor, Laketown Township)Greg Holcombe (Community Planner, Riverview) Greg Holcombe (Community Planner, Riverview) Tim Klunder (City Manager, Zeeland) Tim Klunder (City Manager, Zeeland) Don Komejan (Manager, Holland Charter Township) Don Komejan (Manager, Holland Charter Township) Randy Thelen (President, Lakeshore Advantage) Randy Thelen (President, Lakeshore Advantage) Al Vanderberg (Administrator, Ottawa County)Al Vanderberg (Administrator, Ottawa County)Soren Wolff (City Manager, City of Holland)Soren Wolff (City Manager, City of Holland)Linda Brand (Executive Director, Strategic Leadership Linda Brand (Executive Director, Strategic Leadership Forum)Forum)Sandra Janoff (Facilitator and co-founder Future SearchSandra Janoff (Facilitator and co-founder Future Search))

What did Future Search What did Future Search participants say about their participants say about their

experience…experience…Wow – lots of hard issues coming to the forefront and forcing us to think Wow – lots of hard issues coming to the forefront and forcing us to think

into the future – some really good thinking going on here..into the future – some really good thinking going on here..

A truly unbelievable experience. I feel revitalized and hopeful about our A truly unbelievable experience. I feel revitalized and hopeful about our communitycommunity

Great model for how communities need to tackle this new economy – I Great model for how communities need to tackle this new economy – I will advocate for this type of process in my work throughout the state and will advocate for this type of process in my work throughout the state and at the federal level at the federal level

Great two days collaborating sharing and learning, I feel fortunate to be a Great two days collaborating sharing and learning, I feel fortunate to be a part of it.part of it.

To see so many people from two communities and various sectors come To see so many people from two communities and various sectors come together acknowledging common ground and tackling some tough issues together acknowledging common ground and tackling some tough issues was really unexpected. was really unexpected.

Stay informed, get Stay informed, get involved!involved!

Visit Visit www.hollandzeeland.us

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Very Special Thanks to Very Special Thanks to HaworthHaworth

For underwriting the Future Search conference For underwriting the Future Search conference For providing an inspiring environment, with For providing an inspiring environment, with

welcoming spaces and energizing natural light welcoming spaces and energizing natural light everywhere everywhere

For friendly, efficient staff For friendly, efficient staff For Virginia ConklinFor Virginia Conklin For your ongoing support of the Model Community For your ongoing support of the Model Community

Initiatives and the Holland/Zeeland community Initiatives and the Holland/Zeeland community