Are you an older adult?
Do you know an older adult?
Are you going to be older tomorrow than you are today?
By 2030, one in three people in the Upper Valley will be over the age of 60.
That means that people are living longer and healthier lives than ever. Aging is a gift, and this brings much to celebrate! It also means the need for services and programs is likely to grow, and there will be new challenges awaiting our community. We are developing a strategic plan now – with you – to create a vision for Bugbee that keeps this place vibrant and welcoming.
A strategic plan is both a document and a way of thinking. It keeps us rooted in our values while looking towards the future, and holds us accountable for our progress.
The world around us will change whether or not we want it to, and so this plan studies not only what’s going on at Bugbee, but all around us.
The document will describe our mission, vision, and values, and identify a set of goals and strategies. Each will be attached with actions needed to move towards those goals, along with ways to track our progress.
We have been busy this fall collecting and organizing everything (we think) we know about Bugbee, our community, and our links to the world around us.
This winter, we are brainstorming with participants, sending out surveys, scheduling focus groups, and interviewing our community partners. We want to gain insight on things we DON’T know about Bugbee, learn more about what else is going on in the community, and uncover valuable feedback.
This spring, we will be putting it all together from the information we’ve collected and that you provide. This will be incorporated into a vision and plan, and then presented to you!
Oh, you think we’ll be done? Not on our watch. Plans are useless when they sit on a shelf. The strategic plan will keep us rooted in what makes Bugbee awesome, while providing us with a framework that keeps our eyes on the road ahead. The plan will include actions we need to take, and will help keep us on the rails by tracking our progress.
During the research portion of the study, we will be collecting survey responses and organizing focus groups. The survey is meant for people of any age, older adults, younger adults, and people young at heart!
Help us spread the word about the plan! There is a wealth of experience at Bugbee. Every person who participates brings a different perspective, not only on life within these walls, but with what’s going on around the community. The more who participate, the better the plan will be.
We don’t want to have a plan that just ends up sitting on a shelf (storage space is limited at Bugbee, of course). You are invited to become familiar with the Strategic Plan and we’ll look forward to sharing the progress towards our goals with you.
Honestly, one of the best things you can do is to participate at Bugbee. Come to lunch, invite your friends, relax, have fun, and be a part of this community. Just by showing up, you will help shape our future 🙂
It will really help us out! Your thoughts and opinions are so important for Bugbee’s strategic plan. The survey should only take 15 to 20 minutes. Plus: respondents will be entered into a raffle drawing for a $50 Hannaford gift card!
Paper copies are also available at the Center, or we can mail you one. Surveys not your thing? We also have focus group opportunities coming up! Give us a call at 802-295-9068 or email hello@bugbeecenter.org.