We understand that it is hard to keep up with the constant flow of information. But to say we have not done outreach, or that we are “operating in something of an echo chamber” is simply not true. 

The Rally for the Rec Committee has, over the last two years, made extensive efforts to engage the community:

• We hosted three well-publicized town halls, announced on Lopez Rocks, social media, flyers on all notice boards, and numerous organizational newsletters.
• We held a meeting for all existing organizations on Lopez to hear how a Parks & Rec department could partner with or support them, and have engaged in numerous follow up meetings and discussions with organizations to talk about how we can make sure we partner and support and not reinvent the wheel.
• We organized drop-in informational library meetings and had countless individual conversations with community members.
• We have met many individuals who reached out for more details, going on walks, meeting for coffee, and having personal conversations to answer questions.
• We’ve reached out to our local senior services specialists and Hamlet House, and made announcements at sporting events and the annual sports awards night hosted by The Pack.
• We have given presentations to numerous organizational boards, including the Chamber of Commerce, Lopez Island School District, Golf Club, LIFRC, the Library, Lopez Fit, the Museum, Lopez Community Centre for the Arts, and more.
• We created a website to provide information and updates, an email address so people can directly contact us to ask questions, submitted articles to numerous publications, and established a social media presence with regular posts.
• We’ve participated in community events, including a float in the 4th of July parade, booths at the farmers market, Trunk or Treat, and a station at the 4th of July Fun Run.
• We have sent informational flyers to all mailboxes and created yard signs to draw attention to the upcoming election.
• In the first year we sent out questionnaires to hear from the community about what they want a Parks & Rec department to provide and any concerns they have to help us in determining the levy rate.
• We created a petition and gathered over 400 signatures, which required extensive outreach and engagement, including tables at LVM, Sunset, Blossom and more. By petition, our voters put Lopez Rec and the levy rate on the ballot.

   

In short, we have made every effort to reach the community through multiple channels and events, and to suggest otherwise is simply inaccurate. We encourage you to reach out directly at info@rallyfortherec.com – we’d love to have real conversations!