[Communications] CCGA volunteers opportunities in your new community in Chicago

[Lorraine Kells]

So good to hear.  See you then.

Our 2 pm zoom link is

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82680460687?pwd=YlJjbFdDUjVwMWp4Sm5FbytrUjhiUT09

Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687
Passcode: CCGA

Dial in number: 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
Meeting ID: 826 8046 0687

Passcode: 412128




On Mon, Sep 9, 2024 at 5:24 PM Asha Coutrier <acoutrie at gmail.com> wrote:

> Good afternoon Lorraine,
>
> 2-3 PM this Thursday works wonderfully! I look forward to talking to the
> committee then :)
>
> Best,
> Asha Coutrier
>
> On Sep 9, 2024, at 11:34 AM, Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 
> Asha,
>
> At least 3 of the four of us will definitely meet with you on Thursday.
> I'm so glad this is finally happening. We've found time for 2 to 3 pm, or
> starting at 3pm  Let us know more closely what works for you.  We are
> looking forward to this and will send you the meeting link soon.
>
> Lorraine
>
> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024 at 3:24 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello Asha,
>>
>> Thank you for responding to those questions and offering suggestions.
>> I've just contacted others on the communication team to set up a zoom meet.
>> You may already have told me what works for you, but I didn't make a note
>> of it, so what works for you?
>>
>> Lorraine
>>
>> On Sun, Sep 8, 2024, 1:41 PM Asha Coutrier <acoutrie at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Good afternoon Lorraine,
>>>
>>> I do have experience with WordPress and I have been looking at joining
>>> the garden at 65th and Woodlawn :)
>>>
>>> Also, after looking through the website, I found some areas where CCGA
>>> could make their information more easily accessible!
>>>
>>> Links on the front page of the website (like those underneath the
>>> Neighborhood Garden Network tab) either lead to empty webpages (
>>> https://www.petersongarden.org/lander), facebook pages,
>>> https://m.facebook.com/GrowingPride/), or sometimes an email ((GET
>>> Gardening (Englewood) get.gardening at yahoo.com).
>>>
>>> It would be more cohesive and easier to navigate if the pages led to a
>>> database/ one page that listed all the available contact information for
>>> these organizations.
>>>
>>> There's also a lot of click-through people have to do in order to do
>>> things like joining the forum, so if we make it easier for people to
>>> sign-up for that we can apply the same strategy to the newsletter, and
>>> could garner more subscribers.
>>>
>>> I suggest we start utilizing Airtable as it's a super inexpensive method
>>> of organizing the complex streams of information we have into a singular
>>> database. It has integrations for WordPress, Instagram, Facebook, Gmail,
>>> and all the current apps we utilize for organizational management.
>>>
>>> For example: If someone wanted to sign up for a gardening plot, we can
>>> have a list of the plots available on Airtable, and people can use the form
>>> integration to submit their requests. As those requests come in, we can
>>> easily visualize who might want the same plot, what isn't available, and we
>>> can begin to assign them. There will always be a record of who is assigned
>>> to the plot and as the owners change, we can update the Airtable entry with
>>> the new owners.
>>>
>>> We can also keep a list of organizations we partner with in Airtable and
>>> the most recent communications we have had. It's a super multifaceted tool
>>> that we can do a lot with before having to purchase a license. I have
>>> attached a link to their website for your reference and can gladly put
>>> together a demo for your review to better visualize the proposed solutions.
>>>
>>> Airtable: https://www.airtable.com/solutions/operations
>>>
>>> I look forward to hearing back from you!
>>> Best,
>>>
>>> Asha Coutrier
>>> e: acoutrie at gmail.com
>>>
>>> On Thu, Sep 5, 2024, 5:50 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hello Asha,
>>>>
>>>> I hope you had a pleasant holiday; it was quite lovely weather for
>>>> Chicago.
>>>>
>>>> I want to resume our conversation about CCGA and move things forward
>>>> more quickly for you.  I'm wondering if you've found a garden in or near
>>>> Hyde Park to join. Being a part of CCGA starts in one of the community
>>>> gardens. Our website has a map of community gardens that we're continuing
>>>> to update with information about each garden, steward's contact, and bed
>>>> availability, and more.  Please take a look at it and tell me if you find
>>>> it user friendly.  It's what we need our intern to work on.  Please
>>>> familiarize yourself with the website so you can direct questions to us,
>>>> and you can begin with this email.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://chicagocommunitygardens.org/community-garden-network/ccga-community-garden-map/
>>>>
>>>> We have a social media presence with our Facebook and Instagram
>>>> accounts which is an important part of making connections with community
>>>> gardeners, to engage with them, let them know about workshops,
>>>> distributions of plant material, and sharing posts with partner
>>>> organizations. If you haven't visited our page, it's
>>>> https://www.facebook.com/ChicagoCommunityGardenersAssociation/
>>>>
>>>> We love that you have working knowledge of photoshop and mailchimp. Are
>>>> you familiar with WordPress which we use for the website? We 're a pretty
>>>> simple set up and we look forward to meeting you soon via zoom.
>>>>
>>>> Best,
>>>> Lorraine
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2024 at 6:37 PM Asha Coutrier <acoutrie at gmail.com>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi Lorraine,
>>>>>
>>>>> I understood and apologize for the over enthusiasm conveyed in my last
>>>>> email.  I am mainly available during the afternoons of Wednesday-Friday
>>>>> from 12-4 PM. If that allotted time isn't convenient for the committee, I'm
>>>>> sure I can work with a group time that you all propose.
>>>>>
>>>>> Thank you again for the consideration and I look forward to talking
>>>>> with you all soon :)
>>>>>
>>>>> Best,
>>>>>
>>>>> Asha Coutrier
>>>>> e: acoutrie at gmail.com
>>>>>
>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 6:23 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com>
>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Asha,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hoped you understood the internship is a consideration and not a
>>>>>> firm commitment yet. We want to meet with you on zoom and go over a number
>>>>>> of things.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> This is a committee decision. Please understand we are very
>>>>>> interested, but will want to meet and talk with you on a zoom call.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> L
>>>>>>
>>>>>> What is a good time for you? The rest of the team will try to make
>>>>>> something work.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Regard,
>>>>>> Lorraine
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 4:37 PM Asha Coutrier <acoutrie at gmail.com>
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Good afternoon Lorraine,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> It's wonderful hearing back from you, and I would love to join the
>>>>>>> team as a paid intern! I have a plethora of experience creating newsletters
>>>>>>> through MailChimp, designing social media content with both
>>>>>>> Canva/Photoshop, and acting as an overall communication liaison on behalf
>>>>>>> of my managers in each of my professional positions.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> This would be an awesome opportunity to exercise my creativity while
>>>>>>> offering my toolkit to an organization with an amazing mission. I would be
>>>>>>> able to start as soon as possible :)
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Thank you so much for this opportunity!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Asha Coutrier
>>>>>>> e: acoutrie at gmail.com
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 27, 2024, 4:25 PM Lorraine Kells <lxkells at gmail.com>
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Hello Asha,
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We received an email from you last July, the 3rd in fact; however,
>>>>>>>> we were on our summer break and did not respond in a timely manner.  Likely
>>>>>>>> we missed your short visit to Chicago as well.  We hope to make amends.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> You mentioned combining your love of gardening with your
>>>>>>>> professional background in August when you'd be moving to Hyde Park.  Here
>>>>>>>> we are in August, and we are impressed with your
>>>>>>>> professional background, by the way.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Writing articles and monthly newsletters  is something we would
>>>>>>>> find very useful on our Communications Team, if you would consider joining
>>>>>>>> that working group as a volunteer, even as a paid intern. The
>>>>>>>> internship would be a short term position. The Communications Team is an
>>>>>>>> all volunteer small group tasked with  creating and managing all  aspects
>>>>>>>> of CCGA communications, including writing and producing this
>>>>>>>> newsletter, the CCGA website and social media channels, marketing
>>>>>>>> and technical support for workshops, the annual conference, virtual events,
>>>>>>>> fundraising campaigns, and anything else that may arise.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> We're looking for someone with a zest for the task and a
>>>>>>>> willingness to engage people! We’re hoping to expand our team to support
>>>>>>>> our technical goals. If you have web support experience, public
>>>>>>>> relations or graphic design experience, enjoy photography or videography,
>>>>>>>> like engaging with social media, or just like connecting with people, let
>>>>>>>> us hear from you Asha.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Best,
>>>>>>>> CCGA Communications Team
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>
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