Hay River FireHaven Council Dynamics Meeting

The purpose of the Council Dynamics Meeting is to give the new Council a chance to get to know each other - away from the hecticness of events and social media.  Like any good relationship, it's important for all parties to understand what makes each person tick, what they hope to see happen, what skills they bring to the table, and how we can all work together effectively. This is YOUR chance to see the Hay River FireHaven Council as real people, each with their own unique personalities, communication styles, and decision-making processes. Take this opportunity to get to know them on a personal level and be inspired by the diversity and exceptional qualities they possess.

During the Council Dynamics Meeting, we will have a more informal atmosphere to get to know each other better. Here are the topics that we plan to cover:

Each Council member will have the opportunity to share more about their skill sets so that we can both identify our strengths as well as areas where we may need support.

Learning how to communicate (and listen) is vital in any leadership group, which is why each Council member will also have the opportunity to explain their own communication style.  Why is this important? Imagine you have two people, one who likes to communicate briefly and directly, and another who prefers to be very polite and provide a lot of details. The person who prefers politeness might perceive the other person as being cold and rude, while the person who prefers directness could question why the other person feels the need to use so many pleasantries. They might even suspect that the other person is trying to hide something. By discussing each Council member's communication style, we aim to avoid misunderstandings that can arise from personal differences.

People also have different working styles. Some want to see momentum without being bogged down by details. Others want to make sure that there are structures and systems in place to make sure that everything is covered. Then there are those who feel that focusing on consensus and inclusion is vital. Plus, there are those who want to make sure that we keep things fun and engaging, especially for the volunteers and decision-makers.  When you have people of different working styles on a team (including a leadership Council), conflicts can arise from misunderstandings. By discussing the working style of each Council member, we aim to not only prevent such conflicts but to leverage those styles as strengths as we work towards our goals for the upcoming year.

This meeting will focus on discussing the vision for the future of Hay River FireHaven, as the Council will also discuss the following:

· Where each Council member sees the Church going in the next one, three, and five years (short to intermediate planning)

· What events and rituals we want to offer

· What we want to offer our members in terms of land use

· How we want to approach our goals and initiatives timing-wise during the rest of the year

We are excited about the possibilities for Hay River FireHaven in 2024 and beyond and hope that this meeting will help us align our efforts and visions to create a strong and vibrant church. As mentioned earlier, this meeting is open to our members and we welcome your input and attendance. If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Council directly or join us on January 22nd.

Thank you for being a part of our Hay River FireHaven family, and we look forward to seeing what we can accomplish together.

Blessings,

The Hay River FireHaven Council