Things you should know........

Purpose:

To help a community learn about existing strengths and weaknesses as seen through the eyes of the first time visitor. 

Communities may use the First Impressions program free of charge but must send a copy of their final report to Andy Lewis and James Schneider, and credit the two authors in their final report.

Your Group:

Ideally 3-6 people should comprise a team for the visit. Plan to make the visit together as a group (car pool). It makes for a more enjoyable experience and helps to ensure a better end result as well.

Try for diversity if possible. Work for a mix of men/women, business people/residents, young/old, educators, political leaders, etc.

Remember...there are no "experts". Each person's opinion is valid and important. You may want to get together a day in advance to review the manual, ask questions, etc.

The Visit:

Plan to arrive in the target community by 10 a.m. Review the manual on the way and decide who will be team mates. Decide which team will drive first and who will target City Hall and Chamber of commerce (more than one team can visit, but at least one). Develop a story to explain your visit. You get to be an actor for the day. ("I'm looking for some property in the area", "I'm interviewing for a job in a neighboring community", "Just traveling through and decided to explore-looking for a reason to vacation here next summer", etc.)

Do this in silence...take one pass through town, stop along side the road and write down your "five minute impression".

Go back into town, split into your teams and set a time to meet to exchange driving/walking responsibilities. Note: Have lunch in different restaurants if possible. Plan to leave by 2 - 3 p.m.

Tips:

1. Take a pocket notepad for each person (writing in the manual is too conspicuous).
2. Take notes...take notes...take notes or it will all turn into mush! The driver should stop frequently for notetaking.
3. Ask for directions, places to eat, information on town, etc. Send letter to Chamber for information and see how they respond.
4. Someone may want to take a camera along to document particular points. Send the photos back with the final report (and keep copies that show ideas you want your own community to know about).
5. Look for positives as well as problems... we need to know what we're doing RIGHT, too.
6. There is no wrong way to do this, remember, two people may see the same thing and react differently - that's OK.
7. Have Fun!

Setting Up the Exchange:

Your U.W.-Extension agent or area economic development person can help you make a contact. They are usually willing to act as a local contact person and may help with typing the reports. They may also be able to go with you as part of your team.

The other community should be similar to yours in size and some characteristics (ie. county seats, college towns, river communities, number of miles to interstate or urban area, etc.) The community should be far enough away so your team won't be totally familiar with it, but close enough to make this a one day trip (overnights can be great too, but not everyone can spare the time). Remember, there are no perfect matches...just similarities.

The Report

Use the manual to write the report (need not be typed but write legibly). Use descriptive sentences and give examples and suggestions. "Yes" or "No" answers don't do a lot of good (i.e. there was no Chamber Office but some people said there was a "civic" club. No one seemed to know who the president was).

Do this within 3 - 4 days and return to your contact person.

Contact Person:

When you have all the reports, type up the information in a single composite report. Add a short cover letter that describes:

1. profile of team
2. weather during visit
   
3. date of visit and time spent
4. general summary comment on visit and impression of community (optional).
5. thank them for doing an exchange and include your name and phone number.

Add standard report cover (see sample reports) and mail to the other communities contact person. (You may want to hold the report until they have visited your town...whatever your feel comfortable with.)

Their Report on You:

As soon as you receive it (but not before you have sent the report on their community) you should make copies and distribute them in the following order:

1. Sponsoring committee leaders and people who went on the visit.
2. City/Village officials.
3. Media
4. General Public.

Also, please send a copy to either Andy Lewis or James Schneider. Copies of any media coverage would also be appreciated.

After conducting 2 - 3 exchanges with different communities you may want to discuss the reports and how you can best use the information.

As you approach the community........

I. What was my perception before visiting? What did I expect?

II. The "five minute" impression:

Take one drive through the community without stopping. As you exit the community, pull over to the side of the road and write down what you felt about the town with only this quick look. Do this in silence, don't talk with the others in your group for this part.

As you "drive" around town:

You now divide into your teams: one team will drive the town for about an hour while the other members will hoof it and start visiting businesses, city hall, etc. After lunch the teams will switch roles so everyone has a chance to drive the community and to personally walk into stores and visit with people.

III.Driving...evaluate EACH entrance.

Go about 1/2 - 1 mile out each road and return. List each road (61 North, etc.) and list positive and negatives for each.

IV.(a) Driving...evaluate the downtown business area: (Signs, appearance, size, etc.)

IV.(b) Driving...evaluate other business area.

V.Driving...comments on residential:

VI.Driving...comments on:

a. street signs

b. traffic patterns/street conditions

c. welcome signs (at entrances)

d. direction signs to parks, schools, hospitals/clinics, attractions, services (i.e. police), etc.

VII. Driving... comments on industrial park/area: Sign well defined...busy...growing...new...etc.

VIII. Driving...comments on schools:

IX. Driving...comments on parks, play grounds, athletic facilities, etc.:

X. Driving...comments on other:

a. hospitals/clinics

b. billboards/advertising

c. Other

XI.Walking around...comments on businesses (physical part): Appearance, displays, signs, etc.

XII.Walking around...comments on people: Were they friendly, did they know answers to questions, did they try to help, appearance, etc.

XIII.Community information: comments on.....

a.community brochure (tourist type)

b.businesses/attractions brochures or directory

c.community profile (demographic, industrial type information for prospective business people, etc.

d.map

e.other (i.e. bulletin/notice tourism, kiosks, etc.)

XIV. City Hall...describe your visit:

a.appearance of facility, including signing

b.helpfulness of staff

c.other

XV.Chamber of Commerce...describe your visit

a.did people know where it was (or who to refer you to?

b.comment on information available

c.comment on staff

d.other (hours, appearance, locations, etc.)

XVI. Other stuff.....

a.public restrooms (available, condition, etc.)

b.payphones (working, phonebook intact, etc.)

c.Parking

d.water fountains, benches, etc.

e. other

WRAP UP
A. Using your "senses"...

1.What does the community TASTE like? (Specialty bakery/restaurant, etc.)

2.What does the community SMELL like:

3.What SOUNDS did you hear?

4. What did the community feel like (emotional response, i.e. cold/warm, crowded/ deserted, inviting, etc., or physical response, i.e. rough streets, etc.)

B. List the 5 most positive things you observed about the community:

C. Describe ONE idea that you will steal for use in your own business/community and describe how you will start to implement it within the next 72 hours:

D. What will you remember most about the community six months from now:

E. Other comments (that just didn't seem to fit anywhere else!)