4800 W. Green Brook Dr. Brown Deer, WI 53223	CONTACT: BARB FLEMING, COMMITTEE MEMBER (414) 371-6758 RUSS VANGOMPEL, VILLAGE MANAGER (414) 371-3050 BARBARA GRANT, Public Management Partners, LLP (920) 882-6460
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: January 24, 2003
The Brown Deer Visioning Committee welcomed two new members at its meeting January 23, 2003 at the Brown Deer Public Library. Rick Stone is a nine-year resident who is a product engineer for Johnson Controls. Gregg Umipeg is a resident who moved to the Village six months ago from California and states that he is happy to bring his experience of working with minority groups, children, and elderly people. This brings to thirteen the number of community members who have been appointed to direct the Village’s Visioning Project and to plan community outreach activities. Barbara Fleming, Visioning Committee member and Brown Deer School District representative, stated that she is impressed with the commitment of all committee members.  She said, “The future of this community is of great importance to them.  They are dedicated to helping to create a vision for a safe, thriving, caring community for those who live, work and visit Brown Deer." The committee’s report, due in late summer, is expected to include a summary of information gathered from special-interest customer groups as well as community members through public workshop activities and a newsletter survey. The Visioning Committee identified Village customer groups who will be asked to participate in focus groups during February. These groups include youth; ethnic minorities; seniors; large employers; commercial, service, and hospitality business owners; health care providers; and developers, realtors, and apartment mangers. Members set March 1^st for the community to participate in workshop activities facilitated by Public Management Partners, LLP and VandeWalle Associates. Barbara Grant, Public Management Partners facilitator, said, “I am impressed by Brown Deer’s commitment to developing a vision of Brown Deer’s future that comes from real village customers in addition to village leaders.” Carrie Weddle, Visioning Committee member and professor at UW-M School of Nursing, said, “…the Visioning Committee, which includes diverse sectors of the community, is off to a great start in the process of identifying stakeholders and consumers to include in a variety of activities to get feedback from the community.” The next Visioning Committee meeting is scheduled for February 13 at 7pm in the Brown Deer Library Community Room. The public is welcome. News and meeting records are regularly posted on Brown Deer’s website at http://www.vil.brown-deer.wi.us.