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Finding a fresh perspective on your community

Checklist For Community Swap Activities

Visits usually occur between May and October, to take advantage of good weather. The exchange visits should occur within a month of each other, to reduce the variability of perceptions due to the change of seasons. Town Meetings should take place four to six weeks after the exchange visits, to use the information while it is still fresh in everyone's memory.

One or Two Months Before the Visit:

• Working with the sponsoring organization, identify a Team Leader and work with the Team Leader to identify the rest of the members of the visiting team.
• The Unit Leader sends the Team Leader a letter outlining program materials and University of Illinois Extension participation (see "Sample Cover Letter from Unit Leader" in the Appendix).
• Select Team Members.
• Contact the University of Illinois Extension Unit Leader and Team Leader from the partner community to set a date for the visit.
• Ask the partner community to prepare the letter of invitation to the visiting Swap team, which your team will carry along on the day of the visit (see the appendix for the "Sample Invitation to the Visiting Swap Team").
• Send Team Members information on their responsibilities (see the "Top Secret Stuff!" handout in the Appendix).
• Review the Assessment Guide and other program materials.
• Review slide checklist, photo log and sample reports in the Appendix.

On To "Checklist - One Week Before Visit" -->

A program by University of Illinois Extension