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A Template for Collaboration

Lessons Learned

• Everyone knows the rhetoric and philosophy about networking and collaboration.  However, it is a quantum leap to make it a practical experience that accommodates everyone's expectations or priorities. 

• There can never be too much time, money or face to face contact in any collaborative process.  The challenge is complicated by the size of the consumer/practitioners movement, the vast geographic displacement, economic disparities, and the variety of mandates and expectations (e.g.. timing, messaging or even artistic preferences). 

  • For some groups, the summer is very busy... for others it is down time. 

  • For some groups, public contacts are very important, and for others it's a secondary consideration.  Promotion and public awareness are not on the "radar screen" for everyone.

  • In some cases, material distribution and networking is an easy undertaking... for others, it's overwhelming.  

  • In some instances, disability and literacy organizations are well aware of the Government's funding and social development priorities. In other cases, groups are unaware, and preoccupied with the practical tasks of the day.

  • For some national groups, the focus is on the "big picture".  For many local groups, more attention is given to the local situation and needs.

• It's hard to foster and encourage "common cause" (literacy/disability, public/private sector, national/ local perspectives) when Government departments separate the issues, the delivery mechanisms are varied and resources are scarce at the community level. 

• Despite a sincere effort to communicate directly with the potential users (literacy and disability groups) and to encourage their use of the CD ROM resources in their own work, it is very difficult to determine the value of these materials at the community level. More time is needed in the planning and collaborative stages of the project 

• Discussions with the focus group and the various national literacy and disability organizations did not offer enough insight into the skill-sets, capacities and commitment to this process of building new partnerships (with each other or the Snowbirds)

• Aside from the obvious "olympian" sponsorships, there are many private sector organizations willing to support the community endeavors of voluntary groups.  Greater leadership is required to ensure an appreciation of, and commitment to, the "multisectoral" strategy defined way back in 1991.  The difference between a "threat" and an "ally" is how each group understands the other's unique contribution to healthier happier communities.  This has to be explained and it has to be valued.

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