By Marge Hamersly, Chamber of Commerce executive director

Albert Lea and Freeborn County are in a mode of great change. For some this is a wonderful and exciting time. For others it is a time to reflect on what was and will be no more. As change takes place our whole community can respond to molding our future.

With this in mind, the strategic planning process for the city and surrounding area started with broad citizen participation in the planning process without any predetermined issues. Named the Albert Lea Area Listens, listening sessions were set up for any group that wanted to gather to discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the community and then list their ideas for the future.

There were nearly 60 listening sessions held with more than 600 citizens participating. Many stakeholder groups, those with a particular interest in the future of the area, were held as well as some open meetings inviting all to attend. The groups ranged from juniors and seniors at the Albert Lea high school, to environmentalists, service clubs, union members, senior citizens, agri-business, non-profits, industrial and corporate representatives, developers, and many many other groups. The discussions were lively and everyone seemed energized by the process.

They have finished now and the material has been compiled from all the sessions and will be sent to the consultant next week.

His team will prepare a draft plan for our scrutiny and it will be here in mid-March.

The steering committee will analyze it and then open the discussion to those who wish to have continued participation in the process.

A huge thank you is due to the volunteer facilitators and scribes who have kept the listening session on track so that the same rules and format were used in each session.

People have told the Chamber they wish the listening sessions could continue, and I am happy to say that anyone who wants to get a group together should contact the Chamber and we will arrange it.

It is a wonderful method of communication and exchange of ideas and information. I invite any group, community or township outside of Albert Lea to consider holding a listening session.

I am confident that the citizens of the Albert Lea area have participated to make their voices heard about the future of Albert Lea, and a vision and plan will emerge by the time this process is complete.

(Marge Hamersly is the Executive Director of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce.)