I truly wish you a great deal of success in your endeavors. Do you have a Committee (OPA) e-mail address where people can send you input in the future?

Also, a few thoughts here (my opinions only):

1. Comprehensive planning is a big picture process. Don't try to dot all the i's and cross all the t's. If you do you will never finish or find yourself so bogged down that you lose focus.

2. Time is of the essence. If the process extends beyond 12 months the plan will join many others that sit on a shelf.

3. Reach consensus on the OPA vision/mission plan/whatever you want to call it first. Everything else springs forth from that agreement of OPA's purpose.

4. Develop an outline, then "chunk" the project taking each area and bringing it to completion to maintain focus and targeted results.

4. Involve staff and the appropriate board committees, remembering both have their own agendas. Use reports and studies prepared in the past, look at usage and need, and look at current documents in various states of progress.

5. Make sure you keep the Board and GM updated on a regular basis. They are necessary to the successful implementation of your recommendations and the more they are a “part” of the process the better.

6. A plan is a living document. It must evolve and change annually as circumstances, needs and the community changes. It must be more than a snapshot, it needs to be a guiding document, a strategic view of the future.

7. Be specific in your recommendations. No we ‘should’ or ‘could’ statements but definitive calls for action in each area. That may extend to the need for additional study for instance regarding the continuation of golf in our community. But whatever you do after the opening pages on demographics and other statistical data the plan must be succinct and to the point.

8. You will be (already are) called to make statements on various areas of Ocean Pines even before you have started the process. Remember you will be at odds with more than one person REGARDLESS of the position you take on any area of your plan. Do not be distracted or try to appease any of us along the way. Develop a tough skin – you will need it.

9. Finally, be bold and visionary. After all, you are simply a committee. Nothing you say can be enacted without the Board’s approval so go for it!

Best wishes and good luck!

Ted