Press Room
Truckee Meadows Tomorrow Quality of Life Compacts Workshop SNCAT Broadcast
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Apr 05, 2004
Contact: Jennifer Sanzi
775-829-2819
jennifer@o-apr.com
INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP FOCUSES ON QUALITY OF LIFE COMPACTS
April 5, 2004. Reno, Nevada. Truckee Meadows Tomorrow (TMT) will conduct its first interactive community workshop on Quality of Life Compacts today.
Quality of Life Compacts Interactive Workshop
Monday, April 5, 2004 at 5:00 p.m.
Washoe County Commission Chambers, 9th & Wells
The workshop is open to everyone interested in improving the community’s economic vitality, health, education, land use & infrastructure, natural environment, or public safety & welfare. Participates will learn about the history of community compacts, role-play how to initiate a compact with TMT and others, and learn how to demonstrate positive improvement in one or more quality of life indicators. As TMT’s tag line says, “You make a difference. We measure it.”
TMT first identified quality of life indicators in the early 1990’s to draw attention to our community’s most pressing needs. TMT then asked everyone in the community to come forward and adopt specific indicators. These adopters agreed to take an active interest in their indicators. Quality of life compacts are the “next step” to moving from active interest to actually improving indicators through a community compact program. Quality of life compacts are formal, voluntary agreements between TMT and one or more businesses, organizations or individuals that work together to improve quality of life indicators.
TMT’s first compact, with Washoe County in 2001, achieved real results focusing on a number of natural environment programs and the second compact engaged diverse organizations addressing open space with the Nevada Land Conservatory, Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful, Hands on Northern Nevada (a United Way program), Sierra Pacific Power Company and the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada. A third compact began January 2003 with the Washoe County School District and the Washoe County Teachers Association engaging parental involvement in schools. The most recent compact between United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra and TMT not only impacts all of the 30 existing indicators, but United Way’s funded partners will also surface emerging community-wide needs.
Washoe County and SNCAT will be broadcasting the workshop live on TV-17 through the county’s in-kind contribution to TMT. The workshop will also replayed on the following dates:
- Tuesday, April 6 at 3:00 PM
- Thursday, April 8 at 9:30 PM
- Friday, April 9 at 6:30 PM
- Saturday, April 10 at 10:00 PM
###
TRUCKEE MEADOWS TOMORROW
You make a difference. We measure it.
Vision: To enhance our community’s ability to continually improve our quality of life
Mission: To serve as the authority, change agent, and advocate in improving the community’s quality of life through collaboration and partnership
Who is Truckee Meadows Tomorrow?
- Community-based, grassroots organization dedicated to improving quality of life (QOL) in the region
- Membership-driven, nonprofit organization—over 150 individuals, businesses and organizations pay dues to belong and help fund TMT programs and initiatives
- TMT doesn’t set policy—listen to everyone to define a value system we call quality of life indicators
- Volunteer-driven—over 230 individuals, businesses and organizations participate in TMT programs, actively pursuing improvement actions
- TMT was recognized at the 2002 International Society of QOL Studies conference for creating progressive, collaboration and partnerships programs in our region
How did TMT get started?
- Established 1993 out of an EDAWN committee to enhance the region’s QOL which in turn attracts high quality companies and jobs to the area
- Working with the Regional Planning Agency, TMT solicited input from over 4,000 citizens, including youth, to define “quality of life”
- 180 indicators were cataloged as being used by various agencies and 66 have been monitored and reported on over the years
- QOL indicators were updated and consolidated in 2000
- Today TMT monitors and reports on 30 indictors in the 6 categories
How is TMT funded?
- Initially funded in 1996 by a generous grant from Washoe Medical Center/Washoe Health System because they believe community health and quality of life go hand in hand
- $500,000 was used as program grant funding to a broad range of nonprofits that worked collectively to improve the community’s QOL (granting program ended in 2002)
- Membership and every penny contributed sustains TMT’s programs and funds partnerships to create positive change
What does TMT do to achieve its mission?
- Biennial Community Report outlining improvement and decline in QOL indicators
- Biennial Accentuate the Positive community-wide advocacy celebration
- Adopt an Indicator for voluntary improvement actions by anyone
- Quality of Life Compacts for contractual partnerships and measured improvements
- Quarterly, interactive membership forums on community issues
- Quarterly Benchmark newsletter advocating for and reporting on QOL actions
- Website providing QOL indicator data and information
New in 2004, Community Challenges for community-wide change initiatives
How to get involved?
- Visit TMT’s website http://www.quality-of-life.org for more information
- Adopt an Indicator—make a commitment that’s meaningful to you and contribute personally to improving our great quality of life
- Attend quarterly membership meetings—interactive forums to exchange information and ideas
- Support a quality of life compact
- Get involved in a Community Challenge to improve regional quality of life
- Join a TMT committee
QUALITY OF LIFE INDICATORS
Economic Vitality
1. Arts and culture events
2. Cost of living
3. Employment by industry
4. Tourism visits
5. Voter turnout
6. Weekly wage by industry
Education
7. High school dropout rate and college attrition
8. Life long learning
9. Parental involvement in schools
10. Safety in schools
11. Test scores on standardized tests
Health
12. Leading causes of death
13. Health care cost
14. Immunizations
15. Prenatal care
16. At-risk behaviors
17. Teen pregnancy
Land Use and Infrastructure
18. Affordable housing
19. Bus ridership
20. Traffic congestion
21. Vehicle miles traveled
Natural Environment
22. Air quality
23. Open space, parks & trails
24. Truckee River water quality
25. Water use
Public Safety and Welfare
26. Child abuse reports
27. Domestic violence
27. Domestic violence
28. Perception of safety
29. Senior abuse
30. Public assistance usage