Creating 'A Day in the Life'

Thank you very much for agreeing to work with us as we produce a documentary about the Cape's nonprofit sector. We will give you a copy of your interview to use as you wish. We will retain a copy that we will use to integrate with the other interviews we record. Our purpose is to produce a film that inspires others to follow your example and to either join with you or undertake their own efforts to sustain the Cape's quality of life.

We've sought you out because you are making a great contribution to Cape Cod and we're interested to find ways to supplement your efforts. We're interested to record the overarching goals and aspirations of your organization. We're also interested to understand the specific constraints and concerns you face as you strive to achieve your goals. And as we assemble this collection of interviews, we'll be looking for common themes, ideas, and approaches that weave the ideas you express with those that others present in their interviews.

In your interview, we'd like to discuss:

what your organization does
why it's necessary
who works with you
how you measure success
how your work is supported or blocked; and
what assistance you need.
The most valuable information we want to record is what you are doing NOW.

On Monday, May 1, as part of the Opportunity Expo to be held at Cape Cod Community College, we have scheduled three sessions: one starting at 9:30; a second beginning at 11:30; and a third that will meet at 1:30. Please let us know which session you prefer.

Each group will meet for a few minutes at the start of each session to answer any questions and go over the format. Each interview will be approximately 3 minutes. Although this isn’t a TV interview, it will feel a lot like one.

We've retained Bates Communication to assist us in this undertaking, and Amy Conway will conduct the interviews. Amy's background as a television journalist will help us connect each of the interviews and the themes that emerge from them. In working with Amy and Bates Communication, they have advised me that your most valuable ideas will come across very clearly if we send you our questions and intentions well enough in advance so that you have time to contemplate what you would like to say and to prepare your remarks.

To be prepared, they suggest doing what they coach their clients to do who regularly talk to the media:

· take some time to think about the questions and even write down your answers.

· be specific in your comments; and

· skip the broad framework and get right to specifics.

They also advise trying to anticipate questions that Amy might ask given your responses to what we've outlined as the topics we'd like to discuss. And if you are especially inclined to prepare, they suggest drafting how you’d answer these anticipated questions (I would be a problem client for Bates Communication). Their point is that the format we must work within does not allow much time for you to think through your answers during the interview. You'll do really well if you are prepared to discuss the issues that you consider to be most critical.

So, here is a more extended list of the questions. Amy Conway will ask follow-up questions that build upon the points you make in response.

1. What problem underlies your organization’s mission?

2. Who wants to solve this and why?

3. What are your immediate goals?

4. What is your ideal outcome?

5. How would achieving these goals sustain the Cape’s quality of life?

6. What is the biggest challenge that impedes your progress right now?

7. What are you doing to address this challenge right now?

8. What time, money, and/or resources do you need to achieve your goal?

9. Is there a budget for this? Whose budget is it?

10. Is there anything else we need to talk about today?

As you think about these questions and the documentary idea generally, please call or email me with any aspect of the interview about which you’d like to receive clarification. As we’ve developed this idea, we’ve benefited from the input we’ve received from Suzanne Bates and Amy Conway. We’re also pleased that Terry Duenas of Cape Cod Community Media Center is helping us to tape these interviews. And we’re especially pleased that you have agreed to provide your insights that will be the essence of what we are documenting. Thank you.