Greening Greater Memphis

2006

Greater Memphis Greenline, Shelby Farms Park Alliance, Sierra Club and Wolf River Conservancy, with the guidance of Smart City Consulting—develop the Greening Greater Memphis manifesto.

2007, February

GGM manifesto adopted at a public gathering at the Memphis Botanic Garden, where more than 1,000 people demonstrate support for connecting “people to parks, parks to parks and people to people.”

§  Inspired by turnout, Mayor Herenton publicly commits $20 million to the Memphis Wolf River Greenway project on the spot.

2007, September

Green Volunteer Expo

2008

Several representatives of parks and greenways organizations ask the Hyde Family Foundations and the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis to help develop a plan to focus the energy and enthusiasm into a course for action.

§  Steering committee* is organized, and David Williams is contracted as strategic planning consultant.

§  Regular meetings are held to define the mission of GGM. 

2008, August

Stakeholder meeting with local green organizations held to gather input regarding the future direction of GGM.

§  Meeting is attended by approximately 90 individuals representing various sectors throughout the Mid-South—conservation, recreation and user groups, health care, education, non-profit, corporate, real estate, public agencies and elected officials. 

§  Feedback is reviewed, refined and developed into an initial strategic plan.

2008, December

Second stakeholder meeting held to present strategic plan outline.

§  Input gathered is utilized to make final revisions to the plan and to recruit the board.

2009, March

Appointment of inaugural GGM Board of Directors

2009, April 6

2009 – present

2010, February

First board meeting

Organizational planning

GGM is currently reviewing applications for a Program Coordinator to help the Board of Directors implement the organizational vision