NORWICH – With the updating process of its strategic plan now underway, the United Way of Chenango County is taking on new measures to strengthen the local community and fulfill its mission of improving lives for the common good.

This year, the Chenango United Way is looking for more community input in updating its strategic plan than ever before with a community survey that allows local residents’ voices to be heard. The ten-question survey will be utilized by the Chenango United Way Strategic Planning Committee to collect data for future planning purposes.

The goal, explained Chenango United Way Director Elizabeth Monaco, is to evaluate local residents’ reactions about the role and effectiveness of the United Way in the community. The survey is open to all community members, including United Way donors, non-donors, funded community partner programs, and business leaders.

“This is the first time we have done a community survey to update our strategic plan,” said Monaco, noting that the plan is overhauled every three to five years. “It’s a good way that allows us to measure our own performance. If we are going to be a community organization, then we need to have community input.”

The survey - assisted by United Way Colgate intern Zoe Blicksilver and made available online at chenangouw.org/survey.html - gauges the community’s beliefs about the Chenango United Way’s effectiveness in hearing the concerns of the community, its ability in communicating with other area community action agencies, and the organization’s overall success in telling the community about opportunities to give, advocate and volunteer.