By Jo Mixon, Mayor of the Village of Angel Fire
And how do you get connected?
Communication in the Village of Angel Fire has always been challenging. With the loss of ability to meet face to face during 2020, those challenges have amplified. Add to the mix the false rumors on social media, factual communication is hard. The recent dumpster removals from the core of the Village is one such instance…and it definitely got people’s attention. So how do we connect with our citizens?
The management of the Village of Angel Fire, the Village Councilors and myself want to be able to communicate with you to ensure we are on the same page. We do not want you to be caught off guard, nor do we want to spend days on end trying to get in touch with each individual. That is an impossible task. Not everyone uses the same form of communications. Not everyone subscribes to this Chamber blast. Believe it or not, not everyone is on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. So I want to explore with you a few ways you can keep informed and we will be able to better communicate.
First, if you are a business owner, the president of an organization, the president of an HOA (or if your HOA has changed property managements), a short term vacation rental, or any of the various other people who need or want to have communications with us, please, on a regular basis, update your information with the village offices. We do not know if your officers, your email, your phone number or contact person has changed unless you tell us. Communication is much easier when we have updated correct information.
Now let’s explore tools we already have in place to communicate. This blast provided by the Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce, is one source of true factual communications. The Village and businesses send information to the Chamber to be published. It has a subscriber base of almost 9000 readers. It is opened on an average of 48% every issue. That means over 4000 people have received and read the communications. If you know someone who would like to be added, they can subscribe to the email Blast at the bottom of this edition. Plus this eBlast is posted on the Chamber Facebook page as soon as it is emailed out.
I cannot stress enough how important or how easy it is for you to attend Village Council meetings. A lot of the things people do not feel informed about are discussed in these meetings. For the past 10 months all Village Council meetings are held by Webinar, so you attend from home (in whatever state you are), in your sweats, even over dinner or with a beer or glass of wine if you choose…you can’t beat that! At our meetings you are invited to voice your opinion. The meetings are held every second and fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30pm. The agendas are posted on the Village website, on the Village Facebook page and in this Blast. On the agenda are the instructions explaining how to register and attend. I encourage you to put them on your calendar. The meetings are recorded and then posted on the Village website. The minutes are also posted on our website after they have been approved by Council at the following meeting. Many of your questions may be answered by taking the time to read or listen to a few of them.
The Village also uses other sources of communication you may not know about. On our Village webpage at www.angelfirenm.gov we have good information. All Village codes and resolutions can be found there. We are in the process of updating it to keep you better informed. On the website you can sign up for “real time” notifications at http://www.angelfirenm.gov/list.aspx. You choose what you want to be notified about and how you prefer to be notified. You may choose a phone call, an email or a text. The notifications range from emergency alerts to issues involving streets and water to meetings, events and committees, etc. You can sign up for one notification or for all of them.
We have several Facebook pages. The main Village of Angel Fire, the Angel Fire Visitor Center, the Angel Fire Fire Department and the Angel Fire Police Department. If you are on Facebook, like and follow them.
New ways of communication: We are in the design phase of a Village App. Once completed, you will be able to download it onto your device. Each department within the village will be able to update what is happening in their areas on a regular basis. It will have a multitude of other informational content for residents and tourists. Hopefully the Village app will be “live” within the next 90 days.
Many of you have voiced concern about the electronic sign outside of Village Hall. We’ve listened. The sign has not worked since 2017. It had not been a priority since then, but this administration believes it is an important source of communication. Early this year, the Village Economic Development Committee took it on as a project. They are in the process of getting bids to the Council as to the cost and most efficient way to have the sign fixed or replaced. Another thing to note is that all of our committee meetings are also held by Webinar. You have the ability to attend any or all of them using the same process as you follow to attend the council meetings.
Long story short, we really do want to enhance the communications between all of us. Please take the time to sign up for a few of the things listed above. And if you need to communicate something, contact me. If I don’t have an answer, I’ll direct you to someone who does.
The year has almost come to an end. Hopefully we will be able to get past the mandates this virus has caused and have a more fun filled normal 2021!
Thank you,
Jo Mixon
Mayor
Village of Angel Fire
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* Did you know you can download an app for up to date New Mexico Road conditions? Go to the app store. Or visit www.nmroads.com
* Did you know there is a Facebook group designated specifically for up to date wintry road conditions from locals? This face book group is called Northern NM Winter Roads. It allows people to get needed road info without surfing through other groups or pages.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1125398317930665/
* Did you know you can find ALL factual updated information on COVID restrictions, lift tickets, make reservations to ski or for ski school, watch live action cams on the mountain and find out snow conditions from visiting the Ski areas websites?
It is always best to go straight to the source!
Angel Fire Ski & Snowboard Resort: www.angelfireresort.com
Red River Ski and Summer area: www.redriverskiarea.com
Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort: www.sipapu.ski/
Taos Ski Valley: www.skitaos.com
* Did you know the Angel Fire Chamber of Commerce provides helpful information on grants, loans and other sources of support for your businesses during this pandemic? Contact Us with questions
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