A community meeting this evening is the latest in an Island-wide initiative to get all Bermudians to work together to create a genuine sense of community by 2009.

That year will mark the 400th anniversary of the settling of Bermuda and also the 50th anniversary of the ?Theatre Boycott? which broke down racial barriers and segregation on the Island.

Every parish is being included in a round of meetings, entitled Imagine Bermuda 2009, bringing together a wide variety of individuals, groups, churches and organisations to talk about how the Island can move forward positively.

?The idea is to get the recipe, to get people together from different sectors of the community to recognise the potential they have,? said Glenn Fubler, co-chairman of Imagine Bermuda 2009. ?These are meetings where everyone can talk together and participate. The ultimate goal is to create a greater sense of community in Bermuda.?

This evening it is the turn of Smith?s Parish to add its input at a meeting in Whitney Middle School starting at 7 p.m.

Amongst those due to take part in a conversation that ?reflects the best of our collective past as well as explores ideas for fostering a better future? will be various churches from the Church of the Nazarene in Collector?s Hill to St Phillips AME on the eastern boundary of the parish.

There will be representatives of the Whitney Board, the Cleveland County Cricket Club as well as sporting legend Dennis Wainwright and heritage stalwart William Zuill.

Mr. Fubler and his co-chairman Michael Ashton said the process aimed to go ?beyond rehashing the problems facing our community to explore the possibilities. It is a call to move us beyond our normal circles to come together, share our experiences as well as our hopes and dreams of a better Bermuda.?

The parishes of St George?s, Sandys and Hamilton have already taken part in the round of meetings.

Mr. Fubler said: ?We are making good progress and the people are getting increasingly interested.?