20 Clues to Rural Community Survival

[sodbuster]

20 Clues to Rural Community Survival: An Annotated List

1.Evidence of Community Pride Successful communities are often showplaces of care, attention, history and heritage.
2.Emphasis on Quality in Business and Community Life People believe that something worth doing is worth doing right.
3.Willingness to Invest in the Future In addition to the brick-and-mortar investments, all decisions are made with an outlook on the future.
4.Participatory Approach to Community Decision Making Even the most powerful of opinion leaders seem to work toward building consensus.
5.Cooperative Community Spiri The stress is on working together toward a common goal and the focus is on positive results.
6.Realistic Appraisal of Future Opportunities Successful communities have learned how to build on strengths and minimize weaknesses.
7.Awareness of Competitive Positioning Local loyalty is emphasized, but thriving communities who know who their competitors are and position themselves accordingly.
8.Knowledge of the Physical Environment Relative location and available natural resources underscore decision-making.
9.Active Economic Development Program There is an organized, public/private approach to economic development.
10.Deliberate Transition of Power to a Younger Generation of Leaders People under 40 regularly hold key positions in civic and business affairs.
11.Celebration of Diversity in Leadership Women, minorities, youth and newcomers are welcomed into leadership circles where their ideas are treated as opportunities.
12.Strong Belief in and Support for Education Good schools are the norm and centers of community activity.
13.Problem-Solving Approach to Providing Health Care Health care is considered essential, and smart strate-gies are in place for diverse methods of delivery.
14.Strong Multi-Generational Family Orientation The definition of family is broad, and activities include younger as well as older generations.
15.Strong Presence of Traditional Institutions that are Integral to Community Life Churches, schools and service clubs are strong influences on community development and social activities.
16.Sound and Well-Maintained Infrastructure Leaders work hard to maintain and improve streets, sidewalks, water systems, and sewage facilities.
17.Careful Use of Fiscal Resources Frugality is a way of life and expenditures are considered investments in the future.
18.Sophisticated Use of Technology Resources Leaders access information that is beyond the knowledge base available in the community.
19.Willingness to Seek Help from the Outside People seek outside help for community needs, and many compete for government grants and contracts for economic and social programs.
20.Conviction that, in the Long Run, You Have to Do It Yourself Thriving rural communities believe their destiny is in their own hands. Making their communities good places is a pro-active assignment, and they willingly accept it.


http://www.heartlandcenter.info/clues.htm

[Patriot]

Speaking of the Heartland Center, check out some of their training for practioners (Delphi facilitators)....

http://www.heartlandcenter.info/practitioners.htm

[Catwoman]

OMG...Patsy...You are beyond irrational...LOL...    

[Patriot]

OMG...Patsy...You are beyond irrational...LOL...    

Then I've accomplish the impossible.  Neat, huh?

[flintauqua]

Here's the 32 page workbook which expands upon the 20 Clues:

http://www.heartlandcenter.info/documents/cluesworkbook.pdf

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Dr. Darling and I developed a similar survey in '02-'03:

http://www.agecon.ksu.edu/ddarling/Sustaining%20Progress%20Checklist.pdf

[redcliffsw]

Flint, so why did you develop this survey?

Could it have been initiated and financed by the government?

[flintauqua]

Flint, so why did you develop this survey?

Could it have been initiated and financed by the government?

Yes, Dr. Darling was the state director of Community and Economic Development for K-State Research and Extension.  I suppose you are anti-Extension Service also?

[redcliffsw]

It was in 1862 was when the Federal government got its start in agricultural "extension".  That's the same
Republicans (socialists) who attacked the South and thus changed the USA with their war victory in 1865 (and
I'm not talking about the slavery as it was in that period).

Here you can read their own description of themselves and their history:
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/qlinks/extension.html#yesterday

[flintauqua]

It was a rhetorical question Red.

I have a couple of questions for you - How many generations of your family have lived on this continent since Lee surrendered to Grant?  Would you have more or fewer siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins if the war had not ended on that day in 1865, the day that, in your opinion, everything good about America ended, and everything bad began?

[srkruzich]

It was a rhetorical question Red.

I have a couple of questions for you - How many generations of your family have lived on this continent since Lee surrendered to Grant?  Would you have more or fewer siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins if the war had not ended on that day in 1865, the day that, in your opinion, everything good about America ended, and everything bad began?

We wouldn't have this socialistic push for siezure of our nation!  The southerners were all about following the constitution to the letter of the law.  Lincoln on the other hand was a traitor to all. The north as well as the south!