Projects at church, at the chamber of commerce, at the Park District,
with the Arts Council – what work do we have to do right now to move projects
along, and what work do we need to dream about for the long term? These are
things that keep organizations dynamic, meaningful and useful for their
communities. It needs input from all kinds of people if the fruits of the work
is rich and diverse.
We have a new bridge coming to town. It will replace the
existing bridge that is structured too low and drags its bottom in the river
during high water times. The bridge acts sort of like a dam and backs water to
higher levels upstream. The river has also been allowed to change course that
threatens future erosion, flooding and commercial buildings; so the river’s
flow will be redirected and the bridge needs to move as well. This development
alters traffic flow somewhat, and changes the dynamics of nearby intersecting
roadways. The result may be construction of a ‘roundabout’.
If the roundabout comes to pass its center will need
landscaping and possibly an art installation to beautify the area. As well the
four bridge abutments could be home to art installations.
The need has been voiced by a few towns’ people and the Arts
Council has been asked to consider what they would do in these spaces if
funding were available. So we begin the
process of considering themes, materials, and art forms appropriate to the
task. An interesting process. Creative. How much involvement from the community
do we encourage? How much should we spend? And from which resource? All
important questions. We are only at the beginning of this process which we are
inventing as we go! Should be challenging but also fun.
Then there are artists in our community and nearby towns who
need support if their art is to grow and prosper. A neighboring community has a
publicly funded art gallery that also serves artists living in our town. The
idea is to get the two communities working together. So our arts council will
reach out to them to create art classes, exhibit events and public awareness
programs – all in the interest of preserving and encouraging art in our
communities.
We already have a performing arts program sponsored by the
Arts Council. They have been programming events featuring drama, dance and
music paid for from city grants stemming from hotel/motel taxes. The next
season needs to be created for grant applications due this fall. What to do?
Which art genres might the public be most supportive of, and which might they
gain the most insight from? All things to consider as we attempt to further
performing arts in our small community.
Meanwhile the town’s newspaper has made some gains.
Primarily designed to serve our own little city (13,000 population), we have
served two neighboring towns as well. One is a city of 26,000 people while the
other is a village of 9000. We mail our paper to all homes and businesses. That
is costly for a volunteer paper with limited advertising. Expanding advertising
to the other communities will hopefully expand revenues, enough to mail to more
homes and businesses in the other towns. The village community we have mailed
to once per month for nearly a year. Both neighboring towns receive the paper
at high traffic sites we hand deliver to. We've done that for 2 years, now.
The village community, however, likes the paper and has
recruited a group of 6 writers to cover events and issues in their town for the
paper. Last Friday was our first delivery by mail and drop-off of their own customized
edition. It is an exciting time. That village has a spotty record of two other
newspapers, each vying for political position, not news objectivity.
Townspeople approached us to cover their news and we challenged them to find
their own objective writers. We could not do it justice because we don’t live
there. They agreed. We are excited to see how the paper is received and how
well it prospers. We have our fingers
crossed. If it goes well their community will benefit greatly. If that happens
we should gain ad revenue which will ensure our existence.
Our paper remains totally volunteer staffed and non-profit.
In fact we have operating debt we are slowly paying down. Before anyone can get
paid on a normal basis all debt must be retired and current operating profits
maintained before remunerating writers and operations staff. I suspect this is
a long way off. Newspapers in major
cities have a difficult time surviving. Local press has died off significantly.
Our model may be the last gasp of opportunity to keep small town newspapers
alive. Stay tuned for developments!
As we cover news in our own community we learn how people
deal with the major issues of life and death. Which streets are being rebuilt,
which need to be but don’t have funds readily available? What is going on in
the schools and how are students dealing with modern life? What about sports,
both youth and adult? Are recreation programs accessible and well attended? Are
the arts getting their due? What about local governments and their financial
health? Is the public involved in public decision making so governments are
supported? And what of the economic health of the immediate region. Are jobs
available? Home values stable? Quality of water and air? What is being done to
control seasonal flooding?
These and other issues affect the quality of life of a
community. In ours many people are involved asking questions and seeking
answers. This alone makes for a healthy community. But it doesn't come
automatically. It happens only if some people care enough to take a stand and
lead on some issues, while others consider the facts and agree to be good
followers. Sometimes those roles are reversed as the issues change. But a
community is healthy if at all time there is a cadre of people involved in the
life and well being of the community. Volunteers all. Concerned, too. Giving
and generous of ideas and effort to make things good for everyone.
Such is a healthy community defined. May this be true in
your community. It is in ours!
June 10, 2013
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