Feeling the Weight of the World? Advice Sought for Ebbing Energy
Monday, April 21st, 2008
We have a new strategic plan, we have ideas and we have dreams but we seem to have lost the energy. Where did it go?
Recent blog entries and local newspaper articles have shown the realities of Gackle’s woes. What is not apparent on the surface is that many basic services have been propped up over the years or have had benefactors to support their continuation. Those means are drying up. The cafe is struggling, the pool might not open, the sewers are failing and lots of other major issues. Everybody who is currently volunteering is overburdened and there doesn’t seem to be any new “troops.” It’s hard to get excited about the strategic goals of beautifying the town or continuing education when we have such large concerns.
Reacting to the situation a core group of concerned Horizons volunteers met recently to discuss the situation. Jodi Bruns from NDSU extension also attended. What we learned is that we are not alone and the situation is similar in most small towns. It seems there are ebbs and flows in the process of revitalization and we are experiencing the ebb. Jodi suggested prioritizing the major issues, identifying local leaders best able to “rally-the-troops” and asking them personally to take leadership for the tasks ahead. The reality is that people won’t respond to a simple “call to volunteer” printed in the newspaper. So a personal call based on a complementary marriage of leader and task is the best option.
But a thing we realized during the course of discussion was that we have done a lot and the Horizons process has fomented positive changes within our community. So while we all wish things would move more forward quickly we now understand that a “pat-on-the-back” is also in order and patience and dedication will win the battle ahead.