Regional communities harbour many issues.
See a Case Study by Peter Sergeant in the Knowledge Base
Regional towns and villages have issues that must be understood and acted on.
Small businesses (SMEs) and not-for-profits (NFPs) require help and support, particularly in small regional communities. Few are willing to pay for it; some have no time or money to commit beyond their day-to-day operations. This leads to a situation where the ‘willing horses’ are ‘flogged to death’, and the frustrations and problems continue to recur. We need more people who will lead by practical example in small regional communities and governments at all levels.
This knowledge is intended to provide you with a start to creating a vision and formulating strategies and actions. It is intended to help you move your small regional community to meet the aspirations of those who live there. We hope it will create new conversations that will lead to better relationships, health, businesses, and nicer places to live. Communities that your children and their children will want to return to and be more involved with.
There is a real need for a catalyst to break the destructive cycles.
Corporations, academics, and governments tend to discuss how global forces shape our choices regarding our businesses and communities rather than the wants and needs of those who live and work in them.
- Everyone aspires to a vibrant, genuine, and purposeful NFP, but few achieve it. Rather than building dynamic organisations, many exist from one government grant to the next.
- Rather than exploring possibilities, boards and committees often brood, blaming and complaining. They usually chase only trivial goals far beyond the community’s and funders’ expectations.
- Home-based businesses are growing in popularity and have become a large part of the small regional communities. They can be an exciting and unique way to meet the aspirations of would-be business owners and unemployed people in a community.
- In Australia, approximately one million people run a business from home. They can’t all be wrong.
- Many non-profits are uninviting for their employees, volunteers, and supporters. Issues can include image, attitude, planning, management, operations, marketing, poor use of money, and empire-building, all at the expense of the people they seek to serve.
- There is a need to create inviting and encouraging environments attractive to ‘people’. Some small regional communities feel like institutions or run-down government departments, full of bad vibes. Many small regional communities lack real experience, vision, and accountability. They often turn good people away who want to help because they fear being shown up. Others resist change and are risk-averse, with their rhetoric falling way short of their actions.
Start by uncovering your community’s issues.
Where to start
- Gather a small group of interested people.
- Conduct a ‘Community Health Check’. See FAQ Support’s Analytical tools.
- Conduct some small ‘focus groups’ (meetings) to help uncover issues important to community members, individuals, businesses and non-profits.
- Draw up an action plan.
Quotable quotes.
“He who answers before listening – that is his folly and his shame”. Proverbs
“Good buildings are made and made by their settings and are appropriately different in different locations. Climate, culture, topography and materials have helped create regional architectural languages. That seems curiously right for their locations and for all times”. Jaquelin Robertson