And the Winner is . . .

If you have ever read, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, you know the book is about the attitudes that sabotage a community’s success, and how to overcome those attitudes. The book is full of real life stories about what people and communities have done to themselves, and the consequences produced, but it is also about what to do if you want to find a path to success.

We have been watching newspapers around North America for stories and models of community success. Of course, we have also found some nifty examples of ludicrous things people and communities have done to undermine themselves. We have designs on adding a spot to our website (13Ways.ca) that showcases successes from which communities can learn. We have also considered adding a monthly Community Darwin award to showcase what not to do. Next year we will incorporate those changes.

However, throughout this year we have found some pretty stellar examples of pathways to success, as well as some awfully depressing examples of how to kill your community (as always, the guilty shall remain nameless). So, without further ado . . .

The Award for Pathways to Success goes to:

Winner: Craig and Moffat County, Colorado. The leadership of Frank and John was what got the ball rolling, but it was the collective desire to turn plans into coordinated action that has built such momentum going into 2017. The councils realized the future of the communities was not just up to elected leadership. They realized it would take an entire community to succeed, so they gathered leadership from every corner of the community. They prioritized their plans into a tactical strategy, and they are working together, not on their own plans, but in a coordinated effort to maximize the benefit to the entire community. It takes mature leadership to move from ‘what’s in it for me’ to ‘what’s in this for us.’ We enjoy watching the new successes they experience every week because of that initiative. Congratulations.

Honourable Mention: Flagstaff Intermunicipal Partnership. It takes a lot of work to bring folks together, but imagine the collective leadership it takes to bring together nine municipal partners. The issue is that the communities, and the region, are concerned about their future. They have worked on many shared service agreements throughout the years, but they don’t want to only focus on creative ways to continue to provide services with a shrinking tax base. They want the region to grow with new families and businesses. Its a beautiful place with ample opportunity, and it should be growing. Going into 2017 they will be exploring structural changes focused on what turning the region into one municipal government would look like. They believe that it may be the next necessary step to focus them on building a prosperous future, instead of only fighting to hold on to what they have. That takes guts and leadership from each community. Its an amazing feat, and 2017 will be a pivotal year for their initiative. Congratulations on the work you have done so far.

The Darwin Award for Community Destruction goes to:

Winner: The Community Critic. He led the charge against an amalgamation vote that would unite five neighbouring communities under one banner. The intent was to make them work together and think bigger. He got his way and it never happened. But then, he demanded the province come up with a new idea that would get them to work together. Yes, he fought and criticized the first initiative by the province, then demanded the province come up with a new idea that would make them cooperate, but he has offered no solution of his own. He is only there to criticize, condemn, and complain. His last round of criticism was that I should invest time to come up with a solution for his community. I live 3000 miles away and I have no property, contract, or stake in the community, but he thought I should volunteer to solve their challenges. If only he had read the book, 13 Ways to Kill Your Community, he would have seen himself in Chapter 13 – Don’t Take Responsibility – and might have thought twice about what he said. Actually, that’s probably not true. It’s not his responsibility and never will be. He is just there to be a critic and assign responsibility for his community’s success to everyone . . . but himself. Congratulations, Sir. You are the Community Darwin Award winner of 2016.

Honourable Mention: The People That Opposed Trees In Their Neighbourhood. Who doesn’t love trees? They are natural. They are beautiful. They increase property values. Not according to some folks, however. The park across the street from their neighbourhood was rather sparse, so city workers showed up to plant some trees. You would think that would be a good thing, but instead local folks stopped them and demanded the trees not be planted. The reason? Too many kids would be promiscuous or smoke dope behind the trees. It would ruin the neighbourhood, they argued. I guess if we just remove all the trees it would stop teen pregnancy and illicit drug use. If only it was that easy. Congratulations, Anti-Loraxers, you didn’t win the big prize this year, but you certainly are managing to find constructive ways to sabotage your community.

And there you have it, folks. The community winners . . . and losers . . . for 2016. We look forward to working with so many more communities around North America this coming year, as they try to ensure success. We know there are many challenges that can make it difficult for your community, and we applaud you for showing leadership and not letting them deter you. We have a lot of experience, and a determination to help you succeed that matches your own. So, if you run into trouble and want to turn it around just give us a call. We know . . . There’s Always A Way.