With a heavy heart we pass on the news of the passing of former CDS leader Paul Denise in May of this year. He was professor  and  former chair of the Community Development Department at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale.  He co-authored the book,  Experiential  Education for Community Development with Ian Harris. He received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California-Berkeley and served in the U.S. Army.  His wife, Anna, preceded him in death in 1987. He was born October 16, 1925 and died April 21, 2015 in Seattle. His ashes will be scattered in Pugent Sound.

Ron Hustedde was Paul’s former graduate student in the 19070s  at SIU and he wanted to make sure we shared this within our community.

By Gisele Hamm

The Community Development Society Annual International Conference held in Lexington last month truly lived up to its ‘Creativity and Culture’ theme, thanks to the outstanding contributions of the Local Host Committee, artists, presenters, and participants! If you were able to join us in Lexington, I hope you came away from the conference re-energized and excited about the opportunities in the field of community development.  We have posted the Powerpoint presentations, President’s Remarks, and links to photos from the 2015 conference on the CDS website so I would encourage you to check them out.

As the new President of the Community Development Society, I appreciated the ideas, feedback, and words of encouragement that so many of you shared, and am inspired by the desire expressed by many, including our new and international members, to get involved in the Society. CDS is YOUR organization, and member involvement is key to making CDS an enriching and engaging network for the membership.  I would like to encourage every CDS member to join at least one of our committees this year.  Participation in a committee does not require a great deal of time or effort, but is a rewarding experience, a great way to network with other members, and serves to strengthen the Society. Please take some time to review the CDS Committees information and contact the chair of the committee(s) of interest to join.

For the 325 participants who attended the 2015 CDS Conference in Lexington, a conference evaluation form is available here. Your input will provide valuable insight for the 2016 Community Development Society and the International Association for Community Development Joint International Conference to be held July 17-20, 2016, in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA.  Next year’s conference theme is: Sustaining Community Change: Building Local Capacity to Sustain Development Initiatives. The Program Planning Committee and Local Host Committee are already in the midst of conference planning and preparations, and next year’s conference promises to be one you will not want to miss. If you have not already, I would encourage you to “like” the 2016 Community Development Society Conference Facebook page to stay informed of exciting 2016 conference details as they develop.

I look forward to my term as CDS President this year, and would love to hear the ideas, concerns, or comments you might have for the Society, so please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also, I would encourage you to get engaged in the various CDS social media sites if you have not already to network and increase your level of involvement in the Society. We are on Facebook (Public Group (here) / Community Page (here)), LinkedIn (here), and Twitter (here).

Let’s make this the Community Development Society’s best year yet!

The CDS committees provide the leadership and guidance for the society in a number of key areas and offer a great opportunity to become more engaged in CDS. Please look over the list of committees and contact the chair or co-chair for more information on the committee and how you can become involved.

Awards and Recognition Committee

Issues eight (8) annual awards for CDS recognizing volunteer efforts for those who assist the society and recognizes outgoing board members for the society.

·        Co-chair: Craig Talmage, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·        Co-chair: Michael Dougherty, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Communications/Publications Committee

The Communications Committee is responsible for the design and development of communication networks among CDS members and with entities external to CDS. Committee members oversee the content management of the CDS website; anticipate and recommend policy to support communication needs in CDS; prepare and propose an annual budget to the Board of Directors; manage CD Practice, Vanguard, and Community Development; recommend policy regarding the production and distribution of CDS publications; and organize the process of appointing editors, including making recommendations to the board.

·         Chair Printed Materials: Abbie Gaffey, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Co-chair Electronic Materials: Cindy Banyai, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Co-chair Website: Steve Jeanetta, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Ex officio members:

– CD Practice Editor: Joyce Hoelting, University of Minnesota, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

– Community Development Editor: John Green, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

– Vanguard Editor: Cindy Banyai, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Finance Committee

This important committee reviews and recommends policies and procedures for the CDS Endowment, manages the fund-raising appeals to CDS groups, and seeks financial support from foundations and corporations. The committee is also responsible for monitoring the overall financial health of CDS.

·         Co-chair: Tony Gauvin, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·          Co-chair: John Gulick, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International Committee

The International Committee develops strong and productive intercountry communication, research, action, and project links among CDS members and assists in broadening the international participation of CDS.

·         Co-chair: Jim Cavaye, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 ·         Co-chair: Gary Goreham, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·   This committee servers to foster membership engagement by facilitating member-led interest groups.  These groups serve to connect members throughout the year through networking, resource and information sharing, and program development.

Marketing/Membership Committee

This committee’s responsibilities include developing and implementing a far-reaching innovative plan that will nurture and sustain a viable CDS while also adding value to the field and offering many opportunities for networking, skill development, and capacity building of organizations, people, and communities.

·         Co-chair: Cindy Banyai, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

·         Co-chair: Dan Kahl, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nominations and Leadership Development

The role of this committee is to foster democratic process within CDS itself by organizing and carrying out the election of officers according to the CDS bylaws, identifying potential candidates for office, and communicating the opportunities for involvement in the leadership of CDS to the membership.

·         Chair: Whitney McIntyre Miller, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2016 Program Planning Committee

The role of the Program Planning Committee is to build the program for the 2016 CDS Annual International Conference to be held in Bloomington, Minnesota. Keynote speakers and plenary sessions will be determined based on the conference theme, available resources, and in consultation with the Local Host Committee. Concurrent sessions will be selected based on a review of abstracts received in response to the Call for Presentations. The committee will provide support and follow through with keynote speakers, presenters, moderators, mobile learning workshops, and conference sponsors and dignitaries. Mobile learning workshops will be coordinated with the Local Host Committee. Opportunities will be provided for feedback and evaluation of the conference.

·         Chair: Chris Marko, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

2016 Site Selection Committee

Locates potential places for future CDS annual conferences that can provide a peak learning network experience for CD practitioners, scholars, and policy makers.

 Chair: Katie Ellis, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it. – Buddha

At this year’s Annual International Conference in Lexington, Kentucky (USA), we had the privilege to recognize individuals and groups who have given all their hearts to community development work in society today. They epitomize our Principles of Good Practice and serve as models for community development researchers and practitioners today. We congratulate them for their outstanding work for our society and communities and for their remarkability.

For the past 31 years, we have recognized outstanding and innovative contributions to the field of community development. We continue this rich tradition as we recognize nine outstanding programs, leaders, researchers, students, and friends of community development, including two friends of community development. We are grateful for their contributions to the field, and for the supportive networks that they are weaving.

Innovative Program Award

Community Heart & Soul Program, Orton Family Foundation

For a superior innovation program using the Principles of Good Practice. The approach is designed to increase participation in local decision-making and empowers residents to shape their communities based on what matters most.

Learn more at: http://www.orton.org/what-we-do/what-community-heart-soul

Current Research Award

Bruce Schwartau, University of Minnesota Extension Community Economics Team

For a current research project(s) or product that represents an important contribution to the field of community development. This study examined Minnesota retail and service businesses that open or expand after the opening of Wal-Mart Supercenters. 

Learn more at: http://www.extension.umn.edu/community/about/community-economics/

Outstanding Program Award

American Institute of Architects Design Assistance Team

For completion of superior programming that exemplifies and positively influences community development practice. This was exemplified in their program that catalyzes local community development and leads to enormous changes in local approaches by combining community engagement, listening and reflecting, explaining new ideas, and making clear and concise recommendations that respect and reflect community priorities in a way that enables communities to develop frameworks and comprehensive plans.

Learn more at: http://www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS075261

Student Recognition Award

Laurel Goodman, University of Missouri

For being a student who has contributed to community development through a paper, an article, a field project or internship, or other applied research. She is a University of Missouri MPH student whose research is focusing on the evaluation and mixed-method analysis of the Missouri-Illinois Step Up to Leadership Program. 

Donald W. Littrell New Professional Award

Cindy Banyai, Banyai Evaluation and Consulting

For her superior contribution to the field of community development and the Society. This is demonstrated in her domestic and international development experiences and publications. Aside from her fantastic development work in southwest Florida, she is an adjunct faculty member of the Florida Gulf Coast University Department of Public Affairs, where she teaches Global Studies. She currently serves as the Editor of the Vanguard and as a member of the CDS Board of Directors.

For more on her consulting work, visit: http://banyaiconsulting.com/

Ted K. Bradshaw Outstanding Research Award

Ted Alter, Pennsylvania State University

For a significant stream of superior research that exemplifies and positively impacts community development practice and represents a lasting contribution to the field. His work is holistic in nature and demonstrates a seamless transition among teaching, research, and outreach. He applies innovative engagement and democratizing practice to a wide array of social, economic, and environmental problems facing communities across the world. He is a productive and vibrant community development researcher in the field. 

See examples of his record of work at: http://aese.psu.edu/directory/tra2

Community Development Achievement Award

Sharon Gulick, University of Missouri

For her outstanding contribution to community development through teaching, research, programming, and administration. She is a visible, vibrant, and grounded leader. She helped define and develop the University of Missouri Extension’s community economic and entrepreneurial program (ExCEED) that has gone on to partner with more than 20 communities and regional groups identifying assets, building coalitions, and developing strategic plans. She is a strong leader within the Society, Cooperative Extension, and communities in Missouri and beyond. 

See examples of her work at:  http://extension.missouri.edu/exceed/

Friend of Community Development Award

Sister Claire McGowan, New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future

Although she is not a CDS member, she has made a significant contribution to the field of community development. She reflects the continuum of community development and exemplifies our Principles of Good Practice. She is a Dominican Sister of Peace in Kentucky who has made significant contributions to the field of community development. Ten years ago she founded New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future, a nonprofit organization that promotes sustainable thinking and sustainable development in order to ensure a healthy, safe, and productive future for all. She has also launched curbside recycling projects, initiated a community visioning program, trained local and regional facilitators, and mobilized populations around key environmental issues. These are only a few examples of her impact in communities in Kentucky and beyond.

Learn more about the New Pioneers for a Sustainable Future at: http://newpioneersfsf.org

Friend of Community Development Award

Brian Fogle, President of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks

Although he is not a CDS member, he has made a significant contribution to the field of community development. He has a significant presence in community development in Missouri and is actively engaged with many regional, statewide, and national organizations that are focused on the importance of community, philanthropy, and self-empowerment of citizens. As the President of the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, he encourages the foundation and its affiliates to focus on complex issues facing communities and works with individuals and businesses to address them.

Learn more about the Community Foundation of the Ozarks at: http://cfozarks.org/

For more information about CDS’s award opportunities or if you would like a copy of our conference PowerPoint and program, please email Craig Talmage at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and/or visit:  http://comm-dev.org/about-us/awards. Also, a big thanks to Katie Ellis for her previous service as chair of our committee and all our past committee members as well, especially Michael Dougherty, David Barnes, Sheri Smith, and Gisele Hamm. Finally, we leave you with an excerpt from Wendell Berry’s “Real Work” from “Standing by Words”:

“It may be that when we no longer know what to do

we have come to our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go

we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.”

I remember my first day of summer camp. As my mom gripped my arm tight while simultaneously dragging me towards the registration table, I swear that I was definitely going wet my pants. Little did I know that it would be the best week of my life.

***

I first heard about the Community Development Society’s (CDS) annual international conference (hereafter referred to as camp) and the opportunity there to present my work (hereafter referred to as skits) from Rhonda Phillips, who served as one of my advisors at Arizona State University (ASU). She encouraged me to go to camp in Cincinnati, Ohio (2012) and to apply to perform a skit that week. Because of the encouragement of my dissertation advisor Richard Knopf and Rhonda, I registered for camp and submitted my skit ideas.

My first year at camp was a blast. I ate too much bacon at breakfast and way too many chili dogs. Other campers seemed to enjoy my skits. I met a few fun people, and I was able to get to know the friends I came to camp with better. Although I did have fun, I really felt still as a bit of an awkward kid at camp. I had not made many new friends, yet.

During my second year, camp was held in Charleston, South Carolina (2013). This year I applied and received a camp scholarship and presented more skits than the previous year. I got special name tag showing that I was an award winner. I totally began to feel less awkward and kind of like a cool kid. And, I felt like I was beginning to be treated like I was a cool kid. I made more new friends, but I was still unsure whether or not I would actually keep in touch with them.

I was wrong. Sure enough my camp friend Katie Ellis invited to be a junior counselor (she actually asked me to serve on the awards and recognition committee). Prior to my third week of camp in Dubuque, Iowa (2014), I learned the ins-and-outs of camp and took part in some of the behind-the-scenes work.

Week three of camp, I definitely felt like a cool kid. I had responsibilities. I had friends and found individuals who were committed to my development as a person (and I theirs). I even found myself motivated to reach out to newcomers at camp. I even started promoting camp to other friends back at home.

This year was my fourth year at camp; this time we were in Lexington, Kentucky. I was elected to be a lead counselor (well, I was elected to board of directors). I had more responsibility at camp this year. I recognized more familiar faces around the camp. I made more friends, and we definitely stayed up later than we should in the evenings. Together, we dreamed of ways to get even more people to camp in the years to come. And, I still ate plenty of bacon at breakfast. My friends and I left camp reinvigorated to make life (and work) back home better.

This has been my camp (i.e., CDS) experience. I am no longer a Ph.D. student about to wet his pants on the first day of camp. I have discovered my own CDS trajectory.

But, I wonder whether we are empowering other newcomers to our society and conferences (like me four years ago) with a zeal for our society and our work. So, I leave you today not only with my camp memories, but with some questions for us to wrestle with in the coming future.

(1) How do we make our conference less intimidating and more welcoming for newcomers? (We don't want people feeling like they are going to wet their pants)
(2) How do we make all conference attendees feel welcomed and valued? (We all deserved to feel like cool kids)

(3) How we fairly identify leaders and distribute responsibility for our society’s success? (Cool kids tend to be naturally cliquish. Aren’t we all cool kids in our own ways?)

(4) How do we inspire all members to tell others about CDS, in which I also include the nurturing of newcomers at our annual international conference? (Camp is for everyone. It is created by everyone. Everyone deserves to learn and have fun. They should want to tell others back home about their camp experience)

(5) How do we meaningfully keep in touch after the annual international conference? CDS has started new affinity groups, which may be one method. (Remember writing KIT in yearbooks or books from camp; we have to do better) 

I hope you answer these questions for yourselves. I hope you also challenge our CDS leaders to tackle these questions. And, I cannot wait to hear and see your answers at camp next year.

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Community Leaders and their qualities

Diversity in American Politics

By Dave Lamie

As Summer draws near, I hope that you are able to take some time to step away from your normal activities, spend quality time with family and friends, and recharge your enthusiasm for the certain challenges that lie ahead. One of the qualities that many community development professionals share is a certain confidence in the face of a challenge. I would go so far as to say that many even go out of their way to face these challenges, often head-on. If that is you, then be especially sure to spend the time you need to heal your recent battle wounds and restore your energy and enthusiasm for what lies ahead. If you are less inclined to risk, then perhaps this summer will be a time for you to consider what act of courage you will explore for the coming year.

Whether you need to heal and recover, or discover your act of courage, one of the best ways for you to do this is in the company of others faced with the same challenges. Further, one of the best places to find these others is at the annual CDS Conference, this year July 20-23 in Lexington, Kentucky. There you will be challenged, perhaps beyond your comfort zone. There you will find the healing balm you seek to restore your courage to face the challenges that lie ahead with confidence. There, you will gain new knowledge, reconnect with old friends, and find new ones amongst people who share many of your deepest values and professional interests. I doubt you will find this unique group of individuals anywhere else on the planet.

As I wind down my term as President, I am pleased to see CDS doing so well. Our membership is growing, our board is strong, we have a solid lineup of future Presidents, our conferences have been excellent and we have several more great ones in planning stages, and our financial house is in order. All of this did not happen overnight and it could only happen with so many of you stepping forward to play your part, putting service above self. Though the last three years as VP Operations, VP Program, and then President have seen their challenges, because of this great community we call CDS, we were able to face them with confidence.  

I wish you a safe and rewarding continuation of your Summer and  I look forward to seeing many of you in Lexington!   

By Whitney McIntyre Miller

Today I want to introduce you to a new model, which has broad implications for community development.  Coming from the field of leadership studies, peace leadership is a new sub-field that builds upon leadership studies, peace studies, and conflict resolution.  Peace leadership is an emerging area of study, and I am pleased to be working at the start of such an interesting movement.

The model that I have been working on with a colleague is called the “Integral Perspective of Peace Leadership”.  The model builds off of Ken Wilber’s integral theory and focuses on peace leadership as a space to work in four areas collectively: innerwork, or reflective self-development practices; theories and processes, or the mechanisms which we build peace in ourselves and communities; communities of practices, or the collective spaces where we take up this work; and globality of the field, or the broader systemic relationships we have with each other and the environment.  The notion of the model is to build our collective leadership capacity for peace in all arenas of life- both in terms of challenging existing structures and mechanisms of violence and building new structures and societies in the image of peace.

This model is important to community development, as it challenges us to move beyond the valuable work we do in creating robust communities of practice with strong theoretical underpinnings to continue to grow our focus on systems thinking; drawing broader connections beyond the communities with which we work; and also focusing on each of our own innerwork.  Building upon our innerwork, with practices such as mindfulness, meditation, authenticity, empathy, help us to, in turn, build stronger communities, which are then more connected to their broader, surrounding environment.  The model allows us to envision our communities as those comprised of reflective individuals who collectively form a strong focused whole- understanding our shared needs and how these connect with the broader society and environment.  If we can work to build such communities, perhaps we can further challenge the violence of the day and build a world in which we all want to live.  I hope you will explore not just this model of peace leadership, but the broader notions of peace leadership in your community development practice.

Purdue’s University retiring faculty member Dr. Janet Ayres was recently honored by the Indiana Association for Community Economic Development with a new major award at its annual fall conference.  The award, presented by Indiana’s Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, was intended to recognize the recipient of the inaugural John Niederman Rural Development Leadership Award.  According to the October 15, 2014 Carroll County Comet^[1], Lt. Governor Ellspermann said, “For more than three decades, Dr. Janet Ayres has worked to improve the quality of life in rural Indiana by building the skills, knowledge and leadership capacity of its residents. She has worked tirelessly in support of conservation, playing an instrumental role in developing the leadership development program for the Soil and Water Conservation District supervisors.”

“Janet Ayres was an inspiring partner in region-wide initiatives for much of her career, and was a real force in pulling the North Central state extension program leaders together as a team during her stint in that role as the representative from Purdue,” said Scott Loveridge, Director of the North Central Regional Center for Rural Development.  Among her accomplishments is leading authorship of the widely recognized NCRCRD-published “Take Charge: Economic Development in Small Communities” a curriculum that was widely implemented by Extension professional across the country in the 1990s.

Dr. Janet Ayers made a significant contribution to the Community Development profession and the Community Development Society adds its thanks and best wishes on the occasion of her retirement. 

Migration network analysis

Carbon dioxide consumption in honor of Earth Day on April 22

School districts using local foods

Food assistance costs falling

High cost of wetland restoration

Percentage on WIC support

By Cindy Banyai

Lots of members of the Community Development Society have eagerly been sharing job listings with organizations they know in the hopes of bringing high quality and motivated people into the field. Below are some of the most recent opening. 

 By Dave Lamie

By Chris Marko, Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC), Community Development Society (CDS) Vice President of Operations

“The reality today is that we are all interdependent and have to co-exist on this small planet. Therefore, the only sensible and intelligent way of resolving differences and clashes of interests, whether between individuals or nations, is through dialogue.”

 - The Dalai Lama

As Community Developers we understand connections between programs, within communities, the environment. That is one of the fundamental reasons we call ourselves “community developers”. We do not focus on one issue, one program, and try to promote inclusive behavior to solve problems. Still, in our professions and lives we often face the challenge of limits, the need to exclude a particular issue from the dialogue or activity, the focus on a program deliverable for measurable outcomes. How do we balance the multiple values associated with community while maintaining focus on particular facets within community, our work, programs, and issues? CDS Principles of Good Practice can help overcome barriers within communities, programs, and issues to promote greater value in our work.

Listening to be inclusive is an important best practice that helps in community development work I work with small communities on water and wastewater projects. Rural communities often have limited staff, knowledge of programs, funding, and capacity to take on projects. In small towns folks tend to be individualistic, and at the same time, cooperative. Life is at a different pace than larger cities and work involves conversations about many things. It is not common for me to spend a significant amount of time listening and talking about the on goings within the community, stories about certain individuals, what is going on at the state level, how rural communities are left out of the equation. Still, my overall purpose is to help with the water project, but there is much more to the community than just the water project. By embracing the conversation, I am able to build trust, better understand people in the community, what is going on, and how to approach my work.  In addition, I learn about other needs and opportunities to assist the community. Even if I do not have the expertise, I try to find information, resources, and people who might be able to help. This is also another important aspect of being a community developer.

Knowing your program, expertise, or “niche” is important in being an effective community developer. At the same time, knowing as much about other programs and resources is important in providing valuable service to communities. Communities do not operate in a vacuum. They are dynamic, changing, sometimes daily, and programs are becoming more complex. It is rare a project is funded under one source so as community developers we must broaden our understanding of what is available to help communities achieve their goals. A benefit to this involves helping a community to think creatively about how they develop a project. What are some additional benefits a project may have to the community beyond water? Impact on other values. The community capitals framework, as well as other approaches including WealthWorks, promotes an understanding of values: intellectual, social, individual, environmental, built, political, and financial (and cultural depending on the model). By viewing the community in more holistic manner one can consider the potential impact on multiple values, and leverage additional resources one might not have considered with an initial project.

Collaboration is key to moving beyond silos in community development. In recent years funding for programs were cut at the federal, state, and local levels. Many folks lost their jobs, and agencies and organizations were forced to retreat into silos for survival. Keeping current services going became a priority, and many services discontinued. Collaboration and long range thinking became less important than day to day internal operations for many organizations to ensure accountability with programs, deliverables, and specific outcomes related to individual programs to show value to funders. During tough times our tendency may be to retract, but collaboration and partnership building can also have the benefit of opening doors to opportunities. In our modern world of information technology, complexity, and social media, networking is becoming more of the norm. Networks offer opportunities for learning, relationship building, and connectedness essential for communities, and community development. Part of the challenge becomes sorting through which information is most useful, or relevant, to goals you are trying to achieve! As our world continues to evolve through technology and understanding of connectedness we can find a wealth of opportunity at our finger tips, and by collaborating with others who align with our interests.  In community development, that interest involves expanding horizons to support community with dynamic, connected, mutually supportive people. CDS continues to foster best practices involving open inclusive behavior, understanding connections between people, programs, and issues, and collaboration for quality communities.  

Our colleagues at the University of Ireland Galway have a new graduate program to offer, the MA in Sustainable Communities and Development in either a one year (full-time) or two year (part-time ) format. The program combines sustainability studies with community development, planning and social policy. They describe it as: imparting a strong understanding of the significant social, economic, cultural, ecological and place-related concerns and potentials facing today's communities and prepares students to work as effective change agents towards more just and sustainable communities. In an effort to plan for and create more livable, equitable and resilient communities, this Programme equips students with the knowledge and skill-set to become skilled practitioners with transferable skills and knowledge to work effectively in and with community projects and initiatives in a wide range of areas. Please help spread the word about this new program in community development, and see more details at: http://www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/sustainable-communities-development.html. Dr. Brian McGrath can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Great faculty and a fabulous location!

By Dave Lamie

It's hard to believe that the middle of February has already passed us by. A recent notice of a dear friend learning that she has cancer and a colleague who suddenly lost her mother gives me pause. Many of you have experienced similar events either directly yourselves or in relation to family, friends, or colleagues. The more mature we come, the more often these reminders of life's fleetingness and human frailty occur. It as at these times that we may also encounter the power of community to help buoy us up to face the adversities of life.

One of my most memorable college teachers used to deliver a lecture entitled "the plow" to help us reflect on how we would respond to life's challenges. As the mule pulls the plow, it slices through the soil with forward momentum, leaving a clean, weed-free furrow behind. This represents our life when we feel we are making progress and all is going well. But, fields often have rocks laying hidden beneath the surface, and sometimes they are big and firmly planted. Some plows are built on a rigid frame, and when they hit such a rock, they often break, requiring substantial repair. Sometimes they are so broken they simply must be returned to the smelter. Technological advances produced a plow that would spring backward when it encountered the rock. The plow operator would need to stop and reset the heavy spring-loaded mechanism before proceeding. Some later tractor-driven models were similar, but they only needed the operator to stop and reverse the tractor in order to reset the blade. Later versions included an auto-reset feature that would trip the blade back when it hit the rock, but it would automatically reset; no stopping or reversing required.

The question left with us at the end of this talk was "what kind of plow are you"?  How will you respond to the challenges that life brings you. We know that it is part of the human condition that we will face many challenges in our lives. We surely have some choice over how we will respond to these challenges and that we can likely build resiliency and capacity as individuals to help. But, what roles can the community play to help strengthen and build the networks of support necessary for individuals to be more resilient? What can we do collectively that individuals cannot do for themselves? Who are those in our communities that are not benefitting from what the community can provide them? Can a robust community that truly cares for and provides for all individuals expect reciprocity from those individuals who benefit? Can we, as community developers, truly help to create these kinds of communities or is this just too daunting a task?

As we all make preparations to gather at our annual conference in July in Lexington, Kentucky, I challenge you to consider how important it is that we, as community development practitioners, find our own community of interest to help support us in the daunting challenge of, each in our own way, helping to create communities that make a strong and lasting impact on the lives of individuals. Never has it been more important for all of us to have a strong network of friends and colleagues who are bound by a common interest in making this world a better place through making stronger, more resilient communities. We hope to see you there!