A Joint Initiative Between     Heart of Wisconsin     Business & Economic Alliance and     Community Foundation of Greater     South Wood County

Home About Us B2B Club Breaking News Contact Donate Events / Programs Feedback Ideas Incubator Industry Clusters Links / Resources Progess Funds Progress Teams Public Art / Murals Publications		Breaking News November 4, 2004 By Gary Rosencrans I would like to respond to a recent letter from Mr. Dennis Mclaughlin regarding efforts to help shape the future of our community. The letter is important because it identifies many of the difficulties that our community must struggle with, whenever someone is bold enough to come together with their neighbors to shape a future for their community. The first and most obvious point to address is the knee-jerk reaction that any effort to make our community better is little more than some wild plot to squander the taxpayers’ money. The very generous dollars that have come or way from civic-minded donors are very dear to our community and spared the city’s treasury. In addition, the Downtown Revitalization Group, as with all who serve on any of the Community Progress Initiative cluster groups, is made up of private citizens who freely give of their time with nothing expected in return than to live in a community that will address our needs and be a place our children wish to live, because they see a future for themselves and their families. Secondly, it is important to acknowledge that another r barrier we must overcome are those who race to be in line to throw rocks at any new idea without bothering to gather facts or getting involved to see what is actually happening. If the latter of these options had been exercised by Mr. Mclaughlin, he would have been aware that we have no illusion nor desire to somehow relocate the type of businesses found on Eighth Street to the downtown area of our community. We are also not prisoners of the past. Downtown areas in communities such as ours are taking on a whole new look and identity. Mr. Mclaughlin also questions why store fronts are not being improved. I can only assume that this question reflects the fact he is unable to get out much. Bauer’s Floor Mart, The Book World and the Mead Witter building are all examples of local businesses taking on just such projects in the downtown area, demonstrating with their efforts and dollars a commitment to our community’s future. These efforts are also evident in other parts of the community. Had Mr. Mclaughlin also invested some of his time in our community efforts, he would have found that many of his suggestions for businesses that might desire to locate in the downtown area are exactly those being currently sought. His additional suggestion that the city concern itself with paving the streets and related matters is also reflective of what we see as the appropriate role for the city. Finally, since we don’t have any out-of-town consultants (lining their pockets) on our committee, we gladly welcome his call for people of common sense who wish no more compensation than the growth and improvement of their community. It is imperative that we recognize that we have a common future and a shared stake in the success of every part of our community. Those Community Progress Initiative volunteers who struggle with issues in agriculture, those who work with tourism issues, and even those who struggle with revitalizing the downtown all work for a common good. Our community is in a transition period and we have two choices. One is to become involved in the creative part of change and work collectively with our neighbors. The other is to not choose this path.
		Copyright © 2004, Community Progress Initiative, South Wood County & Town of Rome