August 18, 2010
The last time I entered a
post was more than a month ago. That’s
good news in this case. It means I have been very busy supporting the interests
of community. I am making new contacts every day with people who want to know
more about how to extend community around them.
More and more, organizations and companies are asking what they can do
to be involved and as I explain the simplicity of community I frequently get a
question like “but how do you get traction – how do you get it to work?” Just
today someone from a company said “Our people won’t get this.” You know what? I
agree – conceptually. We rarely THINK
about community (a concept), be we constantly LIVE it (a reality). The only way
any of us will “get” community is by seeing it in action, seeing the reality of
it, which is why stories and champions are so important. A story of a wonderful
example of community becomes a blueprint of reality that others can
follow.
Which brings me to champions.
Every organized group of
people has at least one community champion. This is a person who has a passion
for bringing people together to enjoy each other. I’d guess roughly 5% of all the people in
every group are community champions. And
these champions are THE key for reviving or reinvigorating community in America.
So here is yet another tab
to this website “Community Champions.” Please help me identify them. I am in the process of devising ways of
finding, acknowledging, thanking, rewarding, encouraging, and extending the
influence of community champions. I think that may be THE starting point of
enriched community. More to come…