Whitehall, MT

Is the idea of a new board for community development under the Whitehall City Council a good one?

The Horizons Steering Committee thinks so. Here are our reasons:

1. Once a vision is developed and adopted, it makes more sense for the ongoing, permanent and easy-to-find city council to be the keepers of that vision.

2. The Horizons steering committee is not a permanent entity, but we hope that the forward momentum generated by the Horizons efforts will be a permanent part of the community, and this board could provide leadership and direction.

3. People know where to find the city office, and there is a person there who answers the phone.

4. Grassroots change efforts have to go through the city anyway. This board might actually streamline the process.

5. If we carefully plan the seats on the board, we could gather an incredible amount of wisdom and resources in one room on a regular basis, and help groups so their projects could run more smoothly.

6. There is a planning board in Whitehall, but it doesn’t cover things like developing swimming pools, skate parks, walking trails, farmers’ markets and walk-a-thons. This board would provide a organization where people with ideas and energy could go for information, help, and contacts to like-minded individuals.

7. If there is no one to see that the vision is adhered to, why bother with a vision statement at all?

We want your comments: good, bad, or indifferent!!! Post a comment! It’s your community!!

The new class “Communication for Civic Change” is off to a successful start! We are in module III of the LP curriculum, and the students seem to be enjoying themselves as they learn about themselves, each other, and community leadership. This offering is a direct result of the Horizons Project in Whitehall, and we have great long-term hopes for the outcome!

The course is taught by Holly Harper, and there are 20 students enrolled.

Welcome to the Whitehall Community Blog! It is our hope that the progress, challenges and victories of the Whitehall Community will be recorded in the blog as long as it remains a useful tool.

While the Horizons Project is underway there are some minimum requirements that must be met in order to satify program guidelines. There are no limits, however, and the community can use this blog in whatever ways are useful, and for however long anyone is willing to maintain the site!

If you want to be on the blogging team, post a comment and I’ll get back to you and walk you through the not-very-painful process. We need more team members!