Vote for Your Vision— Four Drafts
Please read the vision statements below, and vote on which you like best. To vote, go to the bottom of this article and click on the light grey “comment” word. A new window will open, and the comment you make will be posted for all the world to see. You have the option of using a name other than your own. We will stop taking comments/votes on November 15th.
The Draft Vision Statements:
A. Whitehall is managing community change by involving citizens in a shared vision of the future. It is a process of developing an inclusive network to increase community capacity that supports a sustainable economy that improves the overall quality of life by promoting innovative approaches to provide a safe living environment with expanded economic opportunities.
B. Whitehall is a vibrant, centrally located rural community embracing change to ensure a safe, high quality of life for all generations. We celebrate our strengths as a diverse sustainable resource-based community of natural beauty nestled in the mountains and will achieve our full potential while maintaining our traditional caring and friendly atmosphere, spiritual strength and positive attitude to provide everyone the opportunity for prosperity.
C. Whitehall is a friendly and caring rural community embracing future change to ensure a high quality of life for all generations. We have a safe and vibrant economy that supports innovative approaches to provide a quality living environment with expanded economic opportunities. Our foundation is embodied in spiritual strength, helping others and maintaining a safe community.
D. Whitehall is an attractive small town that is home to people of all ages who are active in the outdoors and civic life. We are well-known for our unique character, smart planning and ample resources to meet the needs of our residents. Our central location, diverse job and business opportunities and numerous recreational amenities attract our youth back home.
The four draft vision statements listed below were put together by compiling information from:
1. “Whitehall 2010″ visioning work from 1996
2. Horizons Study Circles in 2006
3. 18 community listening session in the fall of 2007
4. Over 100 elementary student drawings
5. Comments that have been posted on this blog site.
Surveys were mailed to all Whitehall residents and all those people who live in a ten mile radius of Whitehall. Those survey results and the comments and votes posted on the blog will be combined to tweak and finalize the vision statement that is brought to the City Council for formal approval.
October 17th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Welcome to the Whitehall Community Blog! If you are a first-time user, here are some things to know:
1. Whatever you post will immediately be visible to anyone who comes to the blog site.
2. The name you choose to enter will also be displayed on your post. You can be yourself (which I do), or you can put whatever you want. Many people who are uncomfortable with using their real name use the name of a family pet.
3. Though the page requires an email address, that address is not visible to everyone. The only people who can see your email adress are the site administrators, in the rare case where we need to contact you for clarification, more information, or whatever. Site administrators as of Oct 17 are Holly Harper, Tara Mastel and Jamie Ballard.
October 22nd, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I really like Vision Statement B. It seems to cover everything Whitehall is now and what we would like to see for our future!
October 23rd, 2007 at 10:52 am
I vote for Vision Statement B. It expresses my sentiment and desired outcome for our community.
October 24th, 2007 at 7:17 pm
I like B as well, though the word “nestled” conjures visions of Christmas lights and cocoa in my mind. (Could just be me. I know.)
October 24th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I like Vision Statement B, also. It is the one that jumped out at me as being the most positive and in line with our values. I like the word “vibrant” being used. In my opinion, Whitehall is currently a vibrant community. But with focused effort, we could make it even more vibrant.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:47 am
I really like the Vision Statement B as well. It wraps all of the wonderful things about our community into a nice neat bow!!
October 25th, 2007 at 10:23 am
Hello…. I like Vision Statement B. It is positive and I like the strong statement on our ’strengths’. Holly, I didn’t even remember the word ‘nestled’…. I had to go back and read it again! Great job!!
October 25th, 2007 at 10:42 am
I vote for #D although they are all good!!
October 25th, 2007 at 10:53 am
I also like B - especially since Holly brought up how it reminded her of Christmas lights!! I am a big fan of Christmas lights!! Seriously, they all are good, but my preference is for B.
October 25th, 2007 at 11:42 am
My vote is for vision statement B. Well done!
October 25th, 2007 at 11:56 am
Vision B has my vote. Describes our community perfectly present and future.
October 25th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
None of the class voted for A.
5 students chose B for the comments on economy and natural beauty. They like the whole thing.
4 voted for C because of “caring and friendly”
9 chose D. They liked “Attractive, recreational amenities, attract our youth back home, business opportunities and ample reasources.”
October 25th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
My vote is B…thanks Harper
October 25th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
I choose B, the whole thing sounds nice, but the word vibrant is really what got my attention.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
I feel that Vision Statement B is the best choice. Thank you for all your time and work. All the vision statements are great and it was hard to decide.
October 25th, 2007 at 4:48 pm
Vision statement B sounds the best to me. It’s the most true and best description of Whitehall.
October 25th, 2007 at 6:03 pm
I’m a vision statement B fan as well… it submits the fact that Whitehall is a small rural community, but also states that we will not let that hold us back from offering everything we can to its residents.
October 25th, 2007 at 9:36 pm
Vision D sounds best, we need people stay stay here or come back when they are out of highschool. Whitehall is an awesome place to grow up I think, I can’t think of anywhere else I want to live.
October 26th, 2007 at 8:03 pm
Just read through these comments. It seems the majority of people here on the blog are opting for option B, but many like option D. I think what’s attractive about option D is the phrase “attract our youth back home.” Maybe we could do some quick snipping and rearranging and include that phrase somehow in option B?
October 27th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I like vision statement B, although I think “nestled” is a little too warm and fuzzy too, A is better in that aspect.
October 27th, 2007 at 10:18 am
I think B is the best one. Vibrant is a great word and it catches they eye and also will help attract wonderful people to our area. I agree with one blogger that “attracting our youth back home, ” should be added, or ” keeping our youth employed and engaged.” would be ok to. Thaks
October 28th, 2007 at 5:44 am
I like statement B, because it gives more explanation how Whitehall is a farming community. It also gives a brief expanation of our geographic beauty. The last sentence is the best, because it states that anyone can come to Whitehall and be successful.
October 29th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
I like B the best. Even though the word “nestled” reminds me of a storybook, people of all ages are included in the idea.
October 30th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I like B the best. It descibes Whitehall as what the community is mainly about. I believe Whitehall could be successful.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
I think that B summarizes Whitehall best.
October 30th, 2007 at 7:45 pm
i think d is what i want to see whitehall become the most
October 31st, 2007 at 9:00 am
I think that B is the best. It describes Whitehall perfectly.
October 31st, 2007 at 9:08 am
i like d
October 31st, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I like B the most. It seemed the best fit and used the best wording.
November 1st, 2007 at 6:16 am
I think B it is the best fit for whitehall.
November 2nd, 2007 at 10:20 am
My vote is D.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:24 pm
I like B, it fits our community the best. This statement reveals the beauty, ethics and thoughts about our community’s present and future.
November 4th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
I like B. This statement reveals the beauty, ethics and thoughts about our community’s present and future.