Connecting Communities Creating

ExperiencesPhillip Anderson –ReThink!

PlacemakingMaking places people want to live, learn, work & play…

and visit

What all of us long for, I suspect, is to love the places in which we live and to live in places worthy of love.

– Scott Russell Sanders

The 4Cs of Developmen

t

Convene and Converse

What do we want? Why?

Collaborate Who should do it? How should we do

it?

Celebrate That was hard work

and rewarding

Convening Basics

Let the collaboration define the geography and partners, rather than geography determining the collaborative effort

Use a neutral convener so there aren’t perceived agendas

Convene natural parties at first, general audiences second

Convene local, regional, state, and national parties

Convening Tools

Regional and Local Summits

Design Charrettes

Small groups

Focus groups

Rotating meetings in community/region

Specific techniques

Engage existing networks

Conversing Strategy

Invest in the process, the product will come

Focus on “and” not “but”

Invite by appealing to their values and views

Neutral, safe space

Open-ended questions

Hook ‘em and connect ‘em

Celebrating

Celebrate the all the accomplishments

Re-energize the volunteers

Show progress to funders

Enjoy new relationships

Byway Ribbon-Cutting

Why Collaborate

?

Composer Stephen Sondheim says, “Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait 'til the last collaborator comes in before you can complete the collaboration.”

In Tourism and Hospitality, the traveler is our last collaborator, do we give them enough credit?

Collaboration is Ultimate Model

The Continuum

Networking

Alliance

Partnership

Coalition

Collaboration

A Collaborative Framework

Works from the Inside-Out, not the Outside-In

Opportunity agenda, not a detailed plan

Starts from where you are

All about “we” not “me”

A journey, not just a destination

Collaboration is the X Factor

Ideas, not answers, but together we find solutions

Starts with imagination, then pursue funding

Abundance over scarcity— “There’s enough to go around”

You cannot collaborate with those who don’t want to

Cultivating New Circles

Differing Perspectives

When Goals Intersect Collaboration is Possible

Projects

Traits of effective collaboration

Shared visions/Common Ground

Valuing voices, views, and skills

Recognition of each partner’s strengths and weaknesses

Effective communication

Clear leadership roles, support roles, and responsibilities

It is hard work

Goals build, Agendas divide

Trust and transferred trust

Respect and candor

I’m sure glad the hole isn’t in our end!

Coach John Wooden ~Wisdom of Collaboration~

“It takes ten hands to score a basket.”

“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”

CreatingExperienc

es

The geography of somewhere. – Scott Russell Sanders

Liberty

Tourism “and” Experiences

Tourism A community’s outward expression of its

place If visitors don’t come tourism doesn’t work It’s about them!

Experiences A community’s inward expression of its

place Designed for residents and visitors alike It’s about everyone!

Why Experiences?

“Consumption of goods” to “Consumption of Experiences” (Robinson and Godbrey)

Emotional and intellectual

Provides content and context

Can’t get it through a windshield

Authentic people in authentic places

Experiencing Great Places

• It’s not Orlando or Gatlinburg. It’s better!

• You already have a theme park...

• Your streetscapes • Your natural lands• Your cultures• No one else has these same

gifts• Be yourself first • Satisfy your residents, then

visitors

Experiencing Great Places

• It’s not Orlando or Gatlinburg. It’s better!

• You already have a theme park...

• Your streetscapes • Your natural lands• Your cultures• No one else has these same

gifts• Be yourself first • Satisfy your residents, then

visitors

Wayfinding and Wayshowing

Wayfinding is the problem solving that travelers do to successfully follow a route and arrive at their desired destinations.

Wayshowing is the assistance--travel directions, maps, and signs--which byway providers offer to travelers so that their wayfinding efforts can be successful.

Revealing Experience

s• Lower-cost, local and

authentic experiences driven by local needs

• Better, not bigger

• The job is not to ‘plan’, but to reveal

–Benton MacKaye famed architect of

the Appalachian Trail

Connersville

Richmond

Stimulate Community and Economic Growth

Create and connect a cluster of TARCH assets/people

Place-based business development

Great experiences are shared word-of-mouth

Positioning people and organizations to succeed

Critical mass for local and regional efforts

New community language

Successful collaboration contributes to successful

community

Preserving our heritage

Leveraging our existing assets

Developing within community goals

Energizing home-grown economy

Spurring community and regional progress

Building momentum

Sustainability

Does it need to be sustained?

Who will step up to assume or accept stewardship?

Will the collaborators stay engaged?

Is a new organization required?

Is there an existing group to shepherd the project?

Where do the resources—time, talent, treasure — come from?

Mission

To serve as a gateway to the Whitewater Valley:

• Preserve, protect and enhance regional assets

• Improve capacity for economic growth

• Entertain, engage, inform, educate

• Improve quality of life in the Valley

Fitting in the Byways Box

Hagerstown to Lawrenceburg (single route)

Single route with highway signs denoting byway

Only canal-related assets Ten communities in four

Indiana counties Traditional tourism

Doing Outside the BoxThe Valley Approach

Primary route – Hagerstown to Lawrenceburg (state-designated)

Three Loops & Three Spurs

28+ Communities

6 Indiana and 2 Ohio Counties

Sister Byways/Connecting Byways

All the assets, not just the Canal’s

Experiences for residents and visitors

Valley’s Trail Experiences

Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway

All-American Road U.S. 40 Old National Road Byway

Ohio River Scenic Byway

Underground Railroad

Morgan’s Raiders Trail

American Discovery Trail

Indiana Wine Trail

State Parks

Cardinal Greenway

Historic Pathways Scenic Byway

Presidential Pathways Scenic Byway

Recreational trails Whitewater Canal Trail Whitewater Gorge Trail National Road Heritage

Trail Aurora-Lawrenceburg Trail Whitewater Memorial Park Brookville Lake

Other Connections

•Automobile Heritage Trail

•HS Basketball Trails

•Churches/Architecture

•Historic Bridges/Cemeteries

•Antique Shopping

•Train depots and railroads

•Orchards and farm markets

•Artisans (specific/general)

•Early Leaders/Governors

•Breweries, Industries

•Museums

•Culinary/Food

•Scenic Byways

•Bike Trails and Birding

Recreational Assets

Dirt Track Racing

Kayaking

Fishing/Boating

Water Skiing/Tubing

Canoeing

Camping

Hiking

Ultralights

Snow Skiing/Tubing

Biking

Trout Fishing

Horseback Riding

Team Sports

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross Country Vehicles

GolfingKent’s Harbor, Brookville Lake

ConclusionIf we get them from where they are to where we are and they have a great experience in the process, we all win.

Connecting Communities… Creating Experiences

Phillip G. Anderson

CEO/Chief ReThinker1627 Springmill Ponds Circle • Carmel, IN 46032

Telephone: 317-844-7346 • Cell: 317-294-2775

ruralphil@gmail.com

Community Development • Servant Leadership • Planning & Facilitation