What kind of community do you want to live in? What does communication look like in this community? These were some of the questions discussed at the second Be Here Quarterly held at the end of June at the Franklin Industrial & Commercial Development Authority (FICDA).
Attendees brainstormed how we can best communicate about events, ideas, and opportunities in our area. One way this type of communication can be fostered is through positive, civil communication.
We’re all working together towards the same goal of helping our area thrive, so why not be positive with one another? Sometimes that is simply changing your tone of voice or kindly speaking to a neighbor about an issue or, as one attendee suggested, leading by example.
Seeking information can also be a challenge. At times, it can be difficult to find what you’re looking for, which may lead to frustration and assumptions that organizations or community members are not trying to share information. Although there are often new ways to spread the word, sometimes people do not have the time or resources to do those things.
The responsibility lies on individuals to seek out information, whether it’s being aware of flyers around town, visiting a community calendar online, or calling to ask questions. The group also discussed, though, how information can reach people who do not have access to the internet or a phone.
A central communication “hub” was also talked about at Be Here Quarterly. Many organizations have their own calendar or news page, but is there a way for this information to be accessible in one place?
While we didn’t solve all of our communication challenges, we had a productive conversation that brought up many ideas and built awareness about what currently exists in our area.
We will continue our community conversation on Wednesday, September 25, at 5:30 p.m. at Klapec Trucking Company in Reno, where we’ll specifically talk about “Collaborating Across Communities.”
Be Here Quarterly is open to any community members in the Venango Area. Register here.
