550 plus! Is it time for OS NOW?

[Joelle Lyons Everett]

Elena--

Your proposal reminds me of the Mason County Idea Fair.  The first 3 meetings
were not really a fair, but an annual meeting for the community to talk about
issues and choose some priorities.  For the fourth Fair, we opened with a
fair for all local NGOs and service clubs to exhibit their work.  Then we had
discussions--not Open Space, but quite good anyway.

We started with no money, and when the planning committee disbanded after
five years, we had $12 left in a bank account.  We chose a banker, and when
we needed funds he asked for donations from businesses, but mostly we just
had in-kind donations of paper, photocopying, mailing, meeting space (in the
high school cafeteria).  A community group with a food-services license
prepared box lunches, and participants paid a small charge for lunch.  No
fees for anyone, and I donated flipchart paper and pens.

We were always able to have what we needed, and many people felt a connection
with the project because they had made some contribution to it.  In fact, on
the first meeting we asked so many people to help that we thought that if no
one else came but the helpers, we would have a good group for our
discussions.  But people did come, and the project had a good impact in the
community.

So I think it can be done--with or without money.  And no time and energy
going to meeting the requirements of a grant!  Doing the project without a
fee does not put bread on your table, I know, but it does help to make your
work known close to home--not always easy to arrange.

So I wish you well (and I like your OS theme!)

Joelle

*
*
==========================================================
OSLIST at LISTSERV.BOISESTATE.EDU
------------------------------
To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options,
view the archives of oslist at listserv.boisestate.edu,
Visit:

http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html