- FOR EXAMPLE:The Geary Access Community Centre is an example of a group that took proactive measures to help develop a high quality, committed and well focused committee. This steering group is now well prepared to guide the development , implementation and sustainability of an Access site.
- The Geary Access Community Centre is a unique example of a successful Access site management strategy. The community initiators for this project acknowledged that a critical component for success would be the development of a solid steering committee and eventually the election of a community board of directors. In order to facilitate the development of a "team" approach the group introduced leadership and organization skill training as part of their development strategy. The purpose behind this strategy was based on certain key points;
- Although there was some commitment from community members to join the steering committee there was a distinct lack of experience in managing community based projects. Certain skill areas such as, management, communications, recruitment, strategic planning and finances were underdeveloped within the core of supporters. Accordingly, most members felt overwhelmed and were unwilling to commit to project management without some form of orientation or training.
- The Geary Access Community group realized that the long term sustainability of this project was contingent upon recruiting new members and developing new leaders in their community. Existing community leadership was committed to the project but their time was spread thin with commitments to other organizations. Therefore, new leaders needed to be trained and given the skills necessary to assume responsibility. It was realized from the onset that the steering committee did not want to be reliant on two or three people to run the whole project.
- When looking at the implementation strategy for the Access site the steering committee felt confident in its ability to introduce the computer technology and develop a training strategy for the introduction of Internet and on line use of computers. However, the long term development strategy for Access required a community "vision" and team approach toward development. This required a commitment to strategic planning and strong local management of the project.
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- Therefore, before turning on the computers and before any form of technical training was to begin the group needed to enter into a "capacity" building process. A commitment was made to stabilizing an organizational team and to insuring that they had the "capacity" to manage this project.
- It must be noted that the steering group is now confident in their abilities to " sustain" the Access project.
- " In order to be successful in community development you must be organized and surround yourself with positive people. Your enthusiasm and well developed project implementation plan will attract people to participate not only because it is worthwhile but because there is a sense of progress and true commitment to helping the people of Geary. " - Rick Hutchins
- The steering committee realized that the people will come once they have developed the project. However, the people will stay and become involved if the project is progressing.
- It is important for projects such as, Community Access to be balanced in their approach to development. It is not sufficient to have a training plan and a few interested people to make this project sustainable. Eventually, the start up funding will disappear. There will be a need for a management plan and a strategy for future development or the Access site if it is to progress and thrive in the community. In order to accomplish this there must be a corresponding commitment to infrastructure development and if needed skill development training.
- The long term strategy for communities, such as Geary is to have the Access project grow and become an integral part of the community development process. Whether or not the community succeeds in its development strategy will be up to the participants. However, the community of Geary and its Access Committee has taken the first important step and that is to create the "capacity" for community based management of this initiative
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