Superior Chronicle -- Rebecca Ryan Follow-Up Meeting

IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Thursday, December 11, 2008 - A follow-up meeting to Rebecca Ryan's Next Generation meeting took place at Gogebic Community College yesterday evening. A relatively large crowd of people were on hand for the meeting. Will Andresen, Community Resource Development Agent for the Iron County UW-Extension, lead the follow-up meeting with some interesting observations.

In her presentation, Rebecca Ryan pointed out that there are basically three groups of people living in any given community: natives - who were born and raised in the community, and have basically stayed there; boomerangs - people who were originally from the area, but moved away for a long time, but have now returned; and transplants - people who are not originally from the area, but have opted to move here. Andresen pointed out similarities and stark differences in the way the three different groups perceive and value things.

For example, the three local groups were surveyed following the Ryan presentation. They were asked to list the three most important or "ideal" factors in our location. The natives chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Raise Family; (3) Affordable; (4) Good Schools; and (5) Jobs. The boomerangs chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Affordable; (3) Raise Family; (4) Scenic Beauty; and (5) Good Schools. The transplant group chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Raise Family; (3) Scenic Beauty; (4) Affordable; and (5) Good Schools. Oddly, all of the same top five factors were chosen by each group with one exception. The natives were the only group to place "Jobs" in their top five list. The natives felt that "Jobs" were more important than the "Scenic Beauty" the other two groups picked.

Both the natives and the boomerangs placed "Friends and Family" high on their lists, however, the transplants placed them much lower on their list.

Andresen told the crowd that the community needed to fully understand its strengths and its weaknesses. It needs to objectively examine what we need to do to attract and retain young people in the area. He did a good job showing how differently generations view things. He suggested that the area confront the "brutal facts" head on, and take action on those things we can control.

Issues that are potential roadblocks to progress in the area include: Decades of population decline; Fewer people nation-wide; Aging population; Selective young people (don't chase jobs); Student's not planning on staying -- or returning; and the Community is not perceived as being attractive to young people.

According to the State of Michigan's Cool Cities survey, the top ten things people are looking for when trying to choose a place to live include: (1) Scenic Beauty; (2) Safe Streets; (3) Affordable; (4) Place to raise a family; (5) Good Schools; (6) Sense of Community; (7) Low Traffic; (8) Concern for the environment; (9) Close to friends and family; and (10) Walkable Streets.

Andresen praised the efforts of those who are working to develop trails in the area. He pointed out that many people gravitate to areas that offer hiking/biking/skiing/walking trails etc. He said that those places that strive to be "the best" at something, generally are the places people want to live.

Before Andresen finished his presentation, he separated the crowd into four groups designed to focus on different "plans of attack" to improve the area's efforts to retain and attract people here. The four focus groups concentrated on these issues: (1) Retaining students by better connecting them to the community; (2) marketing and promotion - promoting area's strengths; (3) Strengthening the area's niche - improving those things the area is best at; and (4) the young professionals group.

This reporter tried to eavesdrop on each of the groups. Many very interesting things were being discussed, and it was very difficult for a guy like me to keep my mouth shut. Eventually, I gravitated to the young professionals group -- not that I'm young by any means nor am I professional -- I was curious to hear their perspective since they are the principle focus of Rebecca Ryan's research and the very reason for the series of discussions.

Lily Palmer and Marcy Kusz lead the young professionals group. The group consisted of about 20 people. Their enthusiasm was refreshing. The group seemed to have very much in common. Many of the newcomers to the area said they had a hard time "fitting into the community." They all seemed to feel somewhat detached and many of them felt that they were missing things that were going on in the community. Just as Rebecca Ryan stated in her presentation, several of the group said they don't read the local paper. Ryan noted that young people (and a surprising number of older ones too) get their news online. Lily Palmer suggested that the members of the YP group check out the Superior Chronicle. She pointed out that the Chronicle has established a community calendar where people can hopefully find out what is happening in the area.

The group appears to be very creative, and it seems they are already quite organized. They gathered email addresses and plan on establishing a web presence either through an organized site or through a pre-established webgroup. They briefly discussed establishing a mission statement and other organizational issues. A tentative date for their first meeting has been set for Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 6:00 PM at Indianhead Mountain. The group welcomes any and all young people in the community, and people that are "young at heart." It was suggested that everyone of the YP's that met last night "bring a friend" to their first meeting.

Once the groups had a chance to discuss their issues, Will Andresen brought them back together to report their findings to the other groups. It was very interesting to note that most of the groups seemed to be on the same page. The groups agreed to meeting independently and they also expressed a desire to meet quarterly as a whole.

In the end Andresen and GCC President Jim Lorenson thanked everybody for attending and offered his assistance to any group that needed it. Following the meeting, the general consensus was that the meeting was productive and well worth the efforts of its organizers. The next meeting will be announced.


Ryan Follow-Up Meeting Quite Productive
IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP, MI - Thursday, December 11, 2008 - A follow-up meeting to Rebecca Ryan's Next Generation meeting took place at Gogebic Community College yesterday evening. A relatively large crowd of people were on hand for the meeting. Will Andresen, Community Resource Development Agent for the Iron County UW-Extension, lead the follow-up meeting with some interesting observations. In her presentation, Rebecca Ryan pointed out that there are basically three groups of people living in any given community: natives - who were born and raised in the community, and have basically stayed there; boomerangs - people who were originally from the area, but moved away for a long time, but have now returned; and transplants - people who are not originally from the area, but have opted to move here. Andresen pointed out similarities and stark differences in the way the three different groups perceive and value things. For example, the three local groups were surveyed following the Ryan presentation. They were asked to list the three most important or "ideal" factors in our location. The natives chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Raise Family; (3) Affordable; (4) Good Schools; and (5) Jobs. The boomerangs chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Affordable; (3) Raise Family; (4) Scenic Beauty; and (5) Good Schools. The transplant group chose: (1) Safe Streets; (2) Raise Family; (3) Scenic Beauty; (4) Affordable; and (5) Good Schools. Oddly, all of the same top five factors were chosen by each group with one exception. The natives were the only group to place "Jobs" in their top five list. The natives felt that "Jobs" were more important than the "Scenic Beauty" the other two groups picked. Both the natives and the boomerangs placed "Friends and Family" high on their lists, however, the transplants placed them much lower on their list. Andresen told the crowd that the community needed to fully understand its strengths and its weaknesses. It needs to objectively examine what we need to do to attract and retain young people in the area. He did a good job showing how differently generations view things. He suggested that the area confront the "brutal facts" head on, and take action on those things we can control. Issues that are potential roadblocks to progress in the area include: Decades of population decline; Fewer people nation-wide; Aging population; Selective young people (don't chase jobs); Student's not planning on staying -- or returning; and the Community is not perceived as being attractive to young people. According to the State of Michigan's Cool Cities survey, the top ten things people are looking for when trying to choose a place to live include: (1) Scenic Beauty; (2) Safe Streets; (3) Affordable; (4) Place to raise a family; (5) Good Schools; (6) Sense of Community; (7) Low Traffic; (8) Concern for the environment; (9) Close to friends and family; and (10) Walkable Streets. Andresen praised the efforts of those who are working to develop trails in the area. He pointed out that many people gravitate to areas that offer hiking/biking/skiing/walking trails etc. He said that those places that strive to be "the best" at something, generally are the places people want to live. Before Andresen finished his presentation, he separated the crowd into four groups designed to focus on different "plans of attack" to improve the area's efforts to retain and attract people here. The four focus groups concentrated on these issues: (1) Retaining students by better connecting them to the community; (2) marketing and promotion - promoting area's strengths; (3) Strengthening the area's niche - improving those things the area is best at; and (4) the young professionals group. This reporter tried to eavesdrop on each of the groups. Many very interesting things were being discussed, and it was very difficult for a guy like me to keep my mouth shut. Eventually, I gravitated to the young professionals group -- not that I'm young by any means nor am I professional -- I was curious to hear their perspective since they are the principle focus of Rebecca Ryan's research and the very reason for the series of discussions. Lily Palmer and Marcy Kusz lead the young professionals group. The group consisted of about 20 people. Their enthusiasm was refreshing. The group seemed to have very much in common. Many of the newcomers to the area said they had a hard time "fitting into the community." They all seemed to feel somewhat detached and many of them felt that they were missing things that were going on in the community. Just as Rebecca Ryan stated in her presentation, several of the group said they don't read the local paper. Ryan noted that young people (and a surprising number of older ones too) get their news online. Lily Palmer suggested that the members of the YP group check out the Superior Chronicle. She pointed out that the Chronicle has established a community calendar where people can hopefully find out what is happening in the area. The group appears to be very creative, and it seems they are already quite organized. They gathered email addresses and plan on establishing a web presence either through an organized site or through a pre-established webgroup. They briefly discussed establishing a mission statement and other organizational issues. A tentative date for their first meeting has been set for Wednesday, January 7, 2009, at 6:00 PM at Indianhead Mountain. The group welcomes any and all young people in the community, and people that are "young at heart." It was suggested that everyone of the YP's that met last night "bring a friend" to their first meeting. Once the groups had a chance to discuss their issues, Will Andresen brought them back together to report their findings to the other groups. It was very interesting to note that most of the groups seemed to be on the same page. The groups agreed to meeting independently and they also expressed a desire to meet quarterly as a whole. In the end Andresen and GCC President Jim Lorenson thanked everybody for attending and offered his assistance to any group that needed it. Following the meeting, the general consensus was that the meeting was productive and well worth the efforts of its organizers. The next meeting will be announced.

Ryan Follow-Up Meeting Quite Productive