Kooskia, ID

Not long ago I attended what was billed as a “Kooskia Visioning Rally” to which all Kooskia residents and nearby neighbors were invited. The stated purpose of this rally was to arrive at a shared vision of the future of Kooskia and everyone was encouraged to participate. Almost 100 people attended and a “vision” was arrived at. It’s understood that such a vision is a flexible concept, open to adjustment and amendment as conditions and awareness change, and what’s now called the Kooskia Horizons project has taken up work on effecting that vision.

Immediately following the rally I made an effort to bring the idea of that visioning and the subsequent Horizons project up in conversations with local business owners and friends who hadn’t attended the rally. Along with some refreshingly positive feedback, I was surprised to hear some quite negative comments from several folks.

In particular, some claimed they’d examined the literature passed out at the rally and listened to the presentation and recognized certain “catch phrases” common to organizations intent on community, national and/or world domination. Additionally, they declared that the foundations supplying the seed money for the rally were themselves probably(!) funded by the above organizations. No proofs of these ideas were offered.

I was totally unprepared for these views at the time and didn’t have a ready response. I quickly realized several things, however. I’m sure there are individuals and groups who fantasize, if not plan, for dominating others. On the other hand, if there really were sinister machinations in this case, the perpetrators violated a strategy basic to domination: divide and conquer.

It’s true that our world faces many challenges, many threats. It’s also true that we each need to maintain a healthy skepticism and apply a bit of discernment in making judgments. Another good tool, to me, is examining “what is” right along with “what might be.” Yes, an Australian fellow served as master of ceremonies at the original Visioning Rally. In subsequent meetings, though, only local people have been involved. In short, rather than divide our community, neighbors are talking and working with neighbors to help bring into being a viable positive future for our community. Furthermore, all are volunteers.

With all of the above in mind, check out the previous blog entries below. Then I hope you’ll come join us at our next Community Potluck and Get-together on Saturday, January 19th, from noon till 2 pm, in the Kooskia Community Center. This will be a gathering of all the smaller groups — people focused on specific aspects of “the vision” — at which we’ll be explaining our particular projects. It’s open to all those in our neighborhood so they can become, or stay informed about the Horizons program too.

Again, please consider joining us. At the very least, you’ll see who has been involved and hear what we’ve been thinking and doing. Perhaps you’ll have ideas we overlooked!

David Bearman
Tahoe Ridge

This 8 member Action Team will be involved with the following issues: Lack of Living Wage jobs; Business and Service Directory and the Community Bulletin Board. By June of 2008, we hope to establish an active partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and IdaLew foundation to increase the presence of small businesses in Kooskia, as well as increase the active membership in the Kooskia Chamber of Commerce. We also want to have a Business Market Analysis completed, to identify new businesses that Kooskia needs and determine their sustainability. We will also work with the other Kooskia Horizons Action Teams to complete the Community Bulletin Board and Resource Guide. Long Term, we would like to bring businesses to the Kooskia area that will create an additional 50 jobs.
Kooskia Horizons is slowly overcoming apathy and the defeatist attitude that has undermined similiar endeavors.

This 11 member team is tackling the following issues: Lack of Youth Involvement, Vocational Education, Mentoring, and working with our other Kooskia Horizon Action Teams on the Community Bulletin Board. Our short term goals include Youth Involvement, Nutritional Education for adults & youth, with a curriculum to be established and ready to begin community implementation by fall of 2008, and to have our Community Bulletin Board finished and in use as a community communication tool. Long term goals include a Teen/Youth Center and an Adopt-a-Grandparent program.
Public Awareness and education are two critical approaches to reducing poverty. Youth Involvement will build future leaders!

Our 8 member team on this committee has set some goals, both long and short term. The team would like to have our new Resource Guide be completed and available to the public by June 30, 2008. We also would like to have our new Community Bulletin Board finished and in use as a community communication tool, and we intend to have at least 6 articles in the local news media by the same date. Long term goals include Increased Community Service among the population, Create Positive Recognition for Horizons within the community, start an AM Radio Station, Develop further Historical Literature and information on the area.
Public awareness is critical to community change and community pride. If a person is not aware of the problem, how can they effect change?