connecting communities...creating experiences - phillip anderson
DESCRIPTION
Anderson will discuss how to use themes and key assets to develop "trails" that connect communities and create rich experiences for visitors. The goal is to allow the theme to determine the geography rather than just connecting a group of contiguous counties. Collaboration is the key to successful trail building, so learn how it's done.TRANSCRIPT
Connecting Communities Creating
ExperiencesPhillip Anderson –ReThink!
PlacemakingMaking places people want to live, learn, work & play…
and visit
What all of us long for, I suspect, is to love the places in which we live and to live in places worthy of love.
– Scott Russell Sanders
The 4Cs of Developmen
t
Convene and Converse
What do we want? Why?
Collaborate Who should do it? How should we do
it?
Celebrate That was hard work
and rewarding
Convening Basics
Let the collaboration define the geography and partners, rather than geography determining the collaborative effort
Use a neutral convener so there aren’t perceived agendas
Convene natural parties at first, general audiences second
Convene local, regional, state, and national parties
Convening Tools
Regional and Local Summits
Design Charrettes
Small groups
Focus groups
Rotating meetings in community/region
Specific techniques
Engage existing networks
Conversing Strategy
Invest in the process, the product will come
Focus on “and” not “but”
Invite by appealing to their values and views
Neutral, safe space
Open-ended questions
Hook ‘em and connect ‘em
Celebrating
Celebrate the all the accomplishments
Re-energize the volunteers
Show progress to funders
Enjoy new relationships
Byway Ribbon-Cutting
Why Collaborate
?
Composer Stephen Sondheim says, “Musicals are plays, but the last collaborator is your audience, so you've got to wait 'til the last collaborator comes in before you can complete the collaboration.”
In Tourism and Hospitality, the traveler is our last collaborator, do we give them enough credit?
Collaboration is Ultimate Model
The Continuum
Networking
Alliance
Partnership
Coalition
Collaboration
A Collaborative Framework
Works from the Inside-Out, not the Outside-In
Opportunity agenda, not a detailed plan
Starts from where you are
All about “we” not “me”
A journey, not just a destination
Collaboration is the X Factor
Ideas, not answers, but together we find solutions
Starts with imagination, then pursue funding
Abundance over scarcity— “There’s enough to go around”
You cannot collaborate with those who don’t want to
Cultivating New Circles
Differing Perspectives
When Goals Intersect Collaboration is Possible
Projects
Traits of effective collaboration
Shared visions/Common Ground
Valuing voices, views, and skills
Recognition of each partner’s strengths and weaknesses
Effective communication
Clear leadership roles, support roles, and responsibilities
It is hard work
Goals build, Agendas divide
Trust and transferred trust
Respect and candor
I’m sure glad the hole isn’t in our end!
Coach John Wooden ~Wisdom of Collaboration~
“It takes ten hands to score a basket.”
“The main ingredient of stardom is the rest of the team.”
CreatingExperienc
es
The geography of somewhere. – Scott Russell Sanders
Liberty
Tourism “and” Experiences
Tourism A community’s outward expression of its
place If visitors don’t come tourism doesn’t work It’s about them!
Experiences A community’s inward expression of its
place Designed for residents and visitors alike It’s about everyone!
Why Experiences?
“Consumption of goods” to “Consumption of Experiences” (Robinson and Godbrey)
Emotional and intellectual
Provides content and context
Can’t get it through a windshield
Authentic people in authentic places
Experiencing Great Places
• It’s not Orlando or Gatlinburg. It’s better!
• You already have a theme park...
• Your streetscapes • Your natural lands• Your cultures• No one else has these same
gifts• Be yourself first • Satisfy your residents, then
visitors
Experiencing Great Places
• It’s not Orlando or Gatlinburg. It’s better!
• You already have a theme park...
• Your streetscapes • Your natural lands• Your cultures• No one else has these same
gifts• Be yourself first • Satisfy your residents, then
visitors
Wayfinding and Wayshowing
Wayfinding is the problem solving that travelers do to successfully follow a route and arrive at their desired destinations.
Wayshowing is the assistance--travel directions, maps, and signs--which byway providers offer to travelers so that their wayfinding efforts can be successful.
Revealing Experience
s• Lower-cost, local and
authentic experiences driven by local needs
• Better, not bigger
• The job is not to ‘plan’, but to reveal
–Benton MacKaye famed architect of
the Appalachian Trail
Connersville
Richmond
Stimulate Community and Economic Growth
Create and connect a cluster of TARCH assets/people
Place-based business development
Great experiences are shared word-of-mouth
Positioning people and organizations to succeed
Critical mass for local and regional efforts
New community language
Successful collaboration contributes to successful
community
Preserving our heritage
Leveraging our existing assets
Developing within community goals
Energizing home-grown economy
Spurring community and regional progress
Building momentum
Sustainability
Does it need to be sustained?
Who will step up to assume or accept stewardship?
Will the collaborators stay engaged?
Is a new organization required?
Is there an existing group to shepherd the project?
Where do the resources—time, talent, treasure — come from?
Mission
To serve as a gateway to the Whitewater Valley:
• Preserve, protect and enhance regional assets
• Improve capacity for economic growth
• Entertain, engage, inform, educate
• Improve quality of life in the Valley
Fitting in the Byways Box
Hagerstown to Lawrenceburg (single route)
Single route with highway signs denoting byway
Only canal-related assets Ten communities in four
Indiana counties Traditional tourism
Doing Outside the BoxThe Valley Approach
Primary route – Hagerstown to Lawrenceburg (state-designated)
Three Loops & Three Spurs
28+ Communities
6 Indiana and 2 Ohio Counties
Sister Byways/Connecting Byways
All the assets, not just the Canal’s
Experiences for residents and visitors
Valley’s Trail Experiences
Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway
All-American Road U.S. 40 Old National Road Byway
Ohio River Scenic Byway
Underground Railroad
Morgan’s Raiders Trail
American Discovery Trail
Indiana Wine Trail
State Parks
Cardinal Greenway
Historic Pathways Scenic Byway
Presidential Pathways Scenic Byway
Recreational trails Whitewater Canal Trail Whitewater Gorge Trail National Road Heritage
Trail Aurora-Lawrenceburg Trail Whitewater Memorial Park Brookville Lake
Other Connections
•Automobile Heritage Trail
•HS Basketball Trails
•Churches/Architecture
•Historic Bridges/Cemeteries
•Antique Shopping
•Train depots and railroads
•Orchards and farm markets
•Artisans (specific/general)
•Early Leaders/Governors
•Breweries, Industries
•Museums
•Culinary/Food
•Scenic Byways
•Bike Trails and Birding
Recreational Assets
Dirt Track Racing
Kayaking
Fishing/Boating
Water Skiing/Tubing
Canoeing
Camping
Hiking
Ultralights
Snow Skiing/Tubing
Biking
Trout Fishing
Horseback Riding
Team Sports
Cross-Country Skiing
Cross Country Vehicles
GolfingKent’s Harbor, Brookville Lake
ConclusionIf we get them from where they are to where we are and they have a great experience in the process, we all win.
Connecting Communities… Creating Experiences
Phillip G. Anderson
CEO/Chief ReThinker1627 Springmill Ponds Circle • Carmel, IN 46032
Telephone: 317-844-7346 • Cell: 317-294-2775
Community Development • Servant Leadership • Planning & Facilitation