Transcript Community
Against All Odds: Rural Community in the Information Age Why a place that consciously maintains community functions as a community. dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Hans Bahrdt once described a ruralite as someone who when lost in a large city and compelled to ask directions of a stranger, also feels compelled to explain why he needs to get where he is going and why he became lost in the first place. -Against All Odds (p.30) dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Against All Odds A look at how a community in the rural northwest can survive in modern America. What is “community”? Are we losing it? Should we even be using it? dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Introduction • Formal town meeting to discuss possibility of consolidating with another local school • Community tension about the merger Introduction Context Framework Agriculture • School as a cornerstone—creates community identity (mascot, school pride, instilling community values, etc.) • Most residents don’t want consolidation because the other school doesn’t “measure up” to Bremer’s Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Town decides to go through with the merger through an efficient, informal process by which community members discuss pros/cons of issue • Main reason for decision was the benefit to the school budget— residents put aside personal opinions for community benefit dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Context Bremer, Washington — fictitious name to preserve identity • Town population of about 1,000 Introduction • Informal town boundary of about 15 miles in each direction Context Framework • Agricultural-based economy (wheat) Agriculture • Strong local service infrastructure Main Street Community •Much like any other rural town Social life Synthesis •Stable population through the years •Average adult age: 53 •Average household size: 2.4 •Not a “poor” rural town—contradicts national trend •Historically an agricultural town •Now a service center for area agricultural producers dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Context… • Inland northwest community in Palouse Hills • Deep soils formed from loess deposits from glaciated period Introduction Context • In Columbia Basin, between Columbia and Snake Rivers Framework • Economically connected by series of dams & locks along rivers Agriculture • East of Cascade Range “rain shadow” Main Street Community Social life Synthesis Map adapted from: Against All Odds p. 11 dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Context… Introduction Context Framework Agriculture Main Street Community Social life Synthesis All photos: Against All Odds p. 15,17,19,21 dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Framework al·tru·ism : unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others Introduction Altruistic society : a society whose individuals are willing to make individual sacrifices for the benefit of the community. Context Framework Agriculture Main Street Community • In the 1950’s, sociologists unofficially declared “community” defunct in the wake of industrialization, urbanization, and suburbanization Social life Synthesis • Broad trends of vertical ties replacing horizontal ties • Bremer community extends about 15 miles in each direction “You can tell when you’re in it, because people recognize car and start waving…” -Against All Odds (p.26) your • What is an appropriate framework for understanding community change? dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Framework… Introduction Context Framework Agriculture Main Street Graph: Against All Odds (p.29) Community 3 Eras of Social and Economic Organization Social life • Community Control Era: difficult to distinguish between Synthesis public/private life, lack of regional transport, labor-based economy, small town size, dom. source of info was family & friends • Mass Society Era: industrial revolution, assembly line, mass produced, products designed to meet average consumer needs, increased transport, market globalization hurt diversity of rural economy, dom. source of info was local radio & television • Information Age: information substituted for time & energy, downsizing through automation, ag commodities grown in mass quantities targeted at specific markets, few non-computer jobs, main source of info is national & international media corporations dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Framework… Bremer is a combination of all three eras Introduction Context • Community Control — community members care about how others perceive their actions, most personal business conducted in the town is public knowledge, network of family & friends moves information quickly and efficiently Framework Agriculture Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Mass Society — scale and lack of diversity of crop production, governmental control through federal farm subsidy programs, market globalization • Information Age — ability to make real-time decisions about farm management, easier to comply with subsidy program regulations, established producer—consumer links (niche markets), wireless transfer of information, use of technology to automate processes (not full accepted in Bremer—resistance to change) dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Framework… How Bremer is Wired…(and not) Introduction • Satellite television Context • Global agricultural market Framework •Futures Agriculture •Sale of physical commodities Main Street Community •Farm implement technology Social life • Digital communications Synthesis •Cellular phones •Personal / Business computing • Environmental practices: Bremer farmers display unwillingness to try newer, environmentally-sensitive farming practices without opportunity for economic return. Authors often comment on the signs of topsoil erosion evident in the area around Bremer. dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Agriculture The Reconciliation of Making a Living, the Government, and Way of Life Introduction Context • Older, Traditional Ways vs. Newer, Modern Practices Framework • Traditional farms were more diverse, neatly fenced Agriculture • Modern farms produce homogeneous crops, farms directly tied to government subsidies for supplemental income, unfenced “to let the machines have a little room to turn around…” • Farming directly depends on climate: temperature, rainfall, type of rainfall, etc. Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Farming practices and sporadic weather patterns cause massive amounts of soil erosion—seems to be of little concern to local farmers—ironic? • Aesthetic qualities of grain fields • Harvest lasts about a month and is busiest time of year in Bremer • Farmers use hedging/futures to maximize profits—ability to sell commodities in ”real-time” dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Main Street • Well-rounded mix of goods & services • Traditional rural character Introduction • Businesses don’t compete with each other Context • Some town residents want businesses to expand hours Framework • Residents express desire to maintain traditional business district (95% shop locally), and also a desire to participate in mass-society with its large variety of goods and services Agriculture • Bremer Bank: locally owned, all customers use same window, customers know bankers personally, accounts by name—not #, loans discussed publicly—apply at counter Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Hartford Grocery Store: dry goods & meats, no drugstore items, most customers on charge account, computer ordering—niches • Bremer Hardware & Implement: 4 stores in area, franchise of nat’l chain (overhead), computer ordering, know customers & their equipment, cost $80,000 for updating store modems for ordering • Bremer Insurance Agency: community coffee pot—2 downtown coffee breaks a day, conducts vehicle registrations, 50% of town residents have insurance here, lack of younger residents buying dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Main Street… Introduction church Single family residential Context grain elevators church Framework Agriculture church Main Street school Community Social life TV/phone Synthesis Café/tavern Community club Railroad Skeet range old farm equipment dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Main Street… Introduction • Bremer Telephone & Cable TV most affected by Information Age and technology, digital switching, touch-tone dialing, computer billing, long distance access, call forwarding, speed calling, conference calling, mobile phones, paging • Bremer Café & Tavern: café by day / tavern by night, no one drinks during day, usually closes by 7pm Context Framework Agriculture Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Requirements of doing business in Bremer: •outside businesses find it hard to be accepted by residents •businesses are concerned what the town will think •community is the driving force guiding the conduct of business dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community More Important than Government: The Community Club Introduction • County seat many miles away Context • Community Club handles most local infrastructure Framework • Originally a gun club with skeet shooting range (60 yr) Agriculture • Small 24x36 green building on outskirts of town Main Street Community • Informal movement to Community Club Social life • What does the club do? Synthesis • Discuss community needs outside legal constraints • Almost all community interests represented • Community “elders” discuss different issues • To an outsider, it appears as a social event • Community Club binds community across political lines (city limit), • Conscious effort knitting town and country • Expanded resource base dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community… • City Council meetings held in library on Main Street • Informal decision making process involving face to face contact with involved parties Introduction Context Framework • Person-based—not legal-based Agriculture • Council contacts any families involved in decisions Main Street • All decisions are public Community • Voted not to apply for federal sewer grant—cited Mt. St. Helens cleanup: did it on their own w/o hassle of federal bureaucracy and saved $10,000 Social life Synthesis • After council meetings, members move to café to informal town meeting to explain decisions to residents dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community… Gender Introduction • Men make most decisions concerning town business Context • Women’s roles beginning to change Framework • Many women handle farm finances, lobby agricultural markets Agriculture • Men in town go on 2-week elk hunt every Fall • Change bringing tension to community •women seeking principal job in school Main Street Community Social life Synthesis •seats on city council •not the Community Club • Stress at home: “Where’s my dinner?” dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community… Medical Care Introduction • Seen as a community need—89% community support Context • Residents put up interest-free loan in $1,000 per resident increments to help new doctor pay for home & practice Framework Agriculture • Residents understand necessity of having a town doctor Main Street • Old doctor was on call 24/7 for 30 years Community Social life • Job not appealing to potential doctors: low pay, long hours, geographic isolation Synthesis • Helicopter transport allows better access to modern health care in regional centers, but conflicts with town doctor’s role as primary care giver dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community… Education: No Dropouts and a Winning Sports Program Introduction • Teaches value first, academics second Context • Merger with neighboring school—regional rural school decline Framework • School has control ties outside community (vertical) Agriculture Main Street • School embodies tradition and history of community Community • Individual interaction between teachers and students Social life • 25% of town residents have post-high school degree Synthesis • Most residents believe school taxes should be handled locally— most would give more • Parents want geographic proximity to school • Sports play a large role community—achievement • Many students moving out of Bremer after graduation • Stress in school from competing with outside schools dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Reviewing last Thursday… Introduction Context What is “community”? Framework Agriculture Main Street Bremer, Washington—small agricultural community in northwest Washington state Community Social life Synthesis Rural communities must adapt to changes in society while maintaining traditions and community values dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Community… Religion Introduction Context • Methodist, 1st Christian Church, or the Gun Club Framework Agriculture Main Street • Main function is to teach children values Community Social life Synthesis • Changing role of religion in society • Transient nature of modern ministers doesn’t allow time to get to know townspeople and their needs • Cooperation among churches for Vacation Bible School • Religion is important—but not a guiding force in everyday life dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Social Life Introduction • Waving at each other on the road Context Framework • Pros/cons of everyone knowing everything about everyone else Agriculture Main Street • Being born into the community has it’s privileges Community Social life Synthesis • Age hierarchy in community • Only minor social differences within community • Safety in knowing the whole town dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Social Life… Introduction • Tension created from shopping/spending locally Context Framework • Low cost of living in town attracts low income housing market— ”outsiders” who don’t know community norms and values Agriculture Main Street Community Social life • What about community perception of “undesirables”? Synthesis • Agriculture’s technological advances disrupted social life in Bremer • Annual livestock show , parade and fair provides time for community-oriented celebration dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Synthesis… Bremer’s actions and interactions can only be explained by community Introduction Context Framework Indicators: Agriculture Main Street • Public amenities (pool, golf, fairgrounds) built and maintained by volunteers Community Social life Synthesis • Competing businesses help one another and avoid selling identical products • City Council buys from businesses in turn—instead of lowest bidder • Existence of Community Club that oversees community activities dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Synthesis… Indicators… Introduction Context • Bank—pays below-market interest rates, has public loan process, yet maintains customers Framework Agriculture Main Street • Retention of medical services for community by collectively purchasing doctor’s home and office Community Social life Synthesis • Social event invitations spread quickly and efficiently by word of mouth • Rejection of federal assistance in favor of solving own problems dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Synthesis… Reasons for Bremer’s persistence: Introduction • Geographic isolation preserves Bremer’s society Context • Well-rounded community base—all needs met Framework • Role of Community Club is crucial—a means for consolidating town and country resource base • Combination of factors: Agriculture Main Street Community Social life Synthesis dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Synthesis… Manufacturing Community Introduction Context Framework • More than a list of developer concerns Agriculture Main Street • More than design guidelines and planning regulations Community Social life Synthesis • Bremer community is impossible to manufacture • A combination of history and traditions based on family values • Development should build foundations for community—not try to provide an end result dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03 Synthesis… Why communities survive • Survival is based on community’s ability to adapt to changes in society • Balance of maintaining horizontal & vertical ties Introduction Context Framework Agriculture • Maximizing potential resource base — community does not have to stop at city limit sign • Altruistic population: willing to commit individual time and resources to reach a collective goal Main Street Community Social life Synthesis • Ability to utilize best aspects of societal trends • Desire to maintain community Reference: Allen, JC & Dillman, DA. Against All Odds: Rural Community in the Information Age. Westview Press. Boulder, Colorado, 1994 dave mccorquodale.plan740.fall 03