The first of five Jasper County Mapping Sessions was held on Wednesday, February 5th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Newton. A diverse group of community members gathered around tables and conversed while partaking of the meal and waiting for the meeting to begin. Each participant was given a binder full of information, statistics, and various pages for this first and upcoming meetings. Much of the information below comes straight from this binder.
As Gisele Hamm, Manager for the Institute For Rural Affairs Western Illinois University began the program, she gave a brief history of MAPPING, including stating a few areas around us who have participated in the program including Dieterich, Mattoon, and Strasburg. She discussed why Jasper County would need a vision and a plan and the importance of strategic visioning for rural development.
Highlights from these slides include: What to Expect from MAPPING
Bringing the county together under a common vision, developing an action plan to assist in making the vision a reality and promoting and encouraging volunteerism.
The first meeting was about where are we now including: a historical timeline, challenges to overcome, assets to build on, exploration of county data, and empowering the group that this is their program. These were accomplished through group exercises as well as reviewing data provided.
To begin, each table collaborated to remember events in the community and when they began, ended, or happened and whether they were positive or negative. Events included: opening and closing of businesses, tornados, power plant events, school programs and highlights, formations of groups and organizations, and the start and end of festivals and annual events.
Once the individual tables had compiled their sticky notes of these, one member placed all of the notes in their appropriate decades. Once completed, each decade was read and people were able to reflect on both the positives and negatives that have happened within our community.
Once this list was read, the statistical profile of the county was discussed by the presenters. This data included information on population, housing, income and poverty, full factors, retail sales and firms, and surplus and leakage.
The next exercise of the evening included completing these sentences on an index card “I love Jasper County but…” and “I love Jasper County because….” Once everyone had completed their cards, the cards were collected and the cards were redistributed as everyone stood in a circle (divided into two rooms due to the size of the group). Each person read the card they were handed. Starting with the “I love Jasper County but…” side.
While most answers were slightly different there were common themes for both statements. I love Jasper County, but not enough jobs, not enough working together, not open to change, not enough community support and high property taxes were reoccuring themes. I love Jasper County because it’s a small town, family, it is friendly and safe, and people help each other out along with other reasons.
Before the session ended, the presenters gave the group homework. People are to come up with goals. They call them big, hairy audacious goals. These are are goals desired in the community to be in 10 to 30 years stated as if it has already been achieved.
The following businesses and organizations have thus far sponsored the MAPPING program in Jasper County: Jasper County, Embarras River Tourism Council, Jasper County Chamber of Commerce, First National Bank in Olney, Dieterich Bank, First Financial Bank, Wad It Up Transportation and DJ Service, Nutech Seed, Jasper County Daily News, Wabash Valley Service Company, Birkey’s Farm Store, Alliance Tractor, The Equity, Newton Knights of Columbus #1704, Brooks Auto Glass, Midwest Tractor Sales.
