Comments on: Corvallis Economic Development Allocations and “The Box”

By: Katherine Cleland

Katherine Cleland — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 22:41:18 +0000

Katherine Cleland says:
August 11, 2010 at 3:40 PM

If you are interested in economic development in Corvallis and our area, please email the City Manager’s office (specifically Kathy.Louie@ci.corvallis.or.us) before noon tomorrow, Thursday, August 12, 2010, to express your wish that the City Council act positively on whatever economic development related topic you wish to state and support.

There is a Council work session on Monday, August 16th, 2010, and the Councilors need to know that this is important to you.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to keep economic development on the agenda and moving forward!

By: Todd Washington

Todd Washington — Thu, 13 May 2010 22:17:15 +0000

One big obstacle that faces everyone right now is that most of these organizations, not all but most, have a paid E.D. I am sure that all of them look at partnering as a threat to their jobs. I suppose I would feel a little uneasy too. I also believe in my heart that if I truly felt like I was doing a great job I would be the one to lead the partnership and be less fearful of losing my job. Do any or all of the E.D.’s feel they are doing a great job?

By: Todd Washington

Todd Washington — Thu, 13 May 2010 21:42:51 +0000

Barbara; you got it. The problem we face is that no one wants to put their gloves down first because they think it shows failure. My take on it, is the first organization to step up and say, “Let’s stop the madness and work together!” Is actually going to be showing the community who the real leader is. The question is, whose it gonna be? This holds true to all aspects of our community including festivals, theaters, culture, etc. We have got to start working together.

By: Barbara Bull

Barbara Bull — Thu, 13 May 2010 20:04:31 +0000

I very much agree with Todd and Curtis. My memory is that the purpose of the EVP was to find things for the business community to work on together.

I am a true believer in dialog and building community both face to face and on-line. But Chris, I think that as soon as any group decides to act, they find they need the structure that you mentioned at City Club. And then you become another organization. The challenge is communicating constructively among organizations.

By: Todd Washington

Todd Washington — Thu, 13 May 2010 16:18:20 +0000

Partnerships and consolidation of organizations are scarey topics. People that are passionate about their organization don’t want to give it up. They have spent years and countless hours volunteering to build their organizations. Who wants to give that up to someone else?
When the Chamber merged with EDP one of the first things I told Mysty she needed to focus on was bridging partnerships with CIBA and DCA. Wheteher she tried to make this happen or not is not the issue here. The issue is, that it hasn’t happened and that is why everyone keeps asking for their own money. I am not just talking about the Chamber, CIBA, and DCA.
Partnerships with non-profits that do the same thing under different names, sports organizations that do the same things, and other civic and cultural oganizations need to start partnering up. The pie is only so big and everyone is getting smaller and smaller pieces of it. This will destroy many organizations and weaken the rest.
I am very hopeful that Pop Warner Football’s partnership with the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis can be a model of how to partner organizations to make one program bigger and better for less money. I know I will be keeping an eye on this, because if it works like it should I think we will be able to help others understand and see how beneficial partnerships can be.
I truly believe that pride and loyalty to “our” organization is getting in the way of progress. We need to put away these differences and do what is right for our community.

Wow, I should not have had that extra cup of coffee this morning:)

By: Curtis Wright

Curtis Wright — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:09:25 +0000

Chris: There’s an open spot on the PTF committee for a citizen-at-large member. Care to quit talking and start doing? I’d gladly support your joining the effort on the 6+ year plan.

By: Chris Nordyke

Chris Nordyke — Thu, 13 May 2010 14:31:42 +0000

Curtis,
You and others have spent 4+ years talking about Prosperity that Fits. 4 Years of town halls, committee and board meetings, and thousands and thousands of dollars.

We just started WeLoveCorvallis under a year ago.

There’s value in us talking about what’s worked, and what hasn’t(honestly and candidly), so we know where to put resources when we start “Doing”.

WeLoveCorvallis has not arrived yet. There is still a fair amount of honest questions being answered with press releases and wordsmithed talking points.

As we continue to get past that, people observing the conversations will start to trust, engage and hopefully be ready to “Do”.

Trust comes from candor and transparency. That has to be established before more doing, no?

By: Curtis Wright

Curtis Wright — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:37:22 +0000

Katherine’s got it right guys. Stop talking. Start doing. Quit bitching. Begin fixing.

By: Loyan

Loyan — Wed, 12 May 2010 21:31:49 +0000

I consider dialog, information sharing and idea exchange critical to any decision making process. Both online and off.

Katherine, please excuse me if I come off as personally combative towards you. I am certain you are serving Corvallis’ best interest. There is a great deal I do not understand and I thank you for sharing your understanding and perspective with me.

By: Katherine Cleland

Katherine Cleland — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:47:14 +0000

Do you consider discussing on a blog “participating in ED decision making” … that’s like calling blogging about planning to do a triathalon “participating in triathalon training”. It may feel good to get psyched and to build a support team, but it is really just mental preparation for the hard work ahead.