Notes on Community

a great video of Pidherny

I've been keeping my eye on the PG Cycling Club lately and from what I gather, they totally rock as far as a community group doing it right.

Recently, the PG Cycling Club has been fundraising in order to bring a group into town to advise them and lead workshops in trail building and maintenance. The Club's focus is on Pidherny Mountain Bike Park. Check out the video above for a close look at some of the sections of the park, it's beautiful. As a community coordinator-type person, what I see in the recent work done by this group is that...

1) the club is working together

2) they have established a need (to rework/improve the park) and are working towards a goal

3) they are looking outside their immediate group to the larger community for support

(this is good because the community SHOULD support local groups, it is draining to be constantly asking for $ support from members of a club)

4) they are using lots of social media to get their message out to their club members and community members

5) they have empowered their members to post info, pictures, and videos of the park, club, and other projects

6) they have taken a transparent approach to keeping all community members informed

I think that more clubs, associations, societies, groups, etc. should following the example of the PG Cycling Club. Look outside your club to your community and get them involved in your group. Try a mash-up event, bring different groups together and see what happens. Make your fundraising events accessible and make it easy to help out, make sure that they don't have to be a member to support, and don't forget to thank people!

I guarantee that if you employ even one of the points above right now in your community group, it will work. Community is something you build slowly, so do it with purpose and you will see it grow better and healthier.