Community Building and the first 100 Days

Rich Harwood of the Harwood Institute has developed what he calls a citizenship test of the first 100 Days of the Obama presidency. Rich's writing gives everyone interested in community building more food for thought. You might want to read this blog and maybe take this citizenship test.

Communication Power in Community Building

There is a story that every time a carpenter sees a problem he goes for the hammer. So, every time a communicator sees a problem or an opportunity the she or he generally says, 'how can we get the word out.' In fact, that is something I teach regularly in my Coker College communication classes. Often, those who don't see communication as all that important don't put as much stock into that strategy.

But, today's MESSENGER in Hartsville shows some of the power of communicating to set a mood and a tone and provide, I think, momentum. We like our slogan, "Hartsville, The Art of Good Living," and we like to follow that with the urging to "Expect Pleasant Surprises." Today's paper is demonstrating both of those ideas while showing some of the power of communication.

** The top headline
"$150 million in development"
**adjacent headline
Hampton Inn & Suites coming to Vista area
** Next headline
Delayed apartment complex back on track

And those headlines are joined above the fold by a sports ear that says the HHS baseball team has at least a second place in the conference and a reminder that the 'Anything Butt BBQ Contest' is coming.

Those headlines, at least in one reader, generate some powerful positive emotions. Those are projects that have been discussed for some time and it is great to read they are coming to reality.

But, while on the idea of the positive emotions, the Art of Good Living and Pleasant Surprises as you go below the fold on today's newspaper you see the headline of the Black Creek Kayak/Canoe Festival set for next weekend.

Hartsville is a unique community with a great deal happening nearly all the time. The power of communication, we hope, will bring more people in to help continue this tradition of generating pleasant surprises in all areas of life in this small South Carolina city.

Rich Harwood, The Harwood Institute, has some community building tools that include an assessment of the community he calls Community Rhythms. With communication like we are reading in today's paper we can feel the Rhythm of growth, the Rhythm of Hope.

There is much more -- but for another blog.

Great American Clean Up follows Christmas in April

The city sponsored Great American Clean Up is set for this Saturday, April 25 beginning at Pride Park on Sixth Street in Hartsville. This event is 8 - 1 and they are looking for volunteers -- a tee shirt, work vest and some lunch after the work -- the good feeling for helping build your community you give to yourself.

In Hartsville - 4-25-09

If you follow the above link over the hartsvilletoday take a look at photos of a house being razed on Washinton Street. Progress.

Americorps -- perhaps community builders in training

For most of my life I have considered the idea of mandatory service to the country something that the United States should implement. I think we all owe something more to the country than our taxes. It is often viewed as an expensive proposition and we have never implemented a requirement for universal public service.

So, you know that my feeling is that we all need to give back to our country. That means that you will not be surprised that I find today's action by President Obama to expand Americorps a fantastic policy idea. In fact, over the past couple of weeks I have been encouraging many of the students graduating from Coker to think of a year or two of public service prior to starting their other full-time careers. At Coker College, we encourage our students to find ways to engage the community and I am hoping the expanded Americorps helps recent graduates and others the ability to become part of community building around the country.

It would be encouraging to hear some discussion about the concept of universal service and maybe even the particulars of the expansion of Americorps.

Hartsville -- What's Happening??

Big weekend in the Hartsville area on several fronts. Byerly Park is the scene of the Carolina's Conference Softball Tourney, hosted by Coker. There are teams in from around North and South Carolina and they are flling motel rooms. Video of Phil Gardner and Coach David Hanna will highlight that. The Red Foxes are hosting the SBC high school baseball tourney with games at Kelleytown. A couple of teams are filling motel rooms in Hartsville too.

This is also the Christmas in April Saturday and there will be teams of volunteers all around Hartsville helping homeowners who don't have the ability -- either physical or fiscal to do some important upkeep on their homes. Christmas in April has been going for a couple of decades in Hartsville and helps make a difference.

Who says there is nothing go on or nothing to do in Hartsville. We always "Expect Pleasant Surprises."

If you are musically inclined, the Coker Singers and the Coker Chamber Singers will be in concert on Sunday afternoon at the St. Batholomew's Episcopal Church in Hartsville at 4 p.m.


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Pat Hewitt, Excellence in our midst in Hartsville, S. C.

Coach Pat Hewitt of the Hartsville High Red Foxes is going to become part of the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association Hall of Fame this July, according to a story in today's MORNING NEWS of Florence.

Coach Hewett, a graduate of Coker College, has been deeply involved with girl athletes at Hartsville High since the early 1970s. On a personal note, I covered many of Coach Hewett's first teams as a reporter for the MESSENGER in Hartsville. She was one of the sources I would go to when writing stories about the Title IX legislation that attempted to get a more level playing field for women athletes in this country. Coach Hewett is extremely deserving of the honor her fellow coaches are bestowing and Hartsville has been fortunate to have her excellent talent and values influencing so many of our children for several decades. Coach Hewitt is just one example of people in our community who go about their every day lives making heroic differences for the quality of life we enjoy in Hartsville.

Congratulations, Coach Hewitt.