editorial

Visioning needs you

Here are four excellent reasons to take part in next week’s visioning process.

First, this process is both timely and critical to the future of the village and township. The last effort took place in 1990, almost 20 years ago. Since then, there’s been much talk about visioning but no action, since previous efforts were dropped. This Council should be applauded for keeping the visioning process front and center.

Visioning is critical because it offers a way for community members, in small, non-threatening groups, to address complex and challenging issues, such as land use planning. These issues come up again and again, but because different segments of the community sometimes seem polarized, it’s hard to move forward. Visioning, by providing people a way to talk not only about specific issues but about the dreams and fears that lie beneath those issues, offers a way to find common ground.

A second reason is that the local process is in very good hands. Those who attended last spring’s presentation by Jamie Green of ACP were impressed by his demeanor, professionalism and interest in Yellow Springs. This Columbus firm is considered a leader in the field, as evidenced by its receiving an American Vision Award for its work in neighborhoods surrounding the World Trade Center after 9/11. We’re lucky that ACP is working with us.

Third, your voice matters. Organizers have gone to extraordinary efforts to include diverse segments of the community, and at two locations, child care is provided. The more who participate, the more the process will promote communication and understanding, and the more successful it will be.

And here’s the best reason to take part: if you don’t, you forfeit your right to complain. Okay, you can complain but frankly, you might not be taken seriously if you didn’t make the effort to take part. And to those who say visioning won’t work — how do you know unless you give it a try?

Next week the visioning process kicks off with an event held at four different times and locations (see page 1 for details). Participants are asked to attend the one event most convenient to them. It’s not a lot to ask. Our community visioning effort needs you.

—Diane Chiddister