Friday, January 28, 2005

But We Play Them on Friday Night!

I heard it again last week. “There is too much rivalry going on between our towns. It all goes back to playing each other on Friday nights.”

When are towns going to realize that they have much more in common than they think and that by working together they can accomplish so many more things than continuing to be at each others throats? Towns of 5,000; 20,000; and even 50,000 are too small to try to go it alone. They’ve got to learn to work together, viewing gains for any of the local communities as positive for everyone.

We, in rural America, have too many things that are in our own best common interest to spend so much time trying to fight each other. We have to get over the fact that competition on Friday night doesn’t have to spill over into our everyday life. Let’s get out of our own silos as communities and develop plans that help everyone.

1 comment:

BoomtownUSA said...

Some that come to mind are:
Tupelo, MS
Northern Alabama
Greater, GA
Hand Made in America in W. NC
SE KS
Research Triangle
Dalles, OR--working with city across river
Carbondale, IL
Iowa Greater Lakes Corridor of Opportunity
Esterville, IA
Coles Together

All are examples of multiple communities and organizations working together for the better good.