SEELEY LAKE – Join with the Seeley Lake Community Foundation and your neighbors Sept. 15 from 6 – 8 p.m. the Reimagining Rural Community Gathering, an invigorating series of community talks, at the Tamaracks Resort Outdoor Woodland Venue, 3481 Highway 83 north of Seeley Lake (weather and COVID dependent). These free events are open for anyone to attend, although attendance will be capped at 50 people in the outdoor venue. COVID-19 safety measures will be in place to keep everyone safe and comfortable.
"Relationships are important for maintaining strong communities and I'm excited to bring people together who all love Seeley Lake, but who might not know each other," said Claire Muller, Seeley Lake Community Foundation executive director. "Originally scheduled for April, this event was postponed due to COVID. The world is a little different now but our connections and relationships are more important than ever and will continue to be as we move forward."
Montana's rural communities face challenges and a common perception that they are dying, but a more positive story about rural life is emerging. Reimagining Rural Community Gatherings are a collaborative, innovative effort to support small-town leaders in building vibrant futures for their communities.
Reimagining Rural, a statewide initiative formed between MSU Extension, Montana Community Foundation, Burton K. Wheeler Center and the Montana Governor's Office on Rural Development, is working to start a statewide conversation focused on building a positive future for our small towns. Tara Mastel, the MSU Extension Service Community Development Program Leader said, "Our goal is to provide rural communities with opportunities to imagine a positive vision for the future of the rural communities that we love."
According to Mastel twenty-five rural communities across the state have signed up to host these community gatherings. After the live-stream presentation, communities will then hold local facilitated discussions on ways to incorporate these ideas in their town.
Keynote speaker and rural expert Ben Winchester from the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Community Vitality will share his "brain gain" research that counters the negative conversations and perceptions common in current discussions of rural communities. Winchester's work in rural communities is being featured throughout the U.S. His "brain gain" concept provides a fresh, positive outlook to rural development, giving communities ideas to support positive community work.
"I heard Ben Winchester speak last year and was amazed by his positive message and fresh ways of turning common assumptions on their heads," said Muller. "I still can't stop thinking about his creative ideas and research, and I've been looking forward to bringing this presentation to Seeley Lake for a year now."
The second speakers will be Deb Brown and Becky McCray from Save Your Town. Brown and McCray will share practical, inexpensive and specific ways to improve your small-town using resources you already have.
Speakers will start at 6 p.m. in a socially distant, in-person viewing of a live-streamed presentation. Following the presentation, attendees will participate in a discussion with their local community members, led by a trained facilitator.
Come ready to learn about rural "brain gain" and how to make the most of it, explore new and inexpensive ideas that work in rural areas, find out how to get more vital volunteers for important community work and hear what is working in other Montana communities.
Upcoming events that will all start at 6 p.m. hosted at the Tamaracks Resort Woodland Venue, 3481 Highway 83 N.
• Sept. 15: Rewriting the Rural Narrative presented by Ben Winchester of University of Minnesota
• Sept. 29: Idea friendly ways to save your small town using available resources presented by Deb Brown and Becky McCray from Save Your Town.
• Oct. 13: An evening of idea-sharing from participating communities and Q&A from the speakers.
• Spring 2021: An in-person gathering of participating communities with networking, sharing of accomplishments from communities and speakers based on needs of communities. Exact specifics of the spring program are to be determined based on needs of participants.
"I think this series will be an opportunity to come together and think about some positive and refreshing ideas for a night or two-something especially valuable during this challenging year," said Muller. "My goal is to have a safe, socially distant event while still fostering new relationships to make Seeley Lake even stronger. I'd also like to thank Blackfoot for helping bring this event to Seeley Lake."
Please RSVP to the Seeley Lake Community Foundation to help them plan for food by calling 677-3506. Visit http://www.seeleylakecommunityfoundation.org for more info.
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