I have been on the Harper City Council for a number of years and just joined the Harper County Economic Development Board in April of last year. These two groups have a few things in common but one thing that sticks out in my mind is the big gigantic differences in the aparent intent of both groups.
As elections come and go, the City Council changes. Sometimes it is for the better, and sometimes for the worst. The HCED Board changes too with each new member as it seems the dynamics of a group always change in some way when a new person comes on board.
At lunch today I was talking to Sonya about these two different groups and how they are so totally different from each other. She pointed out the difference. Alot of times, the people that run for city council seats have an axe to grind. They want to get in and make changes in what they think doesn't work. They have an agenda. It is a personal one, always. Now, not all members come in with this type of attitude, some come in to see if this is a forum that they can help or make a difference. Others come in finding fault and going backwards until you are left feeling that the treadmill isn't even on. There is talk, but it is all negative, you don't feel like you are moving forward or accomplishing anything. The focus is all wrong. Instead of thinking "whatever is best for the city". It is about me and my agenda. It is so frustrating to try to work with people that can't see beyond themselves.
The Economic Development group is there for economic development. We are all in it to see things happen for our community collectively. There aren't "agendas". It is what can we do to grow, to get people and business to come to our area and join us in our development. It seems the collective agenda is the same. Maybe different points of veiw, but that is ok, because you know the intent of each of these people is the same. Plus, people in this group are all business people of some sort. They understand the big picture, not a limited view snapshot. Their agenda is "what can we do?"
There is such a stark difference in the two groups. Each group is made up of people. But people with a group mentality of moving forward and getting something done and making and seeing progress is exciting. Things don't happen fast in groups, boards, committees. Anyone reading this and chuckling, knows this. In fact, this is the frustrating part of being on a committee. However, when you know the intent of the group is to work together, and not compete with each other, and actually move on to a determined joint goal, it is actually fulfilling, incredibly interesting and exciting.
I'm not talking about challenges. I'm talking about being able to work as a group to take on the challenges as they present themselves and not sit around finding fault when something didn't work out. Or to just come in blaming others for mistakes of the past, you have to understand that to even make a mistake you have to be doing something.
Some are actually content to do nothing, then complain because others don't do anything, and then feel they have accomplished something by gripping and their negative input has value to the group. It doesn't.
Mary Welch-Broker/Owner Preferred Choice Realty Harper Ks.