Dennis Deery

A Sense of Place

December 16, 2008
Professional CommunityDevelopment

Our good friend Connie Loden recently published an article titled “Localism - What’s the Attraction?” on the NewGeography web site.

“So, what is the “local” appeal? It is the character and quality of life that provides a sense of place – a reminiscence feeling of authenticity and knowing the source of where things come from, who made it and how it was grown. There is a desire to make the personal connection and create an experience in the purchase of a product. That experience often equates to wanting to have that sense of place association. The sense of place character is one that has a unique quality, a distinction and flavor that brings out the emotional response which translates to being an experience of culture and belonging.”

The whole thing is well worth a read, check it out.

Congratulations are also due Connie for being awarded the Ron Shaffer Award by the National Rural Development Partnership. Connie is the first Wisconsinite to win the award. Well done Connie, it’s well deserved!

A Model for Change

August 20, 2018
CommunityDevelopment OrganizationalDevelopment Professional

Change is constant – we all deal with it, we all complain about it. We all do it. In a 2008 study titled “The Enterprise of the Future”, IBM surveyed over 1,000 CEOs around the world. 83% of those surveyed said they expect their organization to undergo substantial change. But only 61% of those executives believe they have managed change successfully in the past.  Why the disconnect? If change is so constant, why are we so bad at it?

Take a Systems View

July 20, 2018
CommunityDevelopment OrganizationalDevelopment Professional

Do you ever have trouble getting your living room temperature just right? It gets cold outside, so you bump the heat up. Whoops, too much, now you’re too hot. Down with the thermostat. Wait, now it’s freezing, turn up the heat! Cycle after cycle, until finally you get it dialed in just right. Now you can fire up the TV and binge-watch your favorite show. Congratulations, you understand systems thinking – that’s it in a nutshell.

Small Town Rules

May 8, 2012
Professsional CommunityDevelopment Books
Books
by Barry Moltz and Becky McCray (Full disclosure: Becky is one of the organizers of #140conf Small Town, where I’ve spoken the last two years. She was kind enough to provide me with a review copy of her book.) This book, subtitled “How Big Brands and Small Business Can Prosper in a Connected Economy”, is a great look at the unique attributes that can make small town and rural businesses successful.
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