From the WRP Archives, Feb. 1999

On September 3, 1998, over 160 citizens from across the state of Wisconsin attended the 1998 “Governor’s Rural Summit 2: Setting the Action Agenda for Rural Wisconsin’s Future.” The Summit, second of its kind, was developed to provide input to Wisconsin Rural Partners and to Governor Thompson regarding the current challenges and issues facing rural Wisconsin, and to develop ideas for constructive, sustainable solutions. The event took place at Stoney Creek Inn & Northwoods Conference Center in Mosinee.

The morning featured a welcome by two of the Summit’s co-sponsors: Joe Tregoning, deputy secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection; and Phil Albert, acting secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Commerce. Progress reports from the first Governor’s Rural Summit, held in December, 1996, were given by Chris Spooner, policy advisor to Governor Thompson, and Wendy Hinrichs Sanders, president of Wisconsin Rural Partners.

Following the updates, those attending joined groups focused on a particular issue, and participated in a facilitated process to identify and prioritize challenges. Ron Shaffer of the University of Wisconsin Center for Community Economic Development acted as discussion leader throughout the day.

Lunch featured keynote speaker Chuck Fluharty, director of the Rural Policy Research Institute in Columbia, Missouri. Fluharty alerted the audience to “What’s Happening in the Rural Midwest: Trends and Issues.” His message was clear that, in order to be able to address today’s complex issues, rural residents need to cooperate, collaborate, and continue to implement new systems which manage the issues better.

After lunch, each group developed an action plan for their highest priority issues. The groups were asked to formulate their strategies with several principles in mind:

• Systems thinking and a recognition of interrelationships.
• Collaboration and interdisciplinary teams.
• Creativity and innovative ways of addressing old problems.
• Approaches which result in “win/win” situations.
• Standards of simplicity and common sense.
  

These principles guided the group toward identifying action steps for Wisconsin Rural Partners, through its network of public and private sector partners. More than one group worked in most issue areas. There were many similarities among the groups, yet differences in priority of various issues were evident. Following identification of the issues, participants were asked to place priority on their issues in the context of what can benefit most through the work of partnerships. Participants then took part in a creative exercise to develop strategies to address the issues. The strategies included an identification of groups throughout the state who are currently addressing any of the issues. Following the Summit, the strategies were synthesized by the Rural Summit Task Group (event planners and facilitators), and woven into a report and series of recommendations made to the Wisconsin Rural Partners Board of Directors at its annual retreat in November, 1998.

Click here to read the report on the outcomes from the Governor’s Rural Summit 2: “Becoming Solution Partners,” [PDF 243 kb].

Co-sponsors of the Governor’s Rural Summit 2:

EnPower
Office of the Governor
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection
Wisconsin Department of Commerce
UW - Cooperative Extension

Michael Linak of the Wisconsin Department of Health & Family Services facilitates his group’s identification and prioritization of rural issues.

Some groups took advantage of the lovely autumn weather by selecting venues to inspire their creativity.

The day’s work was sprinkled with many light moments that helped build camaraderie and keep the focus on working together.

As the day wore on, a keen competition developed for “most flip charts used”...

...The Natural Resource Group won the competition hands down.