Final Envision Lincoln meeting launches trio of Action Teams

Envision Lincoln may have held the last of its four-hour long meetings March 28, but it's just the beginning of the effort to revitalize Lincoln.

"Really, this is when people want to join the conversation, especially those people who don't want to go to meetings," said Karyn Good, lead local organizer for Envision Lincoln

The meeting centered around three teams, made up of community members, who have been working on plans to address Lincoln's economy, health and well-being, and natural resources.

Called action teams, they built on the process developed during the first three meetings to identify some specific projects they can get to work on right away to get things moving.

"It's been such a great process because it wasn't something where just one person's ideas just took over and one person ran the show. It was a very democratic way to just sit down together and figure things out," Lisa Gibson, a health and well-being team leader, said.

From here on, the individual teams will meet to focus on the projects they're working to accomplish. They will also work to include and collaborate with the people and organizations with similar goals or who are willing to help, whether they can make the meetings or not.

"We're talking about once a month meetings, an hour. You don't have to go to all of these. You can pick a team to be on and get involved in that," she said. "Honestly, you don't have to go to the meetings (to be involved). Some people are not meeting people, but are action people."

In her role as the Blackfoot Challenge Economics Coordinator, Good will help ensure the projects are being implemented and will keep the Trust for Public Lands, who will support the effort through June, and the Challenge updated on progress. Although she will continue to assist the teams, Good said it's not going to be the Challenge, TPL or any other organization in charge, but rather local community members.

Throughout the series of meetings it became clear Lincoln faces myriad complex issues it has to deal with. The projects the action teams are taking on may not be considered top priorities by some people in town, but they are a first step toward getting things moving and building the momentum and participation the community needs, Good explained.

"This is still a really young effort. Even though strategies have been identified, there is so much time for people to develop ownership of this work, people can contribute new ideas, people can make a mark on this Envision Lincoln program, and should be encouraged that there is a place for them in this work," Amy McNamara, who facilitated the four Envision Lincoln meetings for TPL said. "Their energy and sweat equity and enthusiasm and time would be well spent here."

"I think if they can see some actual physical something happening, that's going to pick up some momentum," Economic action team leader Ernie Lundberg said.

Good said she's been encouraged by the fact she's seen new faces at all the meetings.

"Maybe they don't care to get involved, but they're checking it out. Good on them. Maybe they think it's a load of BS. That's OK too. At least they came and saw what it's about," she said. "I'm fine with a little criticism, and honestly, at least we're trying to do something."