The community invented at CTCNet conference

Participants playing the community networking game at the CTCNet conference in June 1999 invented the following rural community by calling out characteristics. They then split into groups and created a picture of the community by developing the diagram described in the game instructions. Each group reported back and it was possible to consolidate their diagrams into the one below.

The community

Local shops and small businesses are not prosperous
People drive out of the villages to shop at larger stores
Farmers are struggling
Poor housing
Old phone systems
'Mom and Pop' Internet Service Provider
Toxic waste dump
Major road planned through the area
Stable population - but young people leave
Little diversity in the population - though some migrant workers
Stratified tenancies
Unenlighted male leadership
Library
Rich history
Strong local identity
Good schools
Low crime rate

A picture of the community

The diagram on the left is an amalgamation of five different diagrams produced by groups discussing the community outlined above.

The columns represent The Environment, The Local Community and the Local Economy. These were assessed as being Robust, Stable or Fragile and the diagram shaded accordingly.

Thus the diagram on the left shows an area where the Environment is stable, and the Community more so, but the Economy is Fragile. Arrows are used to indicate trends. In this case the Environment is becoming less Stable while the Economy and Community could go either way.