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March 17, 2005 RLND Class Learns About Community Assets Rural Leadership North Dakota participants recently traveled to Langdon to discover the seven capitals, or assets, in a community. The three-day session at the North Dakota State University Langdon Research Extension Center was the seventh in a series of RLND program seminars throughout the state. RLND is a two-year interactive study and travel program for North Dakotans who want to become effective leaders who can help their organizations, rural communities and state grow and prosper. It’s offered through the NDSU Extension Service. The participants are in the second year of the program. “It’s not how hard you work, it’s how smart you work,” said RLND participant John Zetocha of Oakes. Seminar presenter Cornelia Flora, a social researcher and co-author of “Rural Communities, Legacy + Change,” showed RLND participants how to recognize and appreciate capitals in their communities. She said that combining the seven capitals – human, natural, cultural, social, political, financial and built - creates a healthy ecosystem, vital economy and social well-being. “Choosing to live in rural areas is not a default, it’s a choice,” Flora said. Guest speaker Carol Goodman, executive director of the Cavalier County Job Development Authority, provided the RLND class with an overview of how the agency is structured and functions. Other speakers included Duane Hauck, director of the NDSU Extension Service; Paul Lukach, a junior at Langdon High School; Lynette Flage, an NDSU Extension community leadership specialist based in Cavalier; Mike Rose, a Ward County Extension agent; and Bruce Gibbens, a partner in Dakota Country Swine. Hauck spoke about the state’s legislative process and the importance of political capital. Lukach showed RLND participants how to make a rocket with two straws and a couple of mailing labels. He also talked about his involvement with a 4-H technology team. Flage talked about connecting citizens to strengthen communities and understanding social capital. She said high social capital makes individuals feel they are part of the community and more useful, and they trust one another. For example, they leave cars unlocked with the keys in the ignition, she said. She also talked about the importance of social capital, benefits associated with social capital, civic engagement and trust. Rose presented “Thinking Ahead: The Next 30 Years,” a look at what North Dakota will be in the next three decades. He talked about fossil fuels, agriculture and young people remaining in or returning to North Dakota. Gibbens gave a slide show of how his business became a success in the swine industry. RLND participants also visited some successful Langdon businesses, including Dahl Trucking, Sports and Shirts, Roxy Theater - Northern Lights Arts Council, Keepsakes Frames & Frills, and Dakota Spirit Arena. The group also toured Langdon City Hall. ### Source:
Marie Hvidsten, (701) 231-5803, mhvidste@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Cutline: Social researcher Cornelia Flora, standing, speaks to the Rural Leadership North Dakota class about how to recognize and appreciate their communities’ assets. |
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