Community members gather to discuss visions for Perkins County

A diverse group of 50 enthusiastic Perkins County residents gathered for a community visioning session on Tuesday evening, Oct. 24 to provide input toward establishing an action plan.    

Nebraska Community Foundation (NCF) Community Development Directors Karl Shaddock of Lincoln and Jana Jensen of Bingham facilitated the event.

Perkins County Community Foundation Fund (PCCFF) is an affiliated fund of NCF. Staff provides training and support but encourages the locals who are the ones who truly care about their community to utilize their own strengths and cooperation to achieve goals.

Dennis Demmel  presented statistics and reports on what makes Perkins County strong and what opportunities lie ahead. Demmel served on the planning commission for many years.

PCCFF Chair Michelle Ross welcomed the group on behalf of the local fund advisory committee who hosted the event and provided a soup supper. Perkins County Schools National Honor Society helped serve. 

Emphasis was made on gathering desires of a range of resident interests rather than those of a small committee. Participants represented varied age groups, business people, ag professionals, medical professionals, organization volunteers, local government representatives, etc.

As part of an exercise, attendees named today’s community strengths, then envisioned dreams for their communities. Each person was encouraged to think big and analyze what future they’d like to create. Each table then discussed those ideas and selected five ideas to post in front of the group.         

The whole group’s dreams were put into categories and prioritized to set a direction. Future meetings are scheduled to build on an action plan in order to move forward in making dreams come true.

Local fund advisory committee members besides Ross include Janet Lagler, Val Foster, Becky Uehling, Angela Gloy, Kim Bishop, Gabrielle Hatcher and Jeff Wallin.