FUTURE SEARCH PROCESS

TIMELINESKEY EVENTS

TIMELINESKEY EVENTS

H/ZGOVERNANCE

IN 2035

H/ZGOVERNANCE

IN 2035

PROUDS & SORRIES

PROUDS & SORRIES

IDENTIFYMAJOR

TRENDS

IDENTIFYMAJOR

TRENDS

MIND-MAPEXTERNAL REALITIES

MIND-MAPEXTERNAL REALITIES

ACTION AREAS

ACTION AREAS

COMMON GROUND THEMES

COMMON GROUND THEMES

FOCUS ON PAST

FOCUS ON PRESENT

FUTURE SCENARIOS

COMMON GROUND

COMMITMENT TO ACTION

DAY 1

DAY 2 DAY 2/3 DAY 3

Focus on the PASTpre 1970-2000 Participants moved

about the room and

populated 4 timelines

over 20feet in length,

displaying key events

from four perspectives.

Each group then

synthesized the input

and told the story of our

community!

Focus on the PASTCommunity Stories

PERSONAL

Heritage, family, faith, entrepreneurship,

baby boomers moving in, changing

demographics, uptick in prosperity in 90’s

followed by decline and loss of jobs.

GLOBAL

Round world to flat, now global centric, massive

pace of change, knowledge constantly doubles, wars, natural disasters, social unrest, recessions, fight for natural resources...out of disruption comes opportunity.

Innovation is the theme of our reaction to adversity.

Community stories from the timelines,

reflected four perspectives:

PersonalGlobal

Community Governance

COMMUNITY

Settlement of H/Z, demographic shift from settlers to other migrants, economic changes, philanthropy, social service, faith, strong work ethic, education, healthcare, governments changing, city annexation, quality of life.

GOVERNANCE

Little structural change in local governance since origins, governance challenged by community growth, opportunities and needs, Hollandnot immune to global turmoil, need for cooperation across government units, MACC and WMEAC, connected global market requires us to change.

Focus on the PASTCommunity Stories, continued

Focus on PRESENT: Major Trends The group generated a

VERY large mind map

describing close to 100

external realities/trends

shaping H/Z governance

in these areas:

‣economic

‣social

‣environmental

‣technical

Every participant then

engaged in a multi-

voting exercise

documenting major

trends having the most

significant impact on

Holland/Zeeland

governance

Evaluating the Mind-Map to identify and connect major trends

Major Trends

• Less $ for government/higher costs/higher expectations.

• Rate of change accelerating/global competition for economic vitality.

• Demographic shift.

• Increased # of people in poverty.

• Baby boomers driving aging population.

• Education gap.

• Building inclusive communities.

Prouds and SorriesEach stakeholder group

was asked to discuss how

major trends affect what

they do.

Stakeholder groups were

then asked to present

what they have done that

they are most proud of,

and most sorry about?

Group presentations were

brutally honest and began

laying the groundwork for what was to comeI

Prouds and Sorries

‣partnerships

‣safe communities

‣framework for collaboration

‣people taking risks, thinking outside the box

‣public/private partnerships

‣leadership support

‣LGChem

‣Macatawa Greenway

‣MACC

‣quality of life

‣jobs have left Michigan

‣young people are leaving

‣complexity of gov’t

‣divisiveness

‣slow movement on big issues

‣not focused on future

‣have not embraced diversity

‣economic segregation in community

‣water sharing agreement

‣Cleanliness of Lake Mac

A sample of the output

from all groups. Prouds

and Sorries enable each

stakeholder group to

acknowledge and take

responsibility for their

actions

Desired Future Scenarios -The year is 2035

• This was a time for mixed groups to reflect on their desired futures and dream about what Holland/Zeeland governance could look like in the year 2035.

• Creative presentations allowed for group fun, but everyone took the task seriously, describing bold, innovative ideas and an inspiring new future for our area....

Finding Common Ground

The large group challenge was to listen carefully and find the common ground

across all of the thought-provoking future scenarios.

Common Ground Themes

�Equity, Values, Fairness

�Regional Governance

�Common Master Plan

�Status Quo is Unsustainable

�Public Safety

�Optimal Health

�World Class Education

�Diversity

�Jobs

�Shared Values

Common Ground is the

starting point from which

diverse stakeholders come

together and agree on

shared action areas.

Very Special Thanks

to Haworth for. .

• Underwriting the Future Search conference

• Providing an inspiring environment, with welcoming spaces and energizing natural light everywhere

• Friendly, efficient staff

• Lending us Virginia Conklin

• Your ongoing support of the Model Community Initiatives and the Holland / Zeeland community

Stay informed, get involved!

www.modelcomm.org

� Sign up for updates

� Provide feedback

� Get involved!

Together we can create

a bold new future