The Clearfork Collaborative
   with the Internet

The Internet now influences every aspect of life and it will increasingly do so. It can provide the people of the Collaborative new entertainment, access to health information, education, information employment opportunities and overall well being. It can connect people, allowing neighborhoods to emerge, a whole functional community to develop.

Here are some things we can do together when the Internet is used carefully, not abused, and treated with the respect of a helpful friend for the future.

1. Geographic information system maps and images can be displayed for printing or other use
2. E-mail will be readily used (with reduced costs and increased worldwide contacts)
3. A vast knowledge base become available (see the search engines listed in Giles' paper)
4. Economic enterprises can be discussed and some developed.
5. Species specific plans for wildlife management can be used
6. Educational tours can be offered (with pre-tour study guides, what to bring, etc.)
7. A health club can be formed with prizes, insurance rate gains, etc.
8. The Old Codgers might become a pleasing activity with this area as the start-up place
9. Floats needs development
10. Fog Drip concept originated here and can be developed
11. Monthly reports of the number and percentage of homes that are composting may be interesting...and eventually become an important hobby, exercise, and local humorous competition
12. Favorite links can be shared
13. Extra garden produce can be announced and made available
14. Child care or baby-sitting may be announced (needs as well as available)
15. Steep-Gardens may become a specialized project with many participants
16. Superior food recipes can be offered and the electronic cook book may become a national favorite with thousands of hits ... eventually advertisers will want to sponsor it
17. Lawn care can be offered by youths after school
18. Pet-sitting (while you are visiting) may be of interest and help may be available
19. News of local events (parades, etc.) is a natural
20. A list-serv for all people living in the area seems desirable, at least a long e-mail address list
21. Awards and school progress can be praised
22. Car repair and emergency service may be offered
23. Inexpensive local advertising for enterprises can surely be arranged
24. A new exercise club can be formed with daily exercise suggestions provided over the Internet email or web site and a reporting mechanism (and contests and awards for participants)
25. News of relatives and visitors can be made within easy reach
26. Keeping track of local flower blooming dates, leaf fall, etc. (called phenology) can be a pleasing activity, well handled over the Internet
27. Genealogy is of interest to some people. Special groups may form and resources may be shared. Cemetery records are of historical interest and records easily lost. This may be an alternative place for such information.
28. Local history may be integrated with library and school records and extra student resources provided the schools.
29. Almost all of the ideas and planning efforts displayed as "Airport Acres Neighborhood" (where Bob Giles lives and has been developing a web site for the 90 homes in his neighborhood) can be edited and integrated into a local web site. (He recommends taking out all of the materials about noisy airplanes but thinks that most of the other fits well with local needs and with his ideas about general systems work.)

Perhaps you will share ideas with me about some of the topic(s) above at RHGiles@RuralSystem.com.

Maybe we can work together ... for the good of us all ... for a long time. Return to the top of page.