communities to boom even as others slowly die?"    
   
Jack Schultz knows the answers.
                    
--- Rich Karlgaard, publisher, Forbes Magazine
 
Yea we are not alone.. But we are alone with the answer to turn our town
around if we don't go out and search for towns and people who have brought
solutions and major turn around to towns just like ours.

 

There is no doubt that in life the hardest and most costly way to learn
something is through trial and error. The most cost effective and
efficient way is to learn from others trial and error and successful
accomplishments.
 
The above quote is just one example of a guy who has now made it his
life's mission to create strategies and techniques to turn little starving
towns in to prosperous ones.
 
In my research to help Marlborough I have found the most amazing people
and ideas. My ambition to bring real positive change has been
supercharged!!! Why?? Because we are not alone in our struggle. Yet towns
all over America have found realistic paths to turn the future of their
town around forever..
 
Here is another quote from Jack after he talked about several different
ways to energize a town. In fact he was talking about how industry can
play a huge roll even when you think it can't. After mentioning several
ideas he then said this "Success came because community members came
together and acted strategically to change the town's fortunes".
 
Here are the facts:
 
If we think that we can't save our town - we simply can't!
 
If both parties can't come together (Compromise a bit each) and put the
town first we can't
 
If we do what we have done for years now we can only expect to continue to
get the same poor results.
 
If we guess on what COULD help our town we will be wasting precious time
with trial and error rather than spend our limited time, resources and
money on things that have a track record.
 
On the other hand: 

 

If we can take on a new attitude of being solution oriented and feel
empowered we can make a difference then we can
 
If we put the town FIRST and politics second we can
 
If we can search out PROVEN strategies that can be adapted and fit our
town, if we think outside the box and not be afraid of change then we can
do it
 
And lastly not be embarrassed that you want to make a positive change and
be proud of wanting to help. We live in such a small town that anything
different can be ridiculed. I have some of my closest friends telling me
to give up, stop writing emails, stop trying because nothing will change..
If that is what we think that is what will happen. Sorry but in recent
months I have experienced what can happen when you focus on it and don't
listen to naysayers
 
They never built a statue of a critic. So criticize all you want. But all
I ask is do it in the mirror. If you don't want to be part of the solution
then step aside, don't be part of the problem and let the people who want
to make a difference make change..
 
And if I fail then I will surely feel better knowing I tried rather than
sitting around complaining how bad our town is.
 
I'm done complaining and on a mission of change.
 
Here are a few links you should check out. I have hundreds more I am doing
research on. But not to overwhelm you I will share these two.
 
http://www.iedconline.org/EDAmerica/Winter2006/schultz.html
 
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2004-06-27-rural_x.htm
 
Best
Doug
 
P.S. Keep the momentum rolling. Love or hate my emails it is stirring up
emotions and together we can get something done. Forward this email to all
friends and family in Marlboro and get them engaged in saving our town.
They can simply go to o www.savemarlboro.com type in their name and email
address in the boxes. Wait for the confirmation email to be sent to you to
confirm you would like to sign up for the free email newsletter. Clink the
link in the confirmation email, and you are signed up!!