Communities
|
Counties |
Communities |
|
Accomack |
Onancock, Wachaprague, Horntown |
|
Carroll |
Hillsville, Cana, Laurel Fork, Fancy Gap, Woodlawn |
|
Craig |
New Castle, Sinking Creek Valley, John's Creek Valley, Paint Bank |
|
Cumberland |
Cartersville, Cumberland |
|
Dickenson |
Clintwood, Haysi |
|
Grayson |
Independence, Fries, Troutdale |
|
Louisa |
Mineral, Bumpass |
|
King and Queen |
King and Queen Courthouse, Newtown |
|
Northampton |
Cheapside, Cape Charles, Bayview, Nassawadox, New Road |
Community responsibilities
The Take Charge program will help develop consensus on areas of concern in the participating communities. The IT readiness assessment will be conducted prior to and incorporated into the first Take Charge session ("Where are we now?"). General consensus of the desired end state (vision) for IT readiness in the county will be determined during the second session ("Where do we want to be?"). Finally, general consensus for achieving the vision for IT readiness will be gleaned from the third session ("How do we get there?"). The community network will serve to sustain the deliberative dialogue initiated during the effort. Community involvement will take place in several forms and in different phases. They include, but are not limited to:
Technology Leadership Teams
In each community, Extension agents will work with local leaders to identify, recruit and train candidates for a Technology Leadership Team. Each team will have ten to twelve citizens who have a strong interest and commitment to the effort and willingness to contribute time and energy to provide leadership and direction. They will be selected based on three criteria:
- they must have a personal commitment to using technology to improve the community;
- must be willing to participate actively in both training and ongoing citizen team activities;
- and team members must represent a broad representative cross section of the community.
This group should include representatives from local governments, business and agribusiness, industry, public education, the faith community, civic organizations, seniors and youth.
The Technology Leadership Teams will meet monthly. The role of the Technology Leadership Team is to advise and coordinate local program planning and to communicate and advocate the process to all segments of the community. The teams will work with project staff and Virginia Tech faculty to perform an assessment of current technology in the community, using the CSPP model and other instruments. Additionally, when appropriate, team members will serve as facilitators in community workshops and forums to enhance the understanding of the general public on the potential of technology. The Technology Leadership Team will also work with project staff to identify and secure the resources necessary to fulfill and sustain the strategies of the local plan. The Technology Leadership teams will remain in place after the end of TOP funding and will be committed to continuing to provide technology leadership in the county.
Extension Leadership Councils
The Extension program in each of the targeted counties has an existing citizen stakeholder group known as the Extension Leadership Council (ELC). The ELCs are composed of as many as 20 members, who are responsible for coordinating and marketing all local Extension programs. The Extension Leadership Council will assist the Technology Leadership Team in its program planning and will also serve in an advocacy role for the project.
Community Workshops and Forums
Workshops and forums will be held for the public in communities throughout each county. The purpose of the workshops and forums is to educate citizens on issues related to technology and telecommunications and to provide a way through which the general public can express its needs and desires for the community Technology Master Plans. Some workshops will be open to the general public, while others may be targeted to specific interest groups such as business, industry, and public educators. Special efforts will be developed to reach the traditionally underserved segments of communities.
Elected Community Leaders
Since local governments are key financial partners in the project, the local Technology Leadership Team will elicit input of elected officials at their regular meetings.
