Update on Our Work

Hard to believe that it has been six months already since Corsica area leaders invited us, The Rural Learning Center, to begin partnering with you about the future. We have formally interviewed over 80 people and had hundreds of other conversations and meetings about a lot of different things – visions for the future, business ideas, creative concepts about building new homes, leadership development strategies, etc. etc. It has been exciting for us to interact with members of the City Council, School Board, Commercial Club, County Commission, Corsica Foundation, Development Corporation, the Housing Commission and other organizations doing outstanding work. No question that the Corsica region has a great “volunteer army.” Our work centers around enabling this “army” to more effectively articulate its visions, work together, and get things done. The next “big thing” will be the Design SD:Project Corsica May 16-19. We are co-sponsoring this event with the Corsica Commercial Club and working to get strong participation from across the region. Public participation in this event actually begins with an informational meeting at the Corsica grade school gym on the evening of April 24th.

Those of us who love and believe in rural South Dakota know that we have significant and difficult challenges in front of us. We are all in this for the long haul. Our pioneer foremothers and forefathers were amazing entrepreneurs who figured out how to successfully adapt to a very difficult environment – we can do it again. We at the Rural Learning Center are honored and energized by our partnership with the good folks of this region. Keep in touch and let us know how we can work with you to realize your dreams.

Thanks for the opportunity,

Jim Beddow, The Rural Learning Center

Talking Housing Development

Jim Beddow and I will be in town on Monday, Dec. 11. We’ll complete a handfull of follow-up interviews with some folks in the afternoon, and then meet with the Corsica Housing Commission at 7pm at the Community Center. You are invited. We’ll be talking about the new housing development in the southeast part of town and the upcoming Community Design Project (learn more). Folks from Planning and Development District III and the Netherlands Reformed Church building committee will also join the discussion.

If you would like to visit with Jim or me while we’re in Corisca, just drop us an email by Friday.

RLC Team conducting interviews

The Rural Learning Center team (Jim Beddow, Lindsey Karlson and Joe Bartmann) will be visiting with more than 40 members of the Corsica community August 29 and 30. Interviews will last one hour and will take place at the Library. Thanks to Gordon Kredit for taking care of scheduling!If you have been scheduled for an interview and have a question or cannot make your scheduled time, please call Joe Bartmann at 605.941.2708.

If you would like to be interviewed by the RLC team for this project, plese email rlc@rlcenter.net and provide your name, phone number and email address.

If you’ve already completed your interview, THANK YOU! Please let everyone know what you thought about the interview by leaving a comment to this post.