Small-Town America...in Nebraska? (Omaha, Bassett: agricultural, farms, land)

[star_gazer]

They probably don't walk down to the library to use the town dial up connection to check email more than once per week.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by stotan88

well I emailed the mayor, chamber of commerce AND the Rock County Historical Society over 2 days ago, but I've yet to get a response from any of them...is there anything else I should be doing? I'm not sure if I'm naive to think this, but I expected to get a response from at least one of them by now...

...pretty naive,,, I would guess the historical society checks email once a week, or maybe once month. The Mayor might be working 18 hrs a day on harvest and trying to fit in 'crisis' mayor duties, which probably don't include email...

And like me... living in the boonies on a very slow and unreliable 'pay by the byte' dial-up, I would expect minimal or NO response via email.

Think about effective communication skills & establishing relationships...when soliciting for help / favors. email doesn't come to mind (unless the mayor and other contacts are twenty somethings (doubt it) with High speed connection (double doubt it)

If you want someone to personally invest in your cause, you need to personally contact them and go out of your way to do so; and do it at a convenient time for them. (They may even have a 'spam' blocker. I don't ever even read email from a stranger, it just goes in the trash... I have better things to do (but I'm not a mayor... good thing)

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by stotan88

well I emailed the mayor, chamber of commerce AND the Rock County Historical Society over 2 days ago, but I've yet to get a response from any of them...is there anything else I should be doing? I'm not sure if I'm naive to think this, but I expected to get a response from at least one of them by now...

My idea would be to call the Economic Development lady (I think her phone number was on a previous thread) and be ready with a very nice, sincere, 30 second opening and 3 minute pitch...

The Mayor is very very part-time and probably a rancher or businessman with not much city support staff, so no suprise on a delay. The Historical Society is probably a lot of older ladies working a few weekends a month, so also no suprise on a delay. The Economic Development lady probably is a professional and the most available for communication. Good Luck.

Could also try the Newspaper Editor.

[stotan88]

Originally Posted by Dave1215

My idea would be to call the Economic Development lady (I think her phone number was on a previous thread) and be ready with a very nice, sincere, 30 second opening and 3 minute pitch...

The Mayor is very very part-time and probably a rancher or businessman with not much city support staff, so no suprise on a delay. The Historical Society is probably a lot of older ladies working a few weekends a month, so also no suprise on a delay. The Economic Development lady probably is a professional and the most available for communication. Good Luck.

Could also try the Newspaper Editor.

Alright I'll give the phone number a try. Haha I'll probably have to write down some pointers/lines for my call :P

I really hope it works out.

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by stotan88

Alright I'll give the phone number a try. Haha I'll probably have to write down some pointers/lines for my call :P

I really hope it works out.

Remember.... your call will be coming out of left field for whoever you talk to... they have no background of all the discussions on this forum, they have no clue who you are, they might be skeptical of being sold something or being scammed.... so, you need to overcome that and in very short order...

Think through what you plan to say and practice it. Expect a little bit of a cold shoulder, but try to at least walk away with at a minimum an "ok" to keep the conversaton going - whether that's a follow-up phone call, a referal to someone else, or a follow-up email... once the door is cracked open you should be able to guage their excitement for what ever it is you want to propose... Best of luck!

If you are serious about going there to experience the life - and if the above contacts don't open doors - I think someone already mentioned the newspaper... either reach out to the editor and see if you can generate interest with them, maybe they would run an article on you and your desire - and if that doesn't work, then you could always pay for a classified ad in that local paper and see what interest that generates.

[StealthRabbit]

yes, keep enthusiasm and flexibility high, discouragement low. You don't need to oversell yourself as a promotion, but the idea is great and will be embraced by someone who shares your passion and interest in literature. Use the theme of a doing school (college / grad school) project to help them feel they can support a 'cause' rather than your personal interests.

Make a sales pitch and post it here, (I like the 30sec intro and 3 minute pitch) we'll help you out. I'd be willing to help express the idea to potential folks if you would like ($.027 phone calls are affordable, a conference call would be nice, but logistically difficult). Just keep it very simple and good point to realize the recipient will be caught off guard. Try it on some friends for practice (older friends, similar to those you will present (like someone in the business office at work or school)) I just dialog off a sentence outline, and highlight (with a marker) my main points so I don't forget to mention them. I have 'filler material' at the end in case I have extra time, and underline places to stop if I run out of time. (I use this when doing business presentations, interviews or when teaching adults)

I agree with the above points of contacts, but my first choices would be outside the business culture, as business folks are focused on task / monetary returns for time spent (an honorable goal since they are employed in that function...). I would use community churches (non-denominational), homeschool, and community volunteer organizations. As you are less likely to be constrained by time and money. (waiting for a committee to meet / agree / fund...) The locals will be your friends in this maneuver, I really don't know the theme / objective in your writing, but if it is to be integrated into the local culture I would invest my time there. If it is to be of business / historical value, I would concentrate there. (I would keep it low key, and stress the value / fun

I would make an effort to get there for the county fair (Aug), but stay before and after, as the town changes significantly during that week. The bonus is that EVERYONE COMES TO TOWN that week, who otherwise might only be there a few times per month. or not at all if other towns are closer for supplies.

Make up your outline of proposal and your objectives (including most desirable timeframe) and post it, so we can help get you rolling.

[stotan88]

I am working on my proposition and what I will say to introduce myself currently. Hopefully I'll have it up tomorrow night.

Quick, random question. What kind of trees can be found in Bassett, or Rock County for that matter?

[Go Ne]

Oak, Maple and stuff like that, not to many pines and something that might be good to know, all of the farms in the Area have a mini forest surrounding them, like this.
Bassett - Google Maps

[Dave1215]

Originally Posted by Go Ne

Oak, Maple and stuff like that, not to many pines and something that might be good to know, all of the farms in the Area have a mini forest surrounding them, like this.
Bassett - Google Maps

And most of those trees were handplanted originally, not natural... for windbreaks and protection around the homeplace since not tons of natural trees in the Sandhills and surrounding area (unless you get around the creeks, streams and rivers)... during the depression, some of those plantings along roads and other areas were actually WPA projects.

A lot of Cedar Trees, too...

[Go Ne]

yep