Managing Information With Rural America (MIRA)
The Clearwater, Panhandle Lakes, and West Central Highlands RC&D Councils are members of an eight member Community Support Organization (CSO) consortium that received a $100,000 Managing Information with Rural America (MIRA) grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 1998. Other consortium members include the Institute for Community Development at Lewis-Clark State College, Idaho Rural Partnership, Clearwater Economic Development Association, Panhandle Area Council, and North Idaho Woodnet. The funds are being used to increase the capacity of consortium members in providing service to rural communities and groups through increased use of information technology. A separate phase of the MIRA Initiative focuses on helping eight timber-dependent communities in Idaho learn how to use information technology for increasing their ability to deal with change.
The Clearwater Council helped facilitate an initial partners meeting in April, 1998 and encouraged the Panhandle Lakes and West Central Highlands RC&D Councils' participation. The three RC&D Councils are sharing $28,000 to purchase modern computer hardware and software, develop/update web pages, and provide training to RC&D office personnel and Council members.
While a number of small towns and other nonprofit groups and organizations had entered into the "information superhighway" in recent years and months, the Clearwater RC&D Council had not. Thanks to the MIRA Project, the Council has been able to improve its capacity to assist its sponsors and communities through the use of technology. Some specific benefits derived to date:
- Provided significant cost share allowing the Council to purchase its very own modern computer equipment and software.
- Enabled the Council to contract with a local computer consultant to assist RC&D Office staff in setting up the new equipment and provide training on its use and key software programs. Included is the ability to network with the existing local area network/wide area network (LAN/WAN) within the USDA Service Center where the RC&D office is located. Prior to this, the RC&D Council was dependent on outdated computer equipment and operating systems provided by USDA through the Natural Resources Conservation Service. The new equipment and programs is helping to more efficiently track components of a number of Council projects where spreadsheets and mailing databases are required.
- Allowed the Council to go "on line" with a local internet service provider, with dependable Internet and E-mail access not available before. This has benefited the Council tremendously in being able to quickly receive and send messages and files to Council sponsors and affiliate groups for mutual benefits. An example of this improved communication is evident with the work of the steering committee and RC&D Office working to set up and coordinate a major two-day workshop for private forest landowners. Other Council projects involving various task forces and committees are benefiting in the same way. This has resulted in less postage costs and more efficient communications. Moreover, the office is linked with a number of e-mail groups for increased information exchange.
- The Clearwater RC&D Council was well represented at the February 25-26 "Reframing Organizations" workshop conducted by Victoria Creed of Learning Partners, Inc. on contract with the Kellogg Foundation. This workshop was designed to help CSO members evaluate their effectiveness and strengthen management skills. Four RC&D Council members and staff participated in this workshop. Already, one Council member who chairs an area weed management coordinating committee has put to use some of the principles learned at this workshop. Future plans call for discussions within the RC&D Council itself, examining how it currently delivers services and what changes and improvements are needed for enhancing organizational capacity.
- In progress is the development of a RC&D Council web site. Besides presenting information about the Council, its operation, and describing some recent projects, the site will contain a number of important links to other affiliate groups and organizations' data and information.
An "Information Technology for Rural Communities" conference will be conducted by the CSO consortium October 1-2, 1999 in Lewiston, ID. The purpose of the conference is to help community-based nonprofit organizations, local government, RC&D and economic development districts, tribal organizations, community volunteers and others learn how to use information technology to increase their effectiveness. For more details, check out http://www.lcsc.edu/icd/conference/index.htm.
For more information about the MIRA Initiative and how other participants are benefiting, go to the MIRA "Scrapbook" at http://mira.lcsc.edu/wdc/index.htm
