# Presentation: 049606

## NRDP Success Stories

- Presentation to NRDP by Ella Ennis and Dave Barr, NPO
- NRDP Conference
- June 2, 2003

## Success StoriesWhy Do We Need Stories?

- Success Stories show the RESULTS of SRDCs in their state and beyond
- Success Stories are how we PROVE to funders that SRDCs are WORTH funding
**SRDC Uniqueness=High Worth=High Sustained $**
- Success Stories are a RECORD of SRDC activities
- Success Stories are EXAMPLES of potential work for other SRDCs as well as solutions for others in similar situations

## Success Story Process

- Biannual collection (in the past 6 stories per year, minimum of 2 stories in 2003)
- Rough draft written
- NPO/SciComm collection
- Editing (NPO, SciComm, & SRDCs working TOGETHER)
- Final draft
- Distribution
- Legislative briefings, web page, NRDP Update, Brochures, Annual Reports, Newsletters, news releases

## Success Story Writing Process

- Topic Choice
- Topics should be
- Chosen from work plan priorities
- Relative to mission of Council
- Able to demonstrate the Impact of Council work
- Not a recycled story
- i.e. 3rd, 4th, and 5th Annual Conference
- Initial Draft
- Follow SciComm/NPO Instructions
- Revisions
- Final Draft
- Upload to Web and Distribution

## Success Story Marketing Venues

- Well written success stories are transferable to
- Written/Broadcast Press Releases
- Newsletters
- Web pages
- Annual Reports
- Brochures
- Meeting Handouts

## Okay, So What’s WRONG with my Success Stories	

- There are _NO_ bad success stories, just stories that could use some improvement
- 3 Major Problem Areas with currently submitted success stories
- Unclear description of the Purpose
- WHAT HAPPENED?
- Unclear description of Partners’ & SRDCs’ Roles
- WHO DID WHAT and WHY?
- Unclear description of the Outcome,
- WHAT WAS THE IMPACT?
- WHAT CHANGED or IMPROVED?

## Elements of a Success Story

- Title for the Story
- Problem, Need or Possible Opportunity
- Purpose and Point (what and why)
- Partners & Participation (who contributed, how: cooperation, coordination or collaboration)
- Process and Progress (how work was accomplished & how it’s going)
- Products, Programs or Policy Highpoints
- Passion, Pride
- Perceptions and Possibilities

## Crafting the Story:Tell ‘em, Tell ‘em, Tell ‘em

- Title: Tell ‘em the major point of the story!
- Introduction: Tell ‘em what they’re about to read!
- Body: Tell ‘em the details!
- Conclusion: Tell ‘em a summary of the progress or outcome!
- Highlights: Tell ‘em a quick recap of the accomplishments!

## MT-RDP COORDINATES RESOURCE TEAM ASSESSMENTS FOR THREE RURAL COMMUNITIES

- The Montana Rural Development Partners (MT-RDP) recently coordinated teams and communities for Resource Team Assessments. Polson, Forsyth, and Conrad have recently completed MT-RDP assessments. So far, this brings the count of completed Resource Team Assessments in rural Montana to six, with a seventh team ready to visit Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation in November 2002.

## MT-RDP COORDINATES RESOURCE TEAM ASSESSMENTS FOR THREE RURAL COMMUNITIES

**Team members include: MT Department of Commerce, MT USDA/RD, Larry Keown Associates, MT Department of Agriculture, MT Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, HUD, Northwestern Energy, Bear Paw Development, and North Central RC&D.**
**As word spread across Montana of the value of the Resource Team Assessment process, many communities requested an MT-RDP team visit. As a precursor to the assessment, Executive Director Gene Vuckovich visited each community to review the assessment process and set dates for a team visit. The Council organized teams for each community by drawing on a pool of trained team members.**

## MT-RDP COORDINATES RESOURCE TEAM ASSESSMENTS FOR THREE RURAL COMMUNITIES

**Each assessment community is in a different phase of completion. Cut Bank, MT-RDP’s first Resource Team Assessment, is in the planning stages for a follow-up visit from the team to determine what has been accomplished. Currently, reports are being written for Polson, Forsyth, and Conrad that will be shared with the community during a town meeting.**
**There is total agreement among all of the team members that the MT-RDP Resource Team Assessment process is a valuable benefit for everyone involved. The community finds new strength, enthusiasm, and resources while the team members are able to promote and educate the public on their programs.**

## MT-RDP COORDINATES RESOURCE TEAM ASSESSMENTS FOR THREE RURAL COMMUNITIES 

**Highlights**
- Coordinated Resource Team Assessment for three rural towns.

## IRDC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT FOWLER, INDIANA

**As part of the Indiana Rural Development Council’s (IRDC) Community Visitation program, 12 IRDC representatives traveled to Fowler, Indiana, in early June 1999. The Visit Team met with 10 groups that included local officials and citizens and represented a cross-section of the community.**
**Through IRDC's facilitated discussions, Fowler residents' opinions about their community emerged and key problems and resource needs were identified. Community strengths and weaknesses, future goals, and possible action steps were among the topics discussed during the meetings. "We appreciate the IRDC team's leadership efforts in Fowler," said Jay Davis, Fowler's Town Council President.**

## IRDC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT FOWLER, INDIANA

**IRDC will draft a report for the community that summarizes points discussed during the visit and lists resources available to Fowler to initiate action on any of the issues. Community leaders can use this report as the basis for an action plan and as a tool to encourage further discussion in the community. "It is the first step toward some much-needed improvements in our rural communities," noted one resource provider.**
**This is the second year IRDC has offered the Community Visitation program, which allows local communities to meet with IRDC resource providers in an informal, open setting. Selection of cities to be visited is based on need, past efforts, and community involvement.**

## IRDC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT FOWLER, INDIANA

- "As a pilot project last year, the Community Visitation Task Force determined that needs of rural communities differ greatly," said Scottsburg Mayor and IRDC Chairman Bill Graham. "This program allows IRDC members the opportunity to understand the challenges facing one rural community while providing local leaders with a resource for action."
- The visit to Fowler was the first of four scheduled in 1999. The towns of Borden, Otterbein, and West Baden also were selected for visits this year.

## IRDC REPRESENTATIVES VISIT FOWLER, INDIANA 

**Highlights**
- Sent a 12-member visit team to Fowler, IN to discuss the community’s strengths and weaknesses, future goals, and possible action steps.
- Will visit Fowler three additional times in 1999, to complete a four-visit schedule.
- Will draft a report that summarizes the discussions that can be used to develop an action plan.

## Final Thoughts

- Council work is IMPORTANT and merits telling the story
- All people respond well to a good STORY
- Success Stories are one way to show SRDC success to
- Congress
- Existing and Potential Funders
- Existing and Potential Partners
- The Public