Team members are experienced professionals who bring a fresh perspective to the community. The mix of professional and national backgrounds stimulates creative problem solving and facilitates the development of innovative ideas. The team visit is just one phase of the process, however. At the heart of the Exchange is the local organizing committee within each community. Committees are formed involving local elected officials, county and municipal administrators, civic interest groups, real estate interests, farmers, business interests, tourism officials, and planners.
Members volunteer their time.
Their first task is to submit an application to the Exchange. Once selected, they must define and implement the case studies. After the visiting team leaves, the local organizers identify recommendations or ideas that are of the most interest and should be implemented. With the assistance of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and the Countryside Institute, an Exchange team traveled to Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Questions to the team focused on land use and resource protection.