Communicating is sharing and showing up

La Conner residents are invited to a public forum addressing “Growing Pains” in town March 31 at 6 p.m. in the school district’s Bruce Auditorium. The forum is the first effort of the town council’s communication committee to both provide information to residents on pressing issues and to engage the community in discussion.

Councilmember MaryLee Chamberlain started championing getting information on town plans and projects to residents last fall. With fellow Councilmember Rick Dole, a committee started discussing ways residents can get accurate and timely information. The committee moved quickly to organize this forum. This effort is a success in itself.

Residents are now a critical part of the mix. If there really is widespread concern – and questions – over housing and growth, resident participation will show that.

The forum is the first step in this new town process. A robust process takes time and effort to create, develop and support. All parties must participate. That critical factor, participation, must be cultivated continuously. It is a tentative crop and needs nurturing on an ongoing basis, early on daily, weekly, monthly until early shoots sprout leaves and stems grow strong. As a process it must be repeated year in and year out.

A strong process serves residents and government officials, offering a structure to be used whatever the issue. The success is in the process and not the product. The vote, decision or money spent is not the primary issue. The democratic question is how open the process is, what information is shared and when and how often and in what ways were residents engaged.

The March 31 forum requires residents showing up and participating.