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Love the Buzz

by Kelee Riesbeck, Executive Director, Athens County Historical Society \& Museum

When I started as Executive Director at the Athens County Historical Society & Museum in August, 2006, I noticed that it was quiet, (which one would expect at a museum) but perhaps it wastoo quiet. Where were the Ohio University students learning about collections care and researching, designing, and executing changing exhibits? Where were all the county school children coming in for a lesson on some aspect of Athens County history? This is what I envisioned in a historical society workplace environment. It was clear I needed to find ways to bring in the community. Little did I know it would take more than posting our info on an OU volunteer website.

We used to get OU students who just wanted to volunteer somewhereanywherevia this website. The students were polite and meant well, but they didnt have a passion for history thats required when building an exhibit or organizing a collection. How do we get students that are already in the history tent? We approached professors in the history department and a history club already established at OU: the Undergraduate History Association. Now we were cooking with gas: these students, a small handful, researched, developed and designed their own exhibits and a few did collections work.

posted in: athens, athens county, leadership, moving resources, networking, people, strategy, workforce
September 25, 2009 | comments (0)
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Democracy in Action!

by Sarah Conley, Market Manager, Athens Farmers Market

Last Thursday, I joined over 150 fellow Athenians for a Town Hall Meeting. The topics ranged from Transportation Infrastructure to Uptown Economic Development. I facilitated the panel on Increasing Food Security, and was impressed when ten eager and knowledgable individuals sat down at the table. Our group whipped up an incredible brain storm discussing ways in which we can inform and improve the way our City tackles the issue of food security. There must have been an inspirational spark at many of the other tables, too, because after each group met indivdually, we collectively shared some highlights from our discussions. A lot of great ideas were shared, and most groups made plans to meet again before the next Town Hall meeting.

It’s a real testament to this community to see that many citizens excercise their civic responsibility. I was equally impressed with the Mayor and City Planner, as they voiced high regard for hearing the voices of their citizenry.

posted in: athens, development, economic development, government, infrastructure, leadership, networking, strategy, sustainable, uptown
March 18, 2009 | comments (0)
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Nerve

by Russell Chamberlain, Broker/Owner, The Athens Real Estate Company

I just finished reading what is for me a transformational book: Ed Friedman’s “Failure of Nerve.” It’s NOT a bestseller. Friedman’s died in ’96 and left behind an unfinished manuscript that his family and friends “finished” for him. It’s not a perfect book, but neither was “Huckleberry Finn.”

I discovered the book at my dad’s house, borrowed it and haven’t returned it. I can’t return it now: the book is completely marked up w/my own annotations and highlights, and the binding broke half-way through in the course of reading it, to the point where I began using chunks of pages as bookmarks for the next section. Talk about “well thumbed.” It’s that good.

posted in: , balance, economic development, leadership, strategy
February 23, 2009 | comments (0)
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News Junkie Gets Clean

by Russell Chamberlain, Broker/Owner, The Athens Real Estate Company

I’m a news junkie who recently kicked the habit. I had to. Every fix left me wanting more, and the more I got, the worse I felt.

It all started five or so months ago when the dominoes began to tumble: Lehman Brothers. AIG. The Detroit Big Three. Freddie Mac. Fannie Mae. Stocks Plummeting. As the owner/broker of The Athens Real Estate Company, I felt it was my duty to stay abreast of current economic conditions, especially since the collapsing economy was tied so directly to sub-prime lending, record foreclosure rates, and real estate greed in general.

posted in: economy, real estate, strategy
February 10, 2009 | comments (4)
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