Now that I'm working for a Credit Union, I've come to appreciate the value of the organizational structure of the user/member collective. I occasionally come up with ideas that involve applying the Credit Union concept to other areas of the economy. In this case, the problem that needs solving is the issue of the state of California closing its parks, particularly our own Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa.
My thought is that a user collective could be formed that could take over the operation of the park from the State in the case that the state follows through and closes the park. The idea would be that this collective would collect membership dues, solicit donations, provide employees to manage the park and coordinate volunteers to maintain the park in the absence of the state. I don't know who would start or manage this organization, but I have a strong sense that the community would come through with enough support to make sure Annadel stays open.
To extend the idea, my thought is that the membership in this organization would likely include at least three levels, one very inexpensive one (five or ten dollars) to allow those that can't afford much to participate, one middling one that would be say $75 or $100 and would include something of similar value like a state park pass, and a third higher level of $200 or more that would include some kind of commemorative like a brick or a bench with the member's name in the park.
1 comment:
Reminds me of visiting a famous Mayan ruin in Belize that was only still open and in good shape because it was sold off to become a resort/spa. So, stay the night in a bungalow, then walk 50 yards over hand-trimmed landscape to the actual ruins. It was in stark contrast to our way of handling our precious resources. But, with tight finances, we need to become more nimble.
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