Perspective
Brian Protheroe - San Francisco, CA.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Perspective
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE can be a valuable tool. It gains tremendous validity when the outsider has a vested interest in the community.
Brought to my attention was a conversation on The Emporia Gazette’s Web site regarding the proposed visitors center. Economic vitality was the central theme. A former Emporian, who had recently visited town from her home in Chicago, chimed in. Generously, she provided her observations about Emporia (the good and the bad) and possible improvements that could be made to polish the community. Instantly, a band of naysayers attacked her comments. As a card-carrying former Emporian, her feedback should have been welcomed, heavily considered in fact.
During the split second they had her attention, no one asked the important question, “Why did you leave Emporia?” That opportunity vanished as quickly as her departing flight.
As secretary of my Emporia High School graduating class, I keep track of the whereabouts of my fellow classmates. A rough estimate of this data indicates fewer than 20 percent continue to live in the area. In other words, approximately 200 of us have made the decision to create our lives away from Emporia. Additionally, through communication with those who remain, I’ve learned several await the first opportunity to pack their bags.
So, to The Emporia Gazette, Chamber of Commerce, CVB, Regional Development Association and the optimistic citizens of Emporia, I request that you begin your journey of community rediscovery and redevelopment by reaching out to the multitudes who graduated from “Club Emporia” and ask, “What would it take for you to return, reclaim pride in your hometown and want to invest toward its prosperity?”
To quote Albert Einstein, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.”
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, Calif.
shadou (anonymous) says...
Very nice comment and excellent questions! Just one more thing, raise the question of why people stay in Emporia.
August 12, 2009 at 8:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
I left Emporia when I was 18 because I joined the Army and they kindly suggested that I move to South Carolina for a bit and then to Germany for a bit longer. They were very persuasive so I decided I'd do what they said. When they gave me a choice again 3 years later on whether I wanted to keep making my decisions for me or if I would once again like to take over control of my own mind, I decided the latter. I had some money in my pocket, no family to tie me down, I could have gone anywhere I wanted to. I chose to come home to Emporia. At that time there was plenty of industry jobs in Emporia I knew I could get with my military experience and my family was here. That's why I'm here. I'm kind of a dieing breed though. I just want an honest day's pay for an honest day's work and as long as I can pay the bills I'm good. Most folks these days want an honest week's pay for an honest day's work. I don't know if Emporia will ever really satisfy most folks these days.
August 12, 2009 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh4r5B...
"Forget your lust for the rich man's gold
All that you need is in your soul,
And you can do this if you try.
All that I want for you my son,
Is to be satisfied."
August 12, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
goodoleboy (anonymous) says...
The guy is just asking the question because he actually cares about his hometown. Where he lives is largely irrelevant, perhaps he should just say screw Emporia, would that make you happy? Facts are Emporia HAS gone downhill very quickly in the past 10 years and instead of focusing on the things that could restore the town, the powers that be want to focus on unecessary projects and continue to make bad decisions.
August 13, 2009 at 8:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
A very well thought out and written letter from Brian P.
The reasons people leave Emporia is higher education, military service or jobs.
If everyone who graduated from "club Emporia", as Brian called it were to stay in Emporia it wouldn't be Emporia.
We would have a population in excess of 1 million and the hometown feel would be gone.
JOBS, that's the key.
August 13, 2009 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I see nothing wrong whatsoever with asking people who grew up in Emporia to explain why they left. In fact, the answers they provide would certainly provide a wider and deeper look into elements like housing, employment, taxation, infrastructure, etc. It's an honest viewpoint, not a criticism.
I say this because the person Brian is referring to in the above article is my daughter. As someone who regularly travels throughout the U.S. to appraise areas for retail development, her opinion was valuable. It was particularly valuable because having grown up here, she could make comparisons better than someone who had never seen Emporia before.
Like Brian, my daughter cares about Emporia because its her hometown. What is more, I'm her mother and I live here. She cared enough, that even though she was only here for a short few days, she took the time to write her views on this forum.
Why did she leave? In a word, employment.
August 13, 2009 at 9:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
How long ago did she leave? Like I said before there used to be plenty of employment opportunities in this town, IBP, Sauder's, Thermal Ceramics, Detroit Diesel, Modine, Hopkins, Didde's(sp), Dolly Madison, Evco, Hopkins, and probably some I'm forgetting. Before she left did she try any of these? When I came back, about 15 years ago, getting employment in this town was as easy as filling out an application.
August 13, 2009 at 10:07 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Confetti (anonymous) says...
I too grew up in Emporia and left as a young adult about 15 years ago. Emporia is in a sad, sad state of affairs and had been well before the recession. While many others towns around the nation revitalized, Emporia unfortunately took turns for the worse. Emporia has a rich history, great schools and is in an opportune location (directly off I-35); Emporia should have boomed as community.
It is extremely important to evaluate why young people chose to leave an area. It is great that dialogues are flaring about Emporia's future, but the key to Emporia's vitality is to invest in the young and entice them to return with their experience and education by providing stainable forward-leaning employment (green jobs, technology etc.).
SG
Washington D.C. metro area
August 13, 2009 at 1:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
No seriously, she went away to college in the early 80's and stayed away because opportunities in the larger areas are much greater than they are here. The retail industry stations their executives in areas like Los Angeles, Dallas, Chicago, New York, Atlanta because they have airports which are major hubs. Thanks for the suggestions.
August 13, 2009 at 4:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
The Becker Addition was bought up by folks working at IBP in the eighties and those are some sweet house( at least back then). If you didn't think you could carve out a nice life for yourself right here with one of the easily acquired industry jobs back then you were wrong. I think looking to our past successes is a smart thing to do. Obama was talking, in that county he always talks about with the high unemployment, about creating industry jobs by building "greener" cars in this country instead of importing them all and I love the idea. Emporia would be a great place for some OEM factories to support this. Instead of reinventing Emporia we could restore it to what it was when manufacturing jobs were plentiful and dumbies like me could easily get the jobs that seem to be beneath most these days. Restoration not reinvention, I think that is the way to go, it's much more realistic.
Seriously R. Folks
August 13, 2009 at 5:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
It's all ratio to proportion, YY.
August 13, 2009 at 6:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Observation
"Seriously once again writes a stroke of genius thought.You are so smart."
So can I get some of those steak knives or what? ;)
August 13, 2009 at 7:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
YY4U
"Emporia has 26,269 lovely residents and one ugly one."
Are you sure your stats are right here? Did you go to the fair? That was bad ................. please forgive me.
Seriously R. Folks
August 13, 2009 at 8:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Are the knives undercoated? If so is that extra?
August 13, 2009 at 9:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pizza (anonymous) says...
It seems to me that JOBS is the key to seeing an improvement in Emporia. Decent jobs in Emporia seem to be fewer and fewer. This is the responsibility of local governments and the RDA amongst others. The RDA hasn't had a new idea in years and has accomplished little in the past decade. It needs new blood with some ambition and new and positive ideas. Doing the same thing over and over will yield the same poor results. The same thoughts could pretty much be attributed to the Gazette and the Chamber. Emporia needs some new ideas, some excitement, some enthusiasm and not more of the same old "good ol' boy" club. Ask the people who left why they left town and what other places had to offer. Listen to them and act accordingly.
August 14, 2009 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
I was born in Newman Hospital, am a life long Lyon Co resident. Many of my classmates went elsewhere to college and never returned. Some moved to the "City" and other States for whatever they offered that Emporia couldn't provide. Some of them moved back, some never returned. I looked for work away from Emporia in the early 80's, because at the time my choices were slim around here unless I wanted to work in a factory setting. I was offered two seperate jobs the first week I applied in Wichita. The offers sounded great, the jobs paid alot more money than I was making locally. Before accepting either of the offers, I decided to check out the cost of relocating to the big city. One day of looking at rental properties in Wichita($500/month would get you a bug free efficiency), dealing with the traffic, and experiencing first hand what my neighbors would be like, I came back home and turned down the offers.
If you want what big city living offers, I suggest you move there and stop trying to make Emporia what it isn't. We are a rural working class town that happens to have a university located in it. Industry should be interested in locating here due to the transportation opportunities(railroad and three major highways) and our central location in the USA. I believe a big part of the reason they don't come here can be blamed on over-inflated real estate prices on commercial properties and the high taxes here. Being located between Wichita, Topeka, and KC, a supply of workers would be easily obtained if the local area work force was insufficient to meet their demand for staff. Tourism isn't going to grow here by installing a visitor's center. Without a major attraction to get them here, they will not come. There is going to have to be something here besides cattle pastures and the home of a deceased newspaper icon to draw tourists here. A place to stop and stretch the legs, use the bathroom, and let the dog water the trees is not going to bring visitors into town. It would only prepare them to continue their journey to their original destination, while bypassing Emporia having had their current travel needs met.
August 14, 2009 at 5:27 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Such an overwhelming response to my letter. Wow! Most of it good, and some of it so far off track.
To collectively paraphrase a few of you, "Mind your own business." Unfortunately, that's the same form of negativity that I highlighted in my short essay that must to change before Emporia can change. Might I recommend that you carefully re-read the editorial?
Someone else said, and I quote, "If you want what big city living offers, I suggest you move there and stop trying to make Emporia what it isn't." That statement couldn't be anymore far off the topic if it tried. No one has the silly notion to think that Emporia will magically grow into a major city, nor would we want that. In fact, we appreciate Emporia's coziness as a big town/small city.
But, we do want and hope for Emporia to find a pathway towards a sustainable future. There's much we can share from living in communities (large and small) that are not only sustainable, but are also growing, thriving, etc. And, that feedback can be applicable to Emporia's future survival, if you want it.
What I am and many others are saying, and have been saying for a long while, is Emporia (and Emporians) need to adopt a new outlook, a willingness to consider new ideas, in order to thrive. Perhaps not tomorrow, but could Emporia become extinct like such towns as Reading, Miller, Admire, Allen, Bushong, etc.? Seems silly, huh? Well, 50 years ago the residents of those small towns didn't think their communities would fall victim to rural exodus.
This is a most opportune moment to recommend that you read up upon the term "rural exodus." For some time now, Emporia has been showing classic examples of this migratory ailment. 50 odd years ago, people began leaving the rural communities for small towns; it was during a period when mechanization forever changed farming. And now, that same societal shift is affecting manufacturing, the same industry people flocked to from the farms 50 years ago; such employment in the manufacturing sector is becoming scarcer as the percentage of college degrees increase and technology replacing human capital upon assembly lines.
to be continued...
August 15, 2009 at 12:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
continued...
A response to my article was made, "There used to be plenty of employment opportunities in this town, IBP, Sauder's, Thermal Ceramics, Detroit Diesel, Modine, Hopkins, Didde's(sp), Dolly Madison, Evco, Hopkins." For one, a community cannot thrive alone upon one industry, especially the soon to be nonexistent manufacturing trade. Secondly, we want careers, not jobs.
To quote the participant by the screenname of Create, “It’s our hometown, and we care.” It must be made known that with Emporia in its current state, we have no reason to return. Much needs to change, first. With feedback from those of us who left, you will have insight on how to change.
As a very wise boss once told me, "Don't complain unless you can also come to the table with a solution."
I think this editorial, and the subsequent blog, would be served better and be more productive if we allow those who moved away from Emporia to chime in with their examples for "polishing the community." I've received a couple dozen emails from friends across the country who are reading. They want to provide their feedback, but they don't want some of you to attack their suggestions/observations.
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
August 15, 2009 at 12:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Most are right when you say, Emporia sorely needs jobs in up and coming technoligy, such as alternative energy production. Which is why I have taken it upon myself to try and get wind power energy producers interested in locating manufacturing facilities in and around Emporia. Approx. a month ago I sent letters to 4 such wind powered energy producing companies, but have not heard from any of them !
Since RES is developing a 20,000 + acre wind farm not far from Emporia I have readied letters tosend to RES, outlining the attributes and pluses of possibly locating a manufacturing facility in either of the two vacant manufacturing facilities in Emporia, since Emporia is but a short distance from their proposed wind farm .
Jobs, is what is needed now in Emporia ! Create more sustainable jobs and then Emporia and Emporians will have the monetary means to make Emporia grow and be Beautiful and return to the great place to live it once was !
And if I recall correctly, a lot of the houses in the Becker edition and else where were mostly built by construction workers etc., that worked at building the Wolf Creek Generating Station as well as some of those who worked at IBP & Dolly Madison !
August 15, 2009 at 12:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Brian,
I for one am all for feedback, especially when our Ex-Emporian's can do so anonymously on here.
If the feedback is nothing but bashing, I would imagine some ruffled feathers from the flock back here.
But constructive ideas are never bad.
August 15, 2009 at 12:48 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
I have pretty much stayed in Emporia, since I was born here, except for a stint in the service and a stint as production manager for Whitaker Cable Company in North Kansas City for approx 5 years. Otherwise I am pretty much a native Emporia boy and have managed to find gainful employment at several businesses and manufacturers that were either here or are still here ! I guess I have not sought to live elsewhere, because I believe Emporia could once again be a great community to live and work in, if everyone will get straight, what the pressing priority is right now, JOBS and maintaining and repairing Emporias continualy crumbling infrastructure and curbing its penchant for spending foolishly, for foolish things.
I guess I am someone who does not want for much, nor desire to be what I know I am not and what I know I cannot have and I also believe in the old addage of " Live and let Live " and " do unto others as you would have them do unto you ".
August 15, 2009 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
"For one, a community cannot thrive alone upon one industry, especially the soon to be nonexistent manufacturing trade. Secondly, we want careers, not jobs."
I never said that manufacturing was the only industry just the prominent one in this town. There are a lot of "carrier" opportunities within the manufacturing industry. Finance, engineering, graphic design, business management, tech support, etc. Manufacturing provides both jobs and careers(for those that think more highly of themselves), if it does cease to exist that could be a death blow to the working and lower middle class in this country, I'm not ready to just let it die and I hope the powers that be aren't either.
August 15, 2009 at 4:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
"That statement couldn't be anymore far off the topic if it tried."
"Generously, she provided her observations about Emporia (the good and the bad) and possible improvements that could be made to polish the community."
Oh contrare Monfrare, I read your letter to the editor to suggest we should put more priority on considering former residents opinions on how they felt Emporia should be changed to entice them back to town. Former residents left here because Emporia didn't provide what they needed or desired. Most have went to the big cities for higher wages, more opportunities for employment, entertainment, and retail. If all of those changes came to be, Emporia would no longer be the quiet cozy hometown it is now.
Careful attacking opinions that vary from yours Brian, you might be labelled a Bush supporter.
August 16, 2009 at 12:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wirewatt (Ken Bazil) says...
The job situation in Emporia is getting better, just look to the SE and see the new building that is going up. Look to the NE and see the new power plant that is generating electricity because the wind turbines are not running and saving the world. We have alot to be thankful for in these times, and I am sure the RDA is working to get other jobs in here as soon as the money becomes available, and the companies see some light at the end of the tunnel. We have gained back many of the Tyson jobs. Hopefully more companies and jobs to will come to Emporia.
August 16, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
It would be nice to know if the RDA is actively promoting Emporia to businesses. Is Kent H. contacting those parts suppliers to Seimans Corp who is building a new wind turbin manufacturing facility in Hutch?
Is the RDA actively helping the REG people try to secure funding for that stalled project? It seems that project is a shovel ready program just ripe for stimulus money.
Green jobs is where it's at, and it is pretty windy here in Kansas:)
August 16, 2009 at 10:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Steve,
I don' t know about the RDA or anyone or organization doing any contacting of companies to garner interest in locating in Emporia, but I am certainly trying to. I have a letter and info ready to mail to RES on Monday. RES not only develops land for wind farms, but also manufactures wind turbines and them locating a manufacturing facility in Emporia, I think would be beneficial to them because of the close proximity Emporia is to the land they want to develope into a wind farm and the availibility of two vacant manufacturing facilitys that exist in Emporia already !
August 16, 2009 at 10:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
As I understand, one large wind turbine, ideally would require 30 acres of ground. Therefore a 20,000 acre wind farm would ideally be good for 666 large wind turbines.
August 16, 2009 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
methusla
Thank you for what you are doing.
August 16, 2009 at 10:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
seriouslyfolks
I appreciate your thanks very much ! I am doing this for Emporia and all Emporians, present and future !
August 16, 2009 at 11:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
Jobs are good, careers encourage people to stay and build the community. It is not the 21st Century.
August 16, 2009 at 11:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
giggles (anonymous) says...
I would like to ask Brian where all of these "careers" he thinks this town needs are going to come from? What are these high end jobs going to stem from, because we all know that you can't have financiers, public relations, human resources, ceo's, coo's and all of those other titled jobs without an industry to attach it to. Technically, most of those positions are middlemen jobs, you know, the ones between the product and the consumer.
We just so happen to believe that there needs to be a product for consumption. Then there will be the need for the "middlemen" positions.
Is it just me, or do all of these people who think that everyone should have a college education in order to make more money, forget that there is always someone at the bottom of the totem pole? Who is on the bottom of the pole when everyone has middle or top education levels? Who does the manual labor, or the manufacturing of the product? Just curious as to how this utopian society works with everyone at the top, perhaps one of you can answer this for me.
August 17, 2009 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gabby (anonymous) says...
I can't answer you giggles...but, I like your question.
I just heard on the news, a few minutes ago, that the economy may be getting stronger, but the unemployment will reach 10% by December...and, it could be 8-10 years before it gets better.
August 17, 2009 at 3:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Those are good questions to begin a conversation. Before the conversation can begin, it's important that everyone involved to clear their minds of expectations, preconceived ideas, bias, etc. This begins with removing from one's vocabulary such terms as "high end jobs," and instead look at that, which is in all reality, sustainable in terms of employment. I agree, as I've highlighted before, a community cannot rely upon anything less than a diverse workforce (a.k.a. variety of employment). But I should caution, thinking only of manufacturing, with its continual and eventual demise, will keep Emporia's economy in an unsafe state. Positions that pull a lever, push a button or carry heavy loads will continue to be eliminated due to continuous advancements in technology. Such industries will continue to be a high risk for downsizing.
Suppose the RDA, Chamber and other generators of the community’s economic development were to begin an ongoing and constructive forum upon Emporia's future, I believe the dialogue should include; 1.) what skills/resources does Emporia have to offer, and 2.) what companies/industries would benefit from these riches? Emporia State University and FHTC are assets that many communities across the state and the region do not have, and wish they did. Unfortunately, they are revolving doors; students arrive at Plumb Hall or W. 18th Avenue to pursue skills, but leave two or four years later upon receiving a degree (or two). What industries can use those skills to stop the outgoing tide of a trained workforce?
(to be continued)
August 17, 2009 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
(continued)
Telecommunications. ESU is well known for instruction in business (administration, marketing, advertising, information technology, etc.) education, psychology, library and information management and more. Birch may have reduced its numbers in Emporia, but couldn't a case be made for another small telecom to open part of their business in Emporia (start with a call center, expand later)?
Renewable Energy. One contributor to this blog mentioned the progressive and enthusiastic industry of wind turbines as a potential industry looking for a home. I think Emporia would be ideal. Again, many majors from the university would benefit such an endeavor; earth science, business, communications, etc. Only trained engineers would need to be “shipped in,” but it’s not such a long drive from Wichita State or Kansas State. FHTC could certainly deliver well-trained drafters and graphic designers.
Adult Care and Development. Emporia benefits from a low-cost of living, access to major highways, and training programs for nursing and education. Why not promote the development of retirement communities, and learning institutions for those with learning and physical disabilities?
"You see things as they are and ask, 'Why?' I dream things as they never were and ask, 'Why not?'" – George Bernard Shaw
Shall we begin the productive conversation?
Brian Protheroe
San Francisco, CA
August 17, 2009 at 9:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Yes, YY4U, I agree. By "telecommunications" I am referring to wireless. "Land lines" are a thing of the past, too.
To the point of popuation, Emporia will not match that of Kansas City or Wichita, however it should consider what it will take to obtain the status of a micropolitan area (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_S...). As rural exodus continues lay its wrath upon communities across the Great Plains, those that survive will be the ones that are capable of drawing in persons from communities that are slowly becoming extinct. Emporia is at a crossroads of the Kansas Turnpike and I-35; such a prime location.
Throw in the redevelopment of rail in Kansas as a certifiable means of transportation, and Emporia will have an added bonus.
BP
SFCA
August 17, 2009 at 10:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
YY4U,
Amen to the need for commercial air service in the Emporia area. I hope you are young enough to see it in your lifetime.
Your friend who conducts business from his farmhouse has the best of both worlds. My brother-in-law lives in the high Sierras and he does the same thing, only nobody has to come to him. Already he is getting ready to hunker down for the winter since those passes are always snowed in early. He conducts his business from his cabin up there. In fact, he bought himself a town that was for sale several years ago. An entire town made up of 4 people! He bought it for $300 thousand and found a "gold mine" in the form of natural spring water that he sells to bottlers. He says it's like having a dairy without the cows.
I have another friend in Hawaii who writes news articles from home. He rarely goes in to the paper.
Many people work from home and can pick and choose their hours. I have friends who teach college comp classes from home and have been urging me to join them. Now that I'm retired, however, I want to do other things that don't involve grading papers. But the option remains for me if I want.
There are so many options for so many people if they can carve out a niche for themselves and stop thinking that they have to actually go to a bricks and mortar building to go to work.
August 19, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )