Anaconda ‘blog’ encourages community to discuss issues

By Erin Nicholes, of The Montana Standard - 12/09/2007

ANACONDA — From opinions about government to ideas about the economy, a new blog is giving residents a forum to discuss community issues.

The blog, at www.anaconda.communityblogs.us, is required for the community’s participation in Horizons, a program aimed at sculpting communities capable of tackling poverty. The word blog is short for “Web log.” “People just don’t think we have the tools to communicate effectively between community members, and in and amongst groups and officials,” said blog moderator Dan Villa. The blog will “create one even playing field for community members to bring up their concerns and for officials to get feedback on policies and procedures.” Anaconda is one of several Montana communities participating in Horizons, a program of the Northwest Area Foundation, which is a regional philanthropic group providing grants to rural communities wrestling with poverty.

The blog is intended to foster discussions to identify community issues and work toward solutions.

“Part of the Horizons project is to build community awareness,” said Villa, who has participated in several stages of the program.

The blog, which has been online about a month, spurs discussions with a question of the week and other topics. In addition, users can start new threads and organizations can post announcements.

“Say the chamber of commerce wanted to advertise for Good Neighbor Day,” Villa said as an example. “We hope to see the (county) commission minutes and agendas posted, the community calendar of events, all those sorts of things.” The blog also offers links to the Anaconda community home page, local school Web sites, newspapers and the state of Montana site.

To participate in the blog, users need computer access and an e-mail address. The Hearst Free Library has computers, and Web-based e-mail addresses are free from a variety of providers. On the blog, users choose screen names, which allows anonymity.

Free expression and participation are encouraged, although the blog will be monitored.

“We want to make sure nobody’s getting personally attacked … so it becomes a community building activity rather than a personal destruction tool,” Villa said.

Erin Nicholes may be reached at erin.nicholes@mtstandard.com.