Did you ever wish you could see at a glance what's going on with volunteer groups in your town? What all the various volunteer groups are up to? Two of our America in Bloom participating towns have answers to that dilemma.

In Incline Village, Nevada, (a 2008 criteria award winner, population ~10,000) the Parasol Foundation provides a home for non-profit organizations. They literally provide office space, support services such as copying, storage space, meeting space, and the services of a grant writer. Regular meetings that include members of all the local non-profit groups help the groups develop strategies and programs in which they can collaborate and cooperate.

North Manchester, Indiana, (population ~6260) one of the 2008 population winners, has created a website which includes links to all the community groups. Check Manchester's  "Community Bridge" website at http://www.nmbridge.org/. Leeza Metzger, N. Manchester's America in Bloom committee chair says, "The idea originated in our AIB group and we took it to our Chamber of Commerce and with their help we "got it off the ground" and it has been a successful tool of communication within our community and between groups.  Each group just pays $25 per year to continue to use the site.  We felt it was difficult to contact other groups in town or to know who was in charge of other groups since boards/committees are constantly changing.  This has been a great tool for us and it was our committee's idea to help facilitate communication and collaboration within our town.  We chose the name "North Manchester Community Bridge" because of our covered bridge in town and also because it is a way to "bridge" communication between not-for-profit groups in town, including churches and includes a community calendar too.  You'll notice a special link for North Manchester's America in Bloom committee."

What's remarkable is that they have TWENTY groups in a town of a little more than 6000 people.

Great work, Incline Village and North Manchester!

~Evelyn Alemanni