About Us:
Rural Klamath Connects is a regional communication hub linking 5 rural communities in southeastern Klamath County, Oregon (Bonanza, Malin, Merrill) and northeastern Siskiyou County, California (Butte Valley-Dorris, Tulelake).
As part of the Rural Klamath Connects Network, our desire is to be supportive and garner synergy from one another as noted below in an excerpt from the Try Unity Directory (2005).
LESSONS FROM GEESE
If we looked up once in a while we could learn lessons from the Flying Geese.
They fly in a “V” formation. While in this formation, the geese honk from behind to encourage their lead goose to keep up the pace.
When the lead goose is tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose takes its place. If one goose is sick or injured, two geese fly down and stay with it. By flying in formation the flock increases their capacity for distance by 80% – this is called “Synergy”.
Our hope for our communities is that we can achieve “Synergy” and bring forth a united force to be the best that we can be for those around us and for ourselves.
Our Purpose
As a regional communication hub providing our five communities –Bonanza, Butte Valley-Dorris, Malin, Merrill, and Tulelake– opportunity to showcase what is great about our area and the resources available for our residents and visitors.
Most importantly, we want to connect local people with organizations, clubs, non-profits, businesses, government and social services. We are working toward a more informed and connected regional community.
Our History
Our group started in 2003 with the Ford Family Foundation and Rural Development Initiative (RDI) offering a leadership training for residents in Merrill, Malin, and Tulelake area. This group was known as ” Try-Unity”. What is Try-Unity? A group of community members from Malin, Merrill, and Tulelake, that have been working towards a common goal of oneness among the three communities.
Our goal was to work on community projects and stay better connected. We developed a logo with Geese that represented how we wanted to unite: Fly together so we might go further and faster; take advantage of the lifting power of those ahead of us; take turns doing the hard tasks; always make sure our honking is positive; and stand by one another. Over a five year period we had three classes of leadership training, numerous classes on community collaboration and effective organizations.
We took on community projects and published a Try-Unity Directory. In 2007 we had a visioning event in Tulelake with over 100 people in attendance. Our group was excited to identify projects to work and ways to accomplish them.
2008 brought on challenges in our communities, along with the rest of the country, which we did not expect. With the decline in the economy each of our communities had to fight hard just to survive. Numerous businesses closed and services were limited in the area. Fast forward to 2014 and a renewed energy could be felt within our group.
A revitalization meeting was held that included several other communities and a renewed sense we would go forward and accomplish great things together. Leaders from Butte Valley-Dorris and Bonanza wanted to join our cause and continue working on revitalization projects and better communications between the communities. With the help of Roi Crouch and Mary Ward of Community Systems and along with the Ford Family Foundation, we are currently working on a pilot program that involves the development of a community website Rural Klamath Connects.
Our Vision
To create a more vibrant, engaged and economically sustainable regional community.
Values and Principles
Community First
We are committed to making improvements that impact our entire regional community.
Collaboration
Our five communities are committed to working together to build a vibrant regional community.
Servitude
We are committed to making the most of our service through regular community engagement.
What we do
We are committed to meeting the needs of our communities by promoting programs, projects and events that enhance the quality of life for our residents and create a healthy, vibrant community. We are committed to beautifying our downtowns, promoting our local history, and encouraging tourism and economic development.
