The future of your town is up to you!

Yes you heard right, it's up to you! The question is; can you do anything to influence whether your town survives and prospers? Almost sounds like President John F. Kennedy's famous words: "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."Only you can decide whether you'll say yes to volunteer to serve on a committee or help with an event. Only you can decide whether you'll organize your friends to work together on a crazy project or even start your own business.Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Get creative. Make a plan. Then take action. Your tiny steps will lead to small successes.Along the way you'll fail, other people will squash your best ideas, and the opposition will drive you bananas.Don't give up. That's all part of what it takes to succeed and that all leads to bigger successes. Babe Ruth once said, "It's hard to beat a person who never gives up."We can't give up on our towns.Successful communities attract more resources and more prosperity. That compounds itself into still more successes.Most importantly, you are setting an example for the next generation. Show them your town is worth fighting for and believing in. That it's a great place to live, work and raise a family.We choose to live here and we can choose to make our towns better. But we need to take that first step.We need to make that commitment for ourselves and our children and our children's children.Ten years from now, your town will be the example everyone talks about.You'll look back, and you'll remember that one tiny step, that one decision, that one moment. That's what it took.That's what kicked it all off.That's why your town is prospering. Because you decided to do something positive.There are many organizations in our towns in Carbon County that need assistance.Seek them out, volunteer time, money or do whatever you can to help even if it's just to attend an event or bake something for a bake sale.Successful economic development isn't just recruiting new companies to relocate here, or approving loans for companies to expand or start-up or even to counsel new entrepreneurs.It has to include a grass-roots effort by the people who live here to keep their towns clean and spruced up for company so it looks like we actually do care when a corporate executive visits.My challenge to you is this: Join a group in your town that is trying to make a positive difference. A group that has the same interests or passion as you.Can't find one? Create your own.Just take that first step.You will be amazed at what you can accomplish.