It’s time. Bellingen Community Automotive.

I love a great idea, and when I come across one I get excited at the prospect that many people could achieve if they put their minds to this.

Dr Herzberg has certainly pulled one out of the hat with this idea to purchase the late Carl Foster's iconic garage in the centre of Bellingen NSW.

He puts forward a very interesting point of view that may enlighten a lot of people to the truth of the business situation and why ideas like his are important to consider.    I also think it would be an honour to Carl Foster too because no doubt they would retain the name .. it is the name everyone knows the Garage as, either that or it gets called Cj's.

You may be aware that Fosters garage is for sale.

It appears that it is close to sale. The business will close and the site will be developed, in some way. It will be owned, as most of the buildings in our public area are, by a private individual. That person will put in the money to buy the property, invest in its development, earn from renting out the space and, perhaps, at some point in the future, sell the property and probably earn some more from the capital gain.

Foster's Garage was iconic and I hope it stays that way.

Fosters Garage

There is a great opportunity here. For us, as a community to own something together. As part of a step in the direction of collaboration and cooperation among all of us.

As the challenges to our society and our planet continue to become more complex ( and dire, one might say) the relative power and ability of each of us individually to engage and affect these challenges is diminishing. We watch, mostly helplessly, in the face of …..moral and ethical catastrophes across the realms of media, immigration, first people, health, law, finance, agriculture, mining, education while our governments struggle to balance the needs and wishes of the few with the many…. Many of us spend a good deal of time and energy working to correct these wayward strategies, all the while recognising a deep sense of futility.

There is a massive shift occurring amongst human activity across the planet. The time of separation has past. A time of new interconnectedness is here. Our fates are inexorably linked. They actually always have been, only now it’s becoming ever clearer. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, eat from the same earth. We drive on the same roads. We employ the same politicians.

It is time for us to collectively own and take stewardship of more than just the cars we drive and the houses we live in ( if we own them ).
If a single individual can own a strip of shops in the main street of a small country town and glean a financial benefit, why not a group of people? Why not the whole community?

This is not specifically a money making venture, although I doubt anyone would complain if we all made a little money as well.
This is an investment in community. Our community. By our community.

There are many possibilities for how this can occur but in essence at this stage my suggestions for what we need:
The money: at least $1.2 million. That’s $1200 each from 1000 people, on average. This can be lots of very small amounts, a few very large ones and everything in between. The point is to secure the premises.

We also need:

The Board - 5- 7 people with a range of skills and experience and social groups to represent the broader community in the vision and mission of the enterprise.

The executive - 3-5 people with the skills and experience to run the business as and with the board directs.

The employees - work for the business.

The members - own the business.

We will still need to clarify what a share in the business looks like but the principle is one of inclusion. This is not designed to be a process for making lots of money using lots of money. They have a say in how it works, is run, the broader development or new streams and activities. Ideally, members get cheaper fuel, access to mechanics, opportunities for training and employment, cheaper rent for other business premises once the site is further developed… There are many possibilities.

I propose a community consultation and workshop process to find out who is interested and how much.

I look forward to hearing from you.
Gull
Dr Gull Herzberg
Bellingen NSW

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

The RAND Corporations "Delphi System"

Understanding the Delphi System by The Conspiracy Analyst 

Researching government and companies who are responsible for the destruction of our country and other countries around the planet I have come across many systems of manipulation and corruption in doing this.  The Rand Corporation is one that stuck out to me.  I am doing some more research,  I really felt I saw this name of board games of the 1960's.  But it could have been something else.  Things from ones own childhood can be remembered wrongly so I need to look at this further.  

"The Rand Corporation in the early sixties developed the "Delphi Technique" for the purpose of maneuvering segments of the public into accepting pre-determined government policies. 

RAND Corporation (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the seventies and eighties, it was used to convince land owners of the merits of accepting general land use planning maps. Now it is being employed to persuade the public to accept Outcome Based Education and the licensing of all employees via endorsements in the Certificate of Initial Mastery ("CIM") and Certificate of Advanced Mastery ("CAM") programs, a/k/a "School to Work."

"The goal of the Delphi technique is to lead a targeted group of people to a pre-determined outcome, while giving the illusion of taking public input under the pretext of being accountable to the public. For Delphi to work, it is critical that the targeted group be kept away from knowledgeable people who could lead them away from the Delphier's pre-determined outcome.

"One variation of the Delphi technique is to use a series of meetings. The attendees are often given a number or a colored card when they enter the room, to determine at which table they are to sit. The purpose of this is to break up the groups of potentially knowledgeable people who arrive together so that they will be sitting with strangers and therefore be subdued.

"Typically, at each table is a facilitator, someone who will know which way to help "steer" the group. Usually, the people at each table are instructed to answer among themselves some of the questions and arrive at a table consensus. Someone is chosen to speak for the table, and most of the time it is the person who has been secretly pre-briefed about the desired Delphi outcome. The table spokesperson is the only one allowed to address the podium and the others have little opportunity to address the podium or the crowd directly.

"Anyone knowledgeable enough, or brave enough, to speak out in opposition will not be welcomed. Often they are told from the podium "we don't have time to discuss that now," or "we discussed that on another date," or "we can discuss that after the meeting." They will attempt to quiet, isolate and discredit dissenters. After attending the Delphi meeting, participants may feel that they are in disagreement with the apparent majority. The Delphi technique is often successful in bluffing people into submission. Don't let them succeed. Call their bluff.

"The Delphi technique often uses a series of surveys to bring about "consensus." The surveys are promoted as information gathering regarding the wishes of the targeted public, but in reality they are designed to manipulate the desired outcome. The survey will sometimes use gradings like: "agree all of the time; agree most of the time; agree some of the time; agree not much; agree never." Or the survey grading will ask the respondents to use ratings like "most important, moderately important, least important."

"The questions are typically "loaded" questions. An example is the question asked of Oregon teachers on a Delphi technique survey: "Do you agree or disagree that the following elements of H.B. 3565 [Oregon's Education Act for the 21st century] will lead to improved student learning if implemented?" The survey listed such items for the teachers to agree or disagree with: "site councils," "increased accountability for school sites and districts," "full funding for preschool programs to enable all students to enter school ready to learn," "extended school year," "Certificate of Initial Mastery," et cet. The questions are patently loaded. For example, site councils are not charged with improving student learning as their function is to implement the state law, dole out professional development courses and money to selected teachers, and apply for grants from foundations and the federal government. For the teachers to answer agree or disagree that the site councils will lead to improved student learning is misdirecting the respondent.

"The Delphi surveys "educate" the people taking the survey. After the first survey is taken, the respondents are given an analysis and told that most people agreed or somewhat agreed on the pre-determined outcome. Then usually they are given another survey and asked if they can be flexible and try to rethink the "few remaining" areas of disagreement. When the series of surveys are accomplished, the respondents are told that the majority of respondents achieved "consensus" with whatever direction the pollers wanted in the first place.

Henry "Hap" Arnold

"These techniques were developed decades ago. The Rand Corporation has more recently been developing games that groups of business people, council members, organizations, et cet, can use to help "sell" people on collectivism, consensus vs. majority rule, et cet.

"Never, ever compromise when it comes to "right and wrong." With the right attitude you shouldn't care what people think, as long as you are standing up for what is right. Accept persecution gracefully."

Images @ Eminpee Fotography

NORCO POLICY ON MINING AND COAL SEAM GAS EXPLORATION AND EXTRACTION

 

Preamble
Norco Co-operative Ltd was established in 1895 and has been representing the interests of dairy farmers and the broader agricultural sector for over 117 years. Norco is connected to its rural communities through its diverse range of businesses, including its milk processing and packing factories, its Rural Stores network and its Goldmix stock and animal nutrition business.

Norco has and will continue to advocate for appropriate outcomes for rural communities and businesses, having regard always to the obligation of society generally to respect and protect our valuable agricultural resources, not least of which is the precious environment in which we all live and work. In that context Norco has adopted the following policy on mining and Coal Seam Gas (CSG) exploration and extraction.

Policy
1. Environmental Responsibility and Future Food Security

Any proposed project relating to mining and CSG exploration and / or extraction must be proven to be environmentally safe prior to its commencement. Further, any such project must not interfere unreasonably with the productive capacity of farms. In addition, the integral beauty of our rural regions on which we rely in promoting and marketing our products in Australia and as exports overseas, and which we hold on trust for future generations, must be protected.

2. The Use of Prime Agricultural Land

Prime agricultural land and land which is subject to intensive agricultural activities such as dairying and horticulture should be protected from mining and CSG exploration and extraction. This land should be preserved as such in order to maintain the agricultural productivity of the relevant region and in order to protect the future food security of Australia.

3. Landowners' Rights

Mining and CSG exploration and / or extraction should not occur on land without the consent of the owner(s) of that land. Where mining or CSG exploration and / or extraction project has been demonstrated to satisfactorily address the environmental and food security issues referred to in paragraph 1 above, commencement of that project should be subject to appropriate compensation being paid to the relevant landowner(s). Such compensation should address, without limitation, any adverse impact on the concurrent agricultural use of the relevant land and should be commensurate with reasonable commercial outcomes.

4. Proximity to Homes

Mining and CSG exploration or extraction should only be permitted within a reasonable
mutually agreed distance of residential areas or individual farm residences / dairies after
appropriate consultation between all affected parties.

For further reading:  NORCO

I personally welcomed this policy by NORCO in the year of the Co-Op and more businesses should follow suit with the same sort of Policy.  I think this may have been the lynch pin in the deal to buy back the company from New Zealand's Fontera Australia Holdings.

I welcome this change and I have personally asked for this to happen and I am amazed that this along with the Catholic Church and the Mining Bribery Scandal all in one day is rather remarkable!
Review Date: January 2013

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Outsmarting Bellingen Shire Council Nicely

What about this one?  I think its good value too.  This could be another way to increase trade to the Antique Shop.

Premium Small Car Door Magnets by Vistaprint

I have been having a lot of fun looking around for ways in which we can increase the trade to the Urunga Antique & Collectables Shop down in the Industrial Estate on Short Cut Road.  It has been a constant battle to get trade when council will not allow any sign at the top of the street to alert passing traffic to the whereabouts of an antique shop.

 

From the point of view of tourism alone, this is a thorough disservice to visitors coming to the area.  I personally comb all antique shops where ever I go and find one when I am visiting other areas and I am vitally sure that there are many the same as me.  I would be sad to think I missed out just because I could not find it. 

The local council have been very sad and mean with their action regarding the shop.  No longer is the owner allowed to phone the council re issues or he will be charged and therefore all correspondence with the two parties will be via mail only.  This is outrageous.

 

Recently the shop owner ran alone in the local council elections and he came in fifth and he had a very large slice of the votes but of course he was not elected.  He was in a group all on his own and it went to show how much support he actually had throughout the shire.

 

 
So we will get some nifty Magnetic Car Door Signs made.  We will somehow outsmart them  and we will win this fight by finding alternatives. 


A sign at the top means forty to fifty people a day visit the shop.  No sign means perhaps four or five people visit the shop.  Council said he should move somewhere else.  What sort of solution is that for a struggling small business owner who only wants to earn an honest living.  He needs to get trade to the shop to survive though.  So what else can we do.  Thinking caps well on and if you have any ideas you want to share with me then by all means share them.


Pinterest
Images @ Melopopzdropz Flickr