The CUP is Half-Full in the Big Stone Lake Area

No, CUP is not a typo. It is a philosophy and a vital partnership on the western border of Minnesota that started when people from nine communities across the area got together to discuss their future at a Blandin Community Investment Partnership (BCIP) meeting. It was a discussion that was not always positive. There are troubling trends in the Big Stone Lake area, such as a recent decline in population, that need to be addressed.

Looking on the Positive Side

In a first step to action, residents joined working groups and set out to assess their community in terms of resources and needs. The assets group was particularly fruitful in their findings about the positive aspects of the area. When the time came at the following BCIP planning meeting to demonstrate what they learned about the Big Stone Lake area, the assets group enlightened and entertained the crowd.

Some members dressed up as specific resources-for example the lake, school, park, and local businesses. The oldest man in the group led the way, complete with a baseball cap, in an original rap. The chorus was “yeah, sure, the cup is half-full!” Through this performance the people focused on what resources are already available, and poignantly reflected a philosophy that is based in viewing community issues through a positive light rather than focusing on what is wrong.

What is CUP?

CUP is short for Community University Partnership and describes the relationship between the local university and the community. The acronym CUP was chosen as a reminder of the “cup is half-full” philosophy that informs the planning and decision-making in the Big Stone Lake area. Using the carefully constructed BCIP planning process, as well as the Blandin Foundation’s grant funds, a unique partnership has been formed between the University of Minnesota Morris’s Center for Small Towns and the Big Stone Lake area communities. The Center for Small Towns became involved because they have another layer of resources available and want to highlight and facilitate university and community connections. Some of these resources include faculty, students, and other units of the university system.

Linking Resources

A major asset in the area is the waterfront, the “Foot of the Lake.” The CUP project strives to capitalize on the potential of this area using environmentally sound tactics. An architect from the University’s Center for Rural Design has illustrated the community’s vision for a “safe harbor”, and extensive economic and recreational development. This harbor would allow boats to dock during thebusy summer season. The plan may also include a pavilion gathering area and trails connecting to the Historical Museum and a native prairie. Big Stone Lake is the headwaters of the Minnesota River. Downstream, the national wildlife refuge features a growing herd of buffalo that could intersect with part of a trail route.

Cooperation among organizations and people is creating stronger relationships. The director of the wildlife refuge illustrates this spirit of support: “No matter what the economy does, remember that the refuge is a resource for working together.” Residents are looking closely at the relationships between the region, waterfront, and downtown areas with closer connections in mind. The significant number of lake cabins combined with the added draw of an early fishing season fuel the opportunity to bring people to town for entertainment, supplies, and recreation.

Back to Nature

The community goals of:

* environmental education,
* recreation and
* tourism

found a natural home at the Bonanza Education Center. A nature center with a new part-time director, Bonanza provides experiences and knowledge to children in four school districts. Located on the east shore of Big Stone Lake, it has tremendous ecological diversity including:

* prairie,
* forest, and
* a natural spring

breaking through the ground’s surface. It is an ideal place to learn and a beautiful place to visit. The hope is to expand Bonanza’s season into the summer to serve adults, as well as students, and attract tourists. The director, who hopes to increase to full-time, has extensive experience with the natural world. His love of the outdoors will continue to influence and guide the center’s expansion.

Keeping in Touch

People have agreed: Communication benefits the Big Stone Lake area. A technology center would provide needed lifelong learning opportunities and contribute to the creation of living-wage jobs. This would be a place for intergenerational learning, with people teaching each other how to get the most out of the latest technology. At the Technology Network Transfer, an existing organization, people are exploring business-entrepreneurial development housed in its own building.

Young people in the Big Stone Lake area are also helping to realize the goal of optimizing existing resources. These young residents are involved in an effort to develop a Web-based directory of “what’s happening” in the area.

Building Consensus

The CUP planning process is based on assets-focusing on what resources exist and how they can be developed. It is a slow process, carefully designed to include as many opinions, ideas, and perspectives as possible. According to David Fluegel from the Center for Small Towns, “One of the biggest challenges is keeping people who are product-oriented engaged and committed. Some have a feeling of urgency about addressing these issues that does not wait for the necessary and beneficial process.” Despite these challenges Big Stone Lake area residents boasted the largest contingency at a BCIP celebration event, a night for the communities across Minnesota to share stories and ideas for progress.

Tremendous progress has been made to help dreams become feasible. “Through the planning process we discovered different perceptions of what community means,” says David Fluegel. “However, when it came to the community members’ dreams for the future-where do you want to be in 10 years? – There was consensus.”

Big Stone Lake area residents are energized by planning effective community projects. Roger Bird, a Big Stone Lake volunteer says, “CUP process is like a gift from heaven for a community like ours. We really don’t have any idea what kind of impact this could have. The best process is to keep talking and focusing on common goals and love for our homes.”