The Antrim Community Board has received more than 50 surveys from Antrim residents to date. The board reports that they’ve found a wealth of resources in town – people who know how to fix cars and work with wood, residents who enjoy collecting and love to dance, train buffs, kayakers, cooks, fiber artists, gardeners and more. Many are interested in some of the project ideas that have come up over the months, namely a Welcome Wagon, “neighbor networks” to help seniors stay in their homes, and initiatives aimed at preventing suicide.
The basic job of the Community Board is to discover these “people resources” (through surveys, conversations, and interviews) and collect them in one place (the Antrim Community Asset Bank) – and then bring like-minded people together to develop projects to create and strengthen social or hobby groups. Construction project ideas include putting up community bulletin boards, creating a community café or business incubator space, new recreation areas, or a Community Center. Event project ideas included expanding the Home and Harvest Festival and The Festival of Trees, barbecue and chili cook offs and ping pong. And, the board can help address the difficult issues the community faces, like suicide and drug and alcohol abuse prevention initiatives, providing local support for fellow townspeople and families who are struggling or facing a crisis, making sure neighbor-to-neighbor supports for our children, families, and elders are there when they are needed so that no one falls through the cracks.
Fill out the ACB survey with your interests, talents, ideas, and hopes for the town. The more of “you” in the Antrim Community Asset Bank, the more they can accomplish. This information will only be used with your permission by the ACB to do its work. You can fill out the survey on line at www.antrimnh.org/antrim-community-board/webforms/take-survey-here or send it back by email or regular mail to PO Box 639 in Antrim. For informati on from a real person, please contact coordinators Kristen Vance McCormick at KristenKMcCormick@gmail.com or 446-7754, or Gordon Allen at wgordonallen@gmail.com or 588-2742.