The RC&D GeoLab: a Jump-Start for the RC&D Social Revolution - Repost

The RC&D GeoLab: a Jump-Start for the RC&D Social Revolution

A warm welcome to the RC&D GeoLab

A Jump-Start for the RC&D Social Revolution

Friends and Colleagues in RC&D,
Not too long ago, RC&D councils across the nation looked very different than they do today.
The things we did were imbued with a spirit of excitement, a palpable energy: in our communities, we were the catalysts and the initiators. We were the first ones people looked to for solutions. We were a force.
But the world has changed a lot since then. And so have we.
Yes, our dream is the same as it once was: to sustain our natural resources and create resilient communities. But our spirit isn’t.
Let’s be honest: we’ve taken a beating. Budget elimination. Dissolving partnerships. Eroding participation. Growing frustration. We’re losing our sense of purpose and possibility.
And so here we are today. What have we become? Instead of living up to our roles as catalysts and change-agents, today — at best, if we have staff — we’re mired in the vicious cycle of chasing grants just to survive and pay the rent.
This is not who we were meant to be. And frankly, it’s not who our communities need us to be right now.
If we’re going to live up to our dream, we’re going to need to change — quickly. And we’re going to have to be brave — very.
At the New England RC&D Fall Conference on September 26, 2013, we unveiled the powerful new GeoLab concept — an idea that could change how we work forever.
Soon we intend to offer GeoLab to all RC&D Councils across the country. But today we’re giving you a sneak peek into the RC&D GeoLab — so keep on reading!

Introducing the RC&D GeoLab:

What is the RC&D GeoLab?

RC&D GeoLab is a social enterprise sponsored by the North Country RC&D in New Hampshire. As a social enterprise, the GeoLab aims to improve human and environmental well-being. However, first and foremost,the GeoLab is  a for-profit business with a special focus: ensuring hard earned profits go back to the cause instead of stockholders!
GeoLab is a virtual business incubator and powerful launchpad for new projects in your community—- projects designed to protect,  preserve, and celebrate your area’s unique sense of place.
Inspired by National Geographic’s Geotourism Charter, GeoLab’s mission is to support initiatives that enhance your community’s unique geographical character. This focus on geotourism expands and enriches our original commitment to natural resource conservation, community development, environmental protection, and cultural and historical preservation.
One important benefit of GeoLab is that it can provide a sustainable revenue stream for your RC&D. No more groveling for funds. No more wondering if you’ll survive.
No more struggling to do what you were always meant to do: be a catalyst.
But even more exciting is what GeoLab means for your community. It means that new projects no longer have to flounder, struggling to scrape together both funding and support. GeoLab gives new initiatives a lifeline in the early stages, when they’re at their most vulnerable — and it rallies an entire community of supporters behind their success!
Projects incubated by GeoLab will benefit from a well-planned marketing program, fundraising support via crowdfunding, and collaborative online project communities on the GeoLab platform — with more robust professional support planned for the future.

What makes the GeoLab unique?

GeoLab’s DNA is built on three powerful emerging concepts. You may or may not have encountered them before, and we’ll be explaining them in our webinars. For now, here is a brief introduction:

• GeoLab is a virtual business incubator. Business incubators are a fairly recent phenomenon, and they exist to help new projects succeed. Virtual (online) incubators are an even newer concept. Whether they exist in the bricks-and-mortar world or online, incubators like GeoLab are vital to a new project’s success. Consider this: in the US, fewer than half of new ventures survive past their fifth year — but incubation brings the survival rate up to 87%!
• GeoLab supports geotourism projects. Geotourism is an emerging concept introduced by the National Geographic Center for Sustainable Destinations. It is remarkably in line with what we as RC&Ds do already, as it focuses on projects that respect and enhance an area’s natural resources, cultural and historical heritage, and community wellbeing. It’s a fresh way to frame what we’ve been doing all along!
• GeoLab harnesses crowd power to promote, fund, and launch projects. “Crowd technology” is the way of the future. Harnessing the power of the internet, it allows many people to pool their money, resources, and ideas in order to create an impact on a massive scale. You may have already seen crowd power in action on crowdfunding sites like Indiegogo and Kickstarter.

Why the GeoLab?

The GeoLab concept was forged from a perfect blend of frustration and imagination.
We know that we live in a new world with new needs — and it’s clear that we must radically rethink how we serve that world. We sense that our impact could be bigger and that our vision could be braver.
That’s why we’re bringing you GeoLab: because it can radically transform our impact, making it possible for us to do more of the things that matter most.
And just as importantly: because it gives us a second chance at that big dream of ours.
The world has changed in the last 51 years since RC&D started. It’s time to catch up.
What’s Next?
Soon you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about GeoLab and its potential. We’ll cover:

• How GeoLab works
• What makes GeoLab unique — from crowdpower to geotourism
• GeoLab’s market & profit potential
• How to bring GeoLab to your community

We’ll also be inviting you to become a GeoLab Charter Member, which not only helps us launch this project but puts you on the fast track to running your own GeoLab within your community!
Additionally, we have created a private RC&D GeoLab LinkedIn Group that you are invited to join to discuss the GeoLab further among colleagues. To join: login to Linkedin, search for ‘RC&D GeoLab’ and hit Join.. This group will allow us to keep in contact as our RC&D GeoLab develops and until the GeoLab website is operational.
Finally, we are proposing that national Online Forums to present and discuss the RC&D GeoLab be organized in early December so that this opportunity can be extended to all RC&D Councils around the country, even those that may have already closed or are planning to close. Stay tuned for the announcement of the dates.

JOIN US FOR THE REVOLUTION

Rick DeMark, Executive Director, North Country RC&D, NH
John Chilton, Mulga Mail Group, Alton Bay, NH
P.S. Our thanks to the members of the New England Regional RC&D Association who joined us during their recent Conference for our first ‘Offline RC&D GeoLab Forum’. I hope they enjoyed participating in it as much as we did. It was the questions they raised during the Forum that inspired us to establish the Library!
Hope you’ll find answers sought within the Library – if not check out our ‘Get in Touch’ – put your question to us and be sure you check for a reply by joining us in our private RC&D GeoLab LinkedIn Group. See you there
Cheers
John, ‘Chief Clicker’