In a few short weeks, a new study of the Upper Delaware will be released. Entitled "Making Connections: Roots of Prosperity in NY & PA's Upper Delaware River Region. (Two presentations are scheduled for October 11.  One in Hancock in the morning, and the second one in Honesdale, PA in the afternoon, details below.)

Making Connections is an attractive and story-filled report that I believe will serve the valley in projecting a sense of itself.

Created by a team at the National Parks Conservation Association (more here)  the report sets the stage for an exploration of how we might go about holding on to the traditional values of this special place and pulling it forward into an emerging future. It blends new voices and innovation set in an authentic landscape of tradition. It explores the expanding opportunities of unique tourism at this particular period of time. (Speaking of emerging tourism, check out the National Geographic Scenic Wild Delaware River (https://delawareriver.natgeotourism.com/)

Making Connections contains stories of projects and people, up and down the valley — combined with statistics, facts and short essays on thinking forward.

I was fortunate to participate. Here are my thoughts on the importance of citizen engagement, and how that enhances the valley.

In this region, with its geography that spans two states and five counties, ad hoc regional collaboration is essential. There is no one body that holds the whole or has jurisdiction. Indeed, we all hold a piece of it.

And with that, the need for collaboration is mandated.

We instinctively know that we can’t fix every issue by ourselves.  We need to reach out to our neighbors, to the myriad of organizations and institutions -- across state boundaries, across county lines, across the river.

And so we have.  In so many ways and avenues.  From the Upper Delaware Council to the Callicoon Depot Committee, which is a subcommittee of the Callicoon Business Association working to create a partnership and an Upper Delaware Scenic Byway visitors center at the Callicoon train depot.  

So many groups have come from different interests and areas of the Upper Delaware to work and plan together. Diverse communities, with specific interests,  have come together in meetings that have, at their fundamental core, a certain process.

That process is collaboration. That process is taking a look at what individual or certain perspectives bring and factoring it into the whole. That process is moving from an ego centric view of the valley to an ecocentric view of the commons.

And that is what is so special about the Upper Delaware.  

And the valley is enhanced.  It is enhanced by a diversity of people coming together in service to a common goal.  And that common goal is enhancing life in the Upper Delaware.

These collaborations, both small and large, have yielded, are yielding, amazing results.  

It is our way of thinking--collaborating--into a viable and authentic future.

While there are some who might say "Another report?" I am hopeful that this collection of individual collaborative stories can weave themselves into the fabric of an emerging regional identity. An identity that honors the diversity and amazing expanse of this beautiful river valley.

And actually, there is one body that holds this place; it's all of us.

A digital link to the report will be available here -- once released on October 11.

In Hancock: 
Thu, October 11, 2018, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, 158 East Front Street, Hancock, NY 13783. The breakfast and networking event will also feature a panel with: Michele Archie, The Harbinger Consulting Group (principal researcher and author), Jeff Skelding, Friends of the Upper Delaware River, Nancy Furdock, Destination Hancock, and Kristina Heister, National Park Service. Food and coffee will be served. 

In Honesdale:
Thu, October 11, 2018, 2:30 - 4:30 PM, The Cooperage Project, 1030 Main St, Honesdale, PA 18431. The program will include brief comments and overview of the report from 2:30-3:00 followed by a tour of Honesdale, the River Project, and the Stourbridge Project. We’ll wind up back at the Stourbridge Pie Market at The Cooperage Project.