COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION IN MASSACHUSETTS

In a good many Massachusetts towns this situation has been very largely remedied by means of community organization for which the leadership has been provided in many cases by the Community Organization Department of the Extension Service of the State Agricultural College.  The organization varies in detail in different communities to meet local needs, but the main features are the following: 

First:  a community council, consisting of representatives of the various community interests and organizations including the town officials.  This council serves at first as a sort of “steering committee” to bring the various interests together and to plan the organization and the work to be done.

Second:  a community meeting, the first one of which is called by the community council to consider the questions:  Is it possible for a community to plan for its future development?  Do we care to do it?  Is it worthwhile?  How can it be done?  The community meeting becomes a sort of unofficial town meeting, and is often more largely attended than the official town meeting, partly because it is attended by the women of the community.

Third:  a number of working committees, appointed as a result of the first community meeting.  They may include: 

A committee on farm production.

A committee on conservation.

A committee on boys’ and girls’ interests.

A committee on farm business.

A committee on community life (education, health, recreation, etc.)

These committees make a study of the conditions and needs of the community in their respective fields, and prepare plans and projects, which are submitted to the community meeting in due time.

Fourth:  a community program, which has been agreed upon by the community meeting, is supervised by the community council, and is carried out by the various community organizations represented, including the public officials.

OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL TEAMWORK

This organization is entirely outside of the official govern mental organization.  It may be asked why it is necessary to have a “community meeting” when the official town meeting already exists.  The answer is that the official town meeting has its work pretty definitely cut out for it.  It meets for a half-day or a day at a time, and its time is occupied by the voters in passing laws, electing officials, levying taxes, making appropriations, and doing other official business.  The “community meeting,” on the other hand, is attended by non-voters as well as voters, the women taking an active part, and the young people being represented.  Many matters are discussed that could not properly be taken up in town meeting.