Sunday, January 11, 2009

ACE Communities Celebrate Ignite Tour

ACE Community leaders and coaches did a fabulous job of pulling together the ACE Launch Tour with Ian Hill to ignite and generate enthusiasm. 

In LEDUC COUNTY this article here shows a map done by young students to reflect their ideas for developing an ACE Community. At the Leduc meeting students also made placemats with drawings to show how ACE could impact their community.

Following the SANGUDO launch, 40 people came to help set up for their Christmas Blitz…more help than before. They were looking for leadership and wanted to be part of the team.

Over 50 people signed up for the next ACE Community Gathering, 12 people joined the Economic Development group, 28 people want to be involved with the sports ground project, and 21 people said they would help with whatever was needed.

Mayor Susan Samson in SYLVAN LAKE thanked Hill and said, “I’m inspired beyond belief to think we’re all going to do this together."

A comment from ECKVILLE..."In today's busy world it is often hard to find the time to collectively focus on our communities - but it is so important. We have lots of enthusiastic community members. Our committee is really looking forward to ACE evolving in Eckville".

And, a powerful testimonial from a participant in the OKOTOKS session, "Ian: know that you made something of a difference for this one person. And that's a start. And this thought too: "I may be old but I haven't lost my capacity to learn from others".

Another ACE Partner Community Leader shared the following, "The opportunity, support from ACE, and the buy-in from the community has made this a great experience for us! I really feel like it is gaining momentum and it's exciting to see, I think the timing was right... our community is ready for change and the events we have done are bringing out different types of people every time and people we don't ordinarily see out... it's great!! Thanks for enabling and supporting us to be able to do this!!"

Ian’s message about RELATIONSHIP MARKETING was used by the majority of communities and many learned that while it may take time to talk one-to-one to personally invite their participation, people respond. Posters don’t work, phone calls do!