Each week I see a Question of the Week in this paper, seeking input from readers on topics that impact our community.
I think the notion of gathering public opinion, feedback, and interest is valuable and I wonder whether or not the answers to these polls are statistically relevant.
My curiosity led to further investigation and I found that your website displays the number of responses to each question.
There I got the answer to my question regarding statistical relevance, only 35 people responded to last week’s question re: the Rambo 30th Anniversary celebrations.
Previous polls yielded similar results.
I imagine that some of the objectives of the Question of the Week are to engage the community, gather opinions, gauge interest, and influence direction.
I think these are meaningful objectives that have the potential to impact our community in a positive way.
What is absent is participation from the community. The question is why?
Why is the response rate so low and what can be done about it? Without community input, the answers to the Question of the Week won’t serve to accomplish anything and thus they become irrelevant.
All of this has me considering bigger questions like what will it take to create a tipping point within the community that ignites passion, purpose, pride and prosperity? and how can we increase optimism and action around the incredible potential that exists here?
This is a puzzle I think many people in this community, including me, would like to solve. Until we do, it will be exceedingly difficult to effect meaningful, sustainable change that results in the vibrant future that I and others see as possible. Solutions welcomed.
Michelle Richardson