Negative change, like a divorce, a job lay-off, or the death of a loved one is always disruptive. Especially since negative change is usually unforeseen. The adjustment period after a negative change can take months, or even years as individuals learn to adapt to the new situation.
Positive change, like a wedding, a job promotion, or the birth of a baby, can be challenging also. The change may be desired, planned for, or celebrated but it comes with adjustments to the new situation. Those adjustments take time, maybe just a few hours or a day, and occasionally - depending on how big and complex the change - weeks or months.
There’s a third type of change that may be the most challenging. That is the change that’s desired but once it’s there, ambivalence sets in and folks aren’t so sure that the change was a good idea after all. Marriage is one example.
Everyone is excited by the wedding, overwhelmed by the beauty of the surrounding, thrilled by seeing the evident love between the individuals getting married. The wedding couple walks on air, delighted and relieved that the wedding is over and that they can get on with their lives as a married couple.
But a few months in, the honeymoon ends and tiny clashes can seem like big wars. One or both partners may begin to think, “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.” They have to work through their ambivalence about the marriage and get on with the task of learning how to live with each other, make compromises, celebrate and build on their differences.
Population Growth and Change in Lincoln Lincoln Center, referred to as Lincoln by residents, has been pursuing a growth strategy. That strategy began to take off a few years back when the City offered “free” land for folks to move to Lincoln and build a home on site. A national promotion did prompt some folks to relocate to Lincoln. Then in 2014, at the behest of local elected officials, the Lincoln County Economic Development Foundation (LCEDF) was created. It’s mission was and is to bring new businesses to the area, and LCEDF has worked incredibly hard to fulfill that mission.
In 2022 another national campaign, which included a story in an internet magazine, newspaper and television coverage brought renewed attention to Lincoln as the LCEDF and community members worked to save a beautiful dutch colonial house that had fallen into disrepair. Those efforts and the nation-wide media coverage resulted in a few more folks moving to the area.
About a year and a half ago LCEDF decided to try a new approach - recruiting remote workers who would move to Lincoln County, earn at least $50,000 per year, and commit to living here for at least one year. Recent news reports have praised those efforts with headlines like, “Lincoln County Leading Growth Trend.”
The growth trend in Lincoln County is bringing much needed revenue to local businesses and governmental taxing units. Increased business activity may result in new jobs and higher wages. Additional property taxes will help city and county governments carry out their tasks and the school district will benefit from increased revenue as a result of new students. Newcomers will also bring new ideas and new energy to local organizations always looking for more volunteers to perform community service.
Welcoming Newcomers to Lincoln The entire community including business and governmental leaders is responsible for welcoming new residents. The community’s efforts will help newcomers form the emotional and social connections that will make them feel part of the community. It will also reduce the negative impact of those folks who do not like change no matter how beneficial it is to the area.
The city of Lincoln has taken a positive step in its efforts to welcome newcomers by redesigning its website. It’s gorgeous, more user friendly, and has a page titled “New Resident Resources “ which contains up-todate information about city services, local schools, recycling and more. There are other activities that would increase the successful transition of newcomers to become participating members of the community.
New neighbor organizations, not to be confused with Welcome Wagon, have been around for years. Welcome Wagon is a direct mail marketing firm, in business since 1928. The original Welcome Wagon payed women, called hostesses, to visit the homes of new residents and provide information about the community and baskets of gifts and coupons from local businesses.
Lincoln needs a permanent welcoming committee whose responsibility would be similar to the hostesses of long ago. Gift baskets might contain the most recent copy of Lincoln County Magazine, a directory from the Chamber of Commerce, lists of all the local religious and health care organizations, nonprofits, and governmental units with contact information, and the most recent copy of the local paper. The hostess should also talk about community organizations and volunteer opportunities where newcomers can meet people and become involved in local activities.
Another task for hostesses would be to gather information about the new resident and, with the resident’s permission, publish a brief bio of the individual/family on social media and the local paper. This gives long-time residents an opportunity to learn something about the newcomers. The published information could include things such as employment and residence, hobbies and volunteer interests, and contact information.
Village Lines has hosted several welcoming events, called gatherings, for MMM folks. The gatherings are designed to be somewhat intimate to allow for conversation over light snacks and beverages, and have been a mix of local and new residents.
The gatherings, however, need to be expanded so that newcomers who aren’t part of MMM are also welcomed in a similar fashion. Gatherings organizers can learn who’s new in town from periodic contact with local realtors, landlords, and the school district. The city could also notify the welcoming committee when a new residential utility connection is made.
One way to expand the gatherings would be to hold a quarterly or twice yearly event where new residents and long established residents have an opportunity to mingle, converse, enjoy light snacks and beverages. The Lincoln Art Center or the Carnegie Library would be ideal locations for these informal events.
Moving to a new community is anxietyproducing for the newcomer but also for the community. Think of it this way. You have to pack 13 decorated cupcakes into a bakery box made for 12. You don’t want to mess up the frosting nor do you want to destroy the cupcakes. You adjust the ones already in the box so that the new one can be fitted in carefully to join the rest. That’s what Lincoln should be doing to welcome newcomers - helping them join the rest of us in making Lincoln a great place to live, work, and play.
