REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY
The true value of the Rural Community College Initiative (RCCI) has been the synergy created by the many
volunteers working to solve problems and create change within our community. The Implementing Team
Reports are brief, but each team believes other activities and lines of communication have developed from their
efforts. One of the major portions of the RCCI initiative was empowerment of the community members and we
believe we have been successful in that effort.
RCCI process has expanded and created Community Vision, a 501-c-3 non-profit corporation, which embraces
the values and processes of RCCI. (The Vision strategic plan begins on page four.) This plan involves members of
Vision acting as advisory teams for plans developed by other entities, such as citizens groups, the City of Carlsbad,
and Eddy County. In addition, the Vision Board determined that it is time to expand our efforts to all of Eddy
County to take advantage of opportunities available for additional community and economic development. Our
plan is to facilitate communication between the citizens of our area and our governmental agencies and to provide
valuable input to those governmental entities using a democratic and positive process.
The Vision Board believes the challenges facing our community can be met through the combined leadership efforts
of volunteers, organizations, businesses, and governmental agencies. Therefore, the third portion of this report is a
membership application for Community Vision. There is no fee to become a member of the Vision process,
which should allow almost anyone to become a member. We ask that you volunteer for at least one implementing
team of your choice. Working as leaders of our community, we will facilitate and encourage communication and,
working in groups, we will use the democratic process to facilitate or discourage action on the plans we are given to
review. The effectively organized knowledge and abilities of our members naturally exceeds the abilities of any one
member of our community.
You may donate to our non-profit, tax-deductible corporation if you wish to do so, and we will provide a receipt
for all donations. However, your time, knowledge, and leadership are the most valuable to the Vision process.
You may also wish to join any of the following teams. The Vision Board has selected Board members to head the
following teams:
 Membership
 Funding for expansion of our program
 Nominations for Board members for our February election
 Vision Team for our next Vision process
You may wish to join the final RCCI Annual Conference of teams from rural colleges in the United States,
including three in New Mexico, and possibly continental Africa. The conference will be held in Carlsbad at the
Pecos River Conference Center from January 16th to the 19th. If you would like to have an itinerary, please stop by
221 South Canyon, in Carlsbad, or call 885-9352 or e-mail fbenefield@cavern.nmsu.edu and we can e- mail it
to you during the first week or second week of January 2002.
There is no fee for the conference, but you will be expected to pay for your meals. You may call Faye Benefield at
885-9352 to register or you may register and pay for the meals when you arrive to attend the conference on January
16th for the evening meal at the Living Desert State Park beginning at 6 PM, or January 17 th at 8:00 AM at the
Pecos River Village. A menu will be available and you may select any or all of the available meals and receive
tickets for these meals. The total cost of meals is $76 and if you wish to join the group in a visit to the Carlsbad
Caverns on Saturday, the group rate is $7, for a total of $83.
In addition, Gene Fooks and Guy Lutman are hosting “Adventure in Community Get-Together” on Sunday
January 13, 2002. It will be held in the Annex of the Carlsbad Civic Center, 4012 National Parks Highway from 12
noon to 1:30 PM. The focus is “Coming Together is a beginning; keeping Together is Progress; Working Together
in Harmony is Success” and “close the gap between our leaders and their constituents by getting acquainted with,
visiting with, and eating with one another”. One leader will be assigned to each table, or weather permitting, people
can have a tailgate picnic. Attendees should bring a sack lunch, pot luck, or food basket to share with others.
IMPLEMENTING TEAM REPORTS
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Project Playground has received approval from the city to build a playground close to the Riverwalk
Recreation Center and they have a planning day scheduled for January 25 th, with the architect.

Although a tremendous amount of effort has been expended for the Skate/Hockey Complex at Riverwalk
Recreational Center, the funding has been stalled in the Capital Outlay Bill, which was vetoed by Governor
Johnson.

The Carlsbad Art Association has a new Art Center and has provided our community with the wonderful
“The Trail of Painted Ponies.”
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TEAM

The Community Development Team and the Infrastructure Team have combined efforts to support the
Carlsbad Streetscape Concept Plan, and renovations at the Civic Center, which will include a tourist
information center. Other groups are supporting renovations such as upgraded sound and light systems.

The team, working with the Veterans Groups in Carlsbad is building consensus on the location and design
of a war memorial.
EDUCATION TEAM

Workforce Development: Training sessions for Customer Service began in September. This training is
available for any business or organization requesting it from NMSU – Carlsbad.

Vo-Tech: Carlsbad Public Schools and local business representatives have formed a strong partnership to
offer additional vocational courses, including concurrent enrollment in high school and NMSU - Carlsbad.
NMSU-C has expanded vocational education at the post-high school level, and has moved into the
Advanced Manufacturing and Innovative Technology Center (AM&ITC) to provide additional vocational
courses.

Higher Ed Committee: A directory is being developed which will provide information regarding distance
learning in higher education. NMSU is offering graduate level courses in education at the Carlsbad
campus, and partnerships between New Mexico community colleges are being formed to provide additional
education opportunities locally.

Pay Raise for teachers: The state legislature enacted a pay raise for Carlsbad teachers.

All Day Kindergarten: Effective fall 2001.
HEALTH TEAM
 The team conducted a survey to determine a need for additional healthcare providers in Carlsbad. They
determined that in non-flu season, timely service was available in a wide range of prices.

A Health Provider’s Directory for Carlsbad has been developed and is available at
http://cavern.nmsu.edu/rcci.

The team has assisted in the recruitment of seven physicians. Carlsbad has seen a net decrease of 10
physicians and a net increase of 12 Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants during the past 10 years.
The hospital has activated a plan to recruit and retain more general practitioners.

Additional training for healthcare providers is currently being developed by NMSU–Carlsbad.

The team, the Small Business Development Center, and local physicians are investigating the possible
development of an Urgent Care Center.

The removal of gross receipts tax for health care would result in an increase of taxes for other services;
therefore, the team determined it is not fair, nor practical, to pursue this issue.

St. Francis is currently considering extended hours for medical treatment.
INFRASTRUCTURE & IMAGE TEAM

The team was instrumental in the citywide Operation Clean-Sweep in April.

The team worked with the City of Carlsbad to review and update the five-year street plan.

The City received support from the team in demolishing abandoned buildings, and some of them have
already been razed. To date, eighteen structures are in the process of demolition.

The State will improve Pierce Street in 2005.

The highways to El Paso and Jal are in desperate need of repair. The rebuilding of these highways was
delayed because of cost overruns for the Interstate project in Albuquerque, but is scheduled for the future.
SERVICES TO CITIZENS TEAM

The team has thoroughly researched the “Build a Boot Camp for Juveniles.” Carlsbad does not have the
inter-agency support required for building a “boot camp” at this time.

The team has developed a list of juvenile needs through a model borrowed from the Deming program.

The Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Roswell, a residential program for 15 to 18-year olds, operated by the
National Guard, is now in operation and some of our agencies are encouraging our youth in crisis to enroll
in their program.


Based on public and agency feedback through a needs assessment, it has been determined that the greatest
need in Carlsbad is for continued cooperation between agencies and a juvenile coordinator for community
services.
The Committee given support to a state-wide Post Incarceration Program proposed by the Carlsbad
Reintegration Center. This program is designed for juveniles and young adults who have been
incarcerated.
STRATEGIC PLANNING STATEMENT
COMMUNITY VISION, INC.
PLANNING PERIOD
2001-2003
Strategy Statement:
Community Vision will facilitate communication between the citizens
of our area and community development entities.
Purpose:

Inform the area citizens of proposed projects

Build positive and effective relationships between the citizens and governing entities

Operate as a catalyst for community development strategies

Encourage economic development
Methodology:

Plan a Citizen and Stakeholder development meeting during the month of February

Use the National conference as a springboard for community development

Facilitate a trip to Tupelo Mississippi and Chattanooga Tennessee for community
Citizens and Stakeholders

Use the current implementation teams of volunteers to assist and implement community
and economic development goals and plans. The Board of Directors will assign these
goals and plans to the teams, with particular attention to each team’s particular area of
expertise and interest.

Act as a fiscal agent of tax-deductible donations to approved projects with a management
fee collected by Community Vision, not to exceed 10% of those donations.

Quarterly Town Meetings
 Projects are presented by the proponent of the project for review by the Board
 After the Board’s approval, implementing Teams will assist the proponent in
developing a comprehensive plan to implement the project.
 Citizens of the community get to ask questions about the project and provide
input to the team and proponent of the project. These questions and/or
suggestions must be submitted at least twenty-four (24) hours before the
scheduled Town meeting to encourage effective and efficient outcomes of the
meetings. The team will review the questions and suggestions and select those
deemed the most appropriate for the Town Meeting. Citizens will have the
opportunity to vote in support of the project after discussions and before the
conclusion of the Town Meeting.
 Organizations with approved projects will let the Implementing Teams know what
assistance is needed for projects, like volunteers, research, funding, etc.

Community Days
 Future Community Vision Days will be scheduled to encourage development of
additional plans and goals for community and economic development.
 Carlsbad will have their second Visioning process by the end of 2003.
 The Community Vision Board and Implementing teams will assist Artesia,
Loving and Hope with their Visioning process to develop their own goals and
plans by the end of 2003.

Set up a Funding Committee to find grants and encourage donations to Community
Vision

Set up a Membership committee to promote membership in Community Vision to
citizens and members of stakeholder entities and particularly our current Implementing
Teams and interested citizens who identified themselves at our Community Vision 2000
day.

Set up a Board of Director’s Nominating Committee for the February 2002 & 2003
Annual Meetings

Set up a Vision Committee to facilitate the Community Vision day in 2002 or 2003.

Publish the final RCCI Report to the Citizens and Stakeholders and include the Strategic
Plan in that Report

Combine all New Mexico RCCI communities in a regional effort for community and
economic development in New Mexico. Ray Sandoval, who has been our RCCI Coach
during this program, will coordinate this effort. Larry Coalson will be our liason for this
project. They will seek $180,000 from various foundations to continue the program for
all three RCCI colleges in the state.
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
The benefits of membership in Vision are:
1. Free Membership
2. Chance to vote for the Board Members of Vision
3. Attendance of the annual meeting to vote on future issues and strategic planning
4. Membership of a team or teams in a leadership role in the community.
First Name
Last Name
Preferred Mailing Address
________________ ____________________
____________________________________
Preferred Communication Method, complete one or more:
Phone at home
Phone at work
________________ _______________
E-mail at home
E-mail at work
_____________________
__________________
Preferred Team Memberships: (select with a check mark or X)
Economic Development____
Community Development___
Services to Citizens____
Education___
Membership___
Vision___
Health___
Infrastructure and Image____
Funding___
Nominating___
Please mail your application to:
Community Vision
221 South Canyon
Carlsbad, NM 88220
You may also e-mail your application to: fbenefield@cavern.nmsu.edu
If you have any questions you may call Carolyn Banks at 234-9452, leave a message, and I will
return your call.
TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
All donations will be used in our community for community development. An annual report of
income and expenses for the 501-c-3 will be available at our annual meeting the first week of
February. Initially we will be using the balance of RCCI funding to continue our efforts;
however, that funding must be expended before June 30, 2002. Therefore we will need
additional funding to continue our efforts beyond that point.
If you would like to donate to Community Vision, please indicate the amount you wish to donate
and provide your return address if you need a receipt for your donation. Please do not send cash
in the mail; however, we will accept cash if delivered in person by appointment only. You may
call 885-59352 to set up an appointment and receive a receipt. Our office will be closed from
December 22, 2001 to January 3, 2002 for the Holidays; however, you may leave a message and
Carolyn Banks will contact you as early as possible.
I wish to donate ___________ to Community Vision and my name and return address are:
First Name
Last Name
Address
________________ _________________ __________________________________________
Please mail all donations to:
Carolyn Banks
(Treasurer and Board Member of Community Vision and Interim Director of RCCI)
221 South Canyon
Carlsbad, NM 88220