OCTOBER 2018 BACC NEWSLETTER
BACC is the leading organization in engaging community leaders in
understanding and shaping the future of the greater Green Bay area.
President's Message, Rev. Paul Demuth

In the past several months, I have become familiar with an entirely new approach to growth and development of our community.  Foresight analysis has given me an appreciation for moving beyond problem solving to the concept of futuring. 

I often listen to people speak of their own attempts to move a company, non-profit or educational institution into better alignment with their goals. It is really exciting when I hear people creatively adapt their communities of interest to build a more resilient entity. But it is also frustrating to hear how some still simply work from one problem solving exercise to the next. I am painfully reminded of similar experiences in my years in ministry, the energy wasted when I tried to solve a problem instead of putting that energy into the mission!

Last July, the BACC finalized a value statement for our desired futuring workshops. Last month I got to be "the fly on the wall" as the ten participants of our pilot futuring workshop rolled up their sleeves and began to learn the skills of foresight analysis. I probably shouldn’t have been amazed as these CEO’s and executives dove into the futuring process and allowed themselves to think in new categories — that is why they are in the positions they are in and why they are already so community minded. They are helping our Futuring Committee create a new tool kit that we all can use as we plan for the future growth of the greater Green Bay community.

Hats off to Dave Wegge of St. Norbert College who is coordinating this first attempt at futuring workshops. Garry Golden, our futuring consultant, has been such a collaborative facilitator while guiding us through the process. He comes to us from Brooklyn, but perhaps his expertise is heightened because of his Wisconsin roots!  

I dream of a not too distant future when this process is rolled out for all our community leaders to use. Whatever its final form, futuring cannot help but move us into the forefront of communities — in our state and country — who envision the future and not just manage problems. Bold? Yes. Innovative? Of course. Exaggerated hopes? I think not…. As I often say, “Stay tuned.”
Know your BACC Director: Nan Nelson

Please describe something about yourself—where you were born, past and current professions and careers, how long you have lived in Brown County, and some of your favorite pass times.

I was born in Wausau, moved to Green Bay at age two, and have lived here since, except for obtaining a BA from UW-Madison in Journalism/Public Relations, Phi Beta Kappa. Presently retired, I spent most of my career at the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, serving in economic development and government affairs work. My husband, Doug Landwehr, and I have been married more than 40 years, and enjoy time with our many nieces and nephews.

I was raised to believe, and I do believe, that everyone should give back to the community by volunteering in some way. In addition to my current involvement with the BACC, I am also serve on the Green Bay Water Utility Commission. I am a past Board Director of Great Lakes Asset Corporation, Girl Scouts, Einstein Project,  Voyageur  Magazine, and Artstreet.

I love to read, especially history, alternate history and science fiction. I am also a writer and an artist, particularly in pen and ink and pastels. Since retirement, I've also gotten to know baseball and taught myself scoring-- quite the switch for a lifelong Packers fan.

Describe your relationship to the BACC—when did you start on the BACC, what are your hopes for the BACC, what personal gifts do you bring to the BACC mission?

I have been a BACC Board member since 1994. I was Board secretary-treasurer 1994-2017 and am the current secretary.

I view my particular role as one of making it possible for leaders to lead--enabling leaders to apply their particular talents to community needs while being supported by the appropriate administrative, research, funding, volunteer and communications systems that my efforts help provide. Each leader is different, and their needs/wants for support differ greatly. Figuring out the most effective levels and combinations and being able to observe so many leaders in action has been both personally fun and rewarding. As I have grown in experience, I hope that my advice to leaders behind the scenes has also become more valuable.

I think the key impact of the BACC has been to align the priorities, collaborative approaches and impact measurement systems of key community organizations. The BACC has operated throughout its history by uniting leaders who would not ordinarily discuss, act on, or investigate community issues together. This has produced real progress and results as more and more community needs are being addressed by collaborative projects based on collective impact; examples include Achieve Brown County, POINT, LIVE54218 (now Wello), Partners in Education, and the NEW Manufacturing Alliance. I am not saying that the BACC created them, but helped create the contacts, synergy, atmosphere and sometimes the impetus that has called them forth. The BACC's new focus on helping leaders envision and create a better community future together is going to be a key to continued prosperity.

What do you like most about life in Brown County?

This is a place where one individual can still make a big impact on the whole community, and a place where respect, civility and collaboration are valued.

OCTOBER 11 BACC Board meeting
The Directors approved Board membership of John Katers, Dean of Science and Technology, University of Wisconsin Green Bay; Morgan Fuller, Manager of Special Events and Annual Giving, University of Wisconsin Green Bay; and Jamie Lynch, Associate Professor of St. Norbert College.

Nan Nelson reported on a successful round 1 workshop for the Futuring Cohort group. Facilitated by Garry Golden and hosted at St. Norbert College, senior executives from ten area businesses, school districts, and nonprofit organizations have already begun to implement some techniques related to forecast analysis as a result of the membership in the cohort group.

Board members discussed strategic financial outreach to local community members and referrals by Board members for the financial support of the BACC.

Steve Meyer, Deacon, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church and Principal/Chief Strategy Officer, Karma Group, presented on the future of religion in our society. He expertly applied the writings of Ken Wilber ( The Religion of Tomorrow: A Vision for the Future of the Great Traditions--More Inclusive, More Comprehensive, More Complete) and Richard Rorty, Gianni Vattimo, and Santiago Zabala ( The Future of Religion). When the directors discussed how to apply his remarks, it was noted that the greatest contribution of local congregations to the people of greater Green Bay would be to offer a venue for sense of community.
BACC Director Phil Hauck opines on applying BACC Summit report to life in Brown County

(Fifth in a series of BACC director responses to the BACC’s community summit report, Greater Green Bay: Envisioning the Future Report to the Community . )

I just returned from London, where I just experienced the Victor & Albert Museum; it is full of historical artifacts, silver, paintings, statues and the stuff that most museums include. But it was busy because it included two incredible exhibits:

  • Video Games: How they are designed using the latest in video and digital technology, and how they depict future scenarios.
  • "The Future Starts Here": How are 100 worldwide efforts solving or trying to solve current problems while exposing us to important trends (i.e. What if your boss is an algorithm? We’re all connected, but are we still lonely? Does democracy still work?).

I thought of the Neville as we toured. What if it explored the “future” of trends that will impact us in Green Bay? For example, what might “work” look like in ten years? How might we use cars and home technology? How will we interface with medicine? What can history as well as current innovations tell us about how we will live and be impacted? What kind of an informed citizen, and student, do we need to be?

Thoughts for the Neville--and, by the way, the Victor and Albert Museum has free admission.
News you can use
Recent news stories, articles, books, videos, Websites or venues of interest to BACC supporters and newsletter readers, recommend by BACC staff and directors. Also community events of interest to BACC supporters

" New MBA Course Offering Gets Smart About the Future," St. Norbert College Magazine, June 5, 2018.

Winick, Erin. " New autonomous farm wants to produce food without human workers," MIT Technology Review, October 3, 2018.

Ydstie, John. " The American Dream Is Harder To Find In Some Neighborhoods," National Public Radio, October 1, 2018.

ALICE Report Presentation and UW Extension Poverty Simulation
Wednesday, November 28; noon-1 pm/1 pm-3 pm
YWCA Greater Green Bay, 230 S. Madison Street, Green Bay)
YWCA Greater Green Bay will host a presentation of the United Way's Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Report. The report describes financial hardship in Wisconsin, spotlighting a large population of residents who work at lesser-paying jobs, have little or no savings, and are one unplanned expense away from a crisis. Sarah Inman, Brown County United Way, will present the report from noon-1 pm.

Judy Knudsen, Area Extension Director, Brown County Extension Office, will lead A Poverty Simulation immediately following the presentation, 1 pm-3 pm. As a result of the simulation, participants will discover realities of life faced by low-income people in the greater Green Bay community.

RSVP the YWCA Development Team, devteam@ywcagreenbay.org, or call Mike Walsh, 432-5581 ext 135. 

Annual Ethics in Business Awards 
Thursday, November. 8, 11:30 am-1:10 pm
KI Convention Center, 333 Main Street, Green Bay
Presented by Foundations Health & Wellness

The Annual Ethics in Business Awards celebrates a culture of ethics in the Greater Green Bay community, while demonstrating the connection between ethics and mental health. Join keynote Jason Wied, who will address his own experience connecting business and mental health in greater Green Bay.
Reserve your seat or table today!

Friday, October 26, 2018
Neville Public Museum, 210 Museum Place, Green Bay

Brown County was founded on October 26, 1818. In honor of this birthday come to the Neville Public Museum and participate in family-friendly, activity-oriented fun with an educational twist on the history of Brown County (1818-2018). Activities and food, 10 am-6:30 pm.