What makes a community abundant in this new new normal world? In this uncertain economy where budgets of local governments and non-profit budgets will continue to get slashed, it is especially heartening to read the mutual-reliance message inherent in this book.
How Communities Can Run Leaner and Better
Rather than rely solely on outsiders and related funding [...]

If a hotel can become famous for leading ducks across their lobby at 11:00 then certainly your business can become more well-known for some simple ritual that customers like to photograph and tell others about and reporters love to cover.
In fact it’s surprising that so few businesses and other organizations see the power of memory-making [...]

Become an opportunity-maker for the member organization that most matters to you. Imagine that your association or special interest group kept innovating to create more value and meaning for members.
That’s what TED has done and we can too by taking three collaborative steps over time:
1. Offer a single major conference  – as most associations already [...]

If you see people sneaking around a neglected lot, digging in the dirt, they may be guerrilla gardeners. Like using your cell phone to send city officials photos of potholes in the street, it’s another sign of the new wave of community-building and sharing.
Other fresh signs of sharing are sliver time volunteering, co-housing, book swaps, the [...]

We can now pay less for some services and products we want. Venture capitalists are betting millions that we will love this approach.
It’s a fresh take on group buying. Several online start-ups negotiate for their members deep discounts for products/services – provided that enough would-be buyers sign up within a limited time frame.
They offer [...]

If villagers living in the midst of poverty and war can be nudged to work better together with just three simple rules (honed via a parental competition study) and a reward (money, in this case) then maybe your group (team, board, committee, etc.) could too:
1. The village leaders (or your project leader) are elected by secret ballot.
2. The village (or your group) [...]

You don’t have to be religious to have a deep faith in the power of compassion. With it people who act and believe differently can not only work and live together in harmony they can enjoy a richer, more adventuresome life.
They can collaborate. They can accomplish greater things together than they could if they just [...]

If a coffee shop owner and a former minister can make money by leading groups then, perhaps, so can you and I.  In the following success stories see if there’s a method you’d like to try. With the right approach people are happy to pay you for the opportunity to hone a skill they already have [...]

Want to make a living by hosting an online community? See this thorough post on exactly how Motley Fool creates multiple ways for amateur investors to help each other make smarter choices. 
Because the process and results are transparent you can see credible comparisons. That’s a trust-building feature for attracting members to any community. 

Denis Hancock describes how they evoked this Wisdom of Crowds effect to grow a profitable [...]

“Buy local and keep the money in our community” cry many local retailers and restaurateurs.  Yet guilt is not the top motivator to inspire spending – unless you’re a nearby farmer. 

Saving money is top-of-mind for us as consumers. Instead, offer greater value and convenience. Also generate more local visibility without spending more. 

That’s what the online food site, Delish is doing, in [...]