WERT COMMUNITYWERT COMMUNITY

An initial proposal for a strategyAn initial proposal for a strategy

to be discussed in the 1to be discussed in the 1stst WERT project meeting in Bristol, WERT project meeting in Bristol,

44thth November 2010 November 2010

STEP 1.MAKING THE LISTSTEP 1.MAKING THE LIST

STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT COMMUNITY STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT COMMUNITY AS A NETWORKAS A NETWORK

STEP 3. MANAGING AND ANIMATING THE STEP 3. MANAGING AND ANIMATING THE WERT COMMUNITYWERT COMMUNITY

STEP 4. ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY STEP 4. ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WERT COMMUNITYOF THE WERT COMMUNITY

Objective:Objective: To attract a variety of actors, from the private, public To attract a variety of actors, from the private, public

and third sectors, representing business interests, rural tourism and third sectors, representing business interests, rural tourism

interests, rural development interests or offering funding and interests, rural development interests or offering funding and

support to rural businesses and to women in particular; or support to rural businesses and to women in particular; or

providing training.providing training.

STEP 1.MAKING THE LISTSTEP 1.MAKING THE LIST

Who do we address?

A. Women’s’ businesses and collective bodies representing them

• Individual businesses from lists of collective bodies/public bodies

• Cooperatives

• Consortia of enterprises

• Marketing Clusters

• Quality agreement associations of businesses (LEADER)

Who do we address?

STEP 1.MAKING THE LISTSTEP 1.MAKING THE LIST

B. Social partners: Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Chambers of Tourism, Chambers of Crafts (in some of them there are women’s sections), Farmers’ Unions, other Unions

C. Rural Tourism AssociationsD. Rural Development Agencies (e.g. LEADER LAGs)E. Public bodies that support women’s rights or fund women’s

businessesF. Vocational Training organisations that offer rural tourism

courses or crafts coursesG. Other projects that have established networks on related

topics (e.g. e-ruralnet promoting e-learning in rural areas or ECODESTINET and ECOLNET promoting quality assurance of ecotourism businesses)

H. European Associations of Rural Tourism (e.g. Gites de France, ECEAT)

Objective:Objective: Persuade as many individuals and organisations as Persuade as many individuals and organisations as

possible to join the communitypossible to join the community

STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT COMMUNITY AS A NETWORKCOMMUNITY AS A NETWORK

ActionAction:

A. Invite the actors listed above outlining the benefits they would gain from joining the community

B. Offer tangible products:• The e-learning course• Exchange of experience and peer support among women

entrepreneurs from different countries (language problem?)• Marketing possibilities• Advice possibilities• Strengthen and expand existing networks• Finding out the client’s view (for sponsors and training

providers)

ActionAction

STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT STEP 2. BUILDING THE WERT COMMUNITY AS A NETWORKCOMMUNITY AS A NETWORK

C. Set up a virtual community online, linked to the website of the project. Outline the services offered by the virtual community: e.g. helpdesk for the e-learning course, discussion forum, separate sections (blogs, facebook pages) offering opportunities for national language discussions), virtual meetings etc).

Objective:Objective: Promote the active involvement of members, so that they Promote the active involvement of members, so that they

receive the benefits promised and become committed to the communityreceive the benefits promised and become committed to the community

STEP 3. MANAGING AND ANIMATING STEP 3. MANAGING AND ANIMATING THE WERT COMMUNITYTHE WERT COMMUNITY

ActionAction:

A. Appoint a manager, who would check the practical things (e.g. enrolling, getting passwords etc), keep the virtual space clear of spam and facilitate communication among members

B. Introduce quarterly Newsletters, and in-between flash news and bulletins on special topics

C. Start discussions centrally and encourage members to start their own topics

D. Encourage “peer learning” and “peer support”

E. Facilitate the e-learning package via a helpdesk

Objective:Objective: To sustain the management of the community in the To sustain the management of the community in the

long termlong term

STEP 4. ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY STEP 4. ENSURING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE WERT COMMUNITYOF THE WERT COMMUNITY

ActionAction:

A. Try to ensure grants to fund the management

B. Recruit support “in kind” from organisations that have an interest in the sustainability of the community

C. Recruit volunteers to help with separate aspects (e.g. animators of forum discussions, helpdesk staff, solving ICT problems)