09/09/2025
This was one of the discussions at the “13 ways” book club last night. How to know what’s going on before it happens. We discussed current efforts and future solutions. Here’s another idea:
Coffee and Calendars
Author Debra Brown
It’s the antidote to “I wish I’d known about that!”
Ever find out about an event or project in your town only after it was happening?
Ever wish you could have helped with something or offered some insight, if you only knew it was coming?
You want to collaborate more with local and regional organizations, but you can’t possibly know everything that’s going on.
Even in a small town, we don’t keep each other informed like you’d think.
Here’s the simple solution:
Why not just get folks together and compare organization calendars once a month or so?
Keep it simple:
Invite some local people to coffee.
Ask them to bring their groups’ calendars.
Go somewhere together and get some coffee.
Let each person go over their group’s calendar and tell what they have going on.
That’s all. Just share coffee and calendars.
We've heard great results from Coffee and Calendars gatherings from Wall, South Dakota, Ringgold County, Iowa and this one in Webster City, Iowa. Photo by Becky McCray
Who to invite:
Start with people who are part of any organizations related to your ideas. Think of arts or history groups, town or county government, the chamber of commerce, or schools. You can start with a few and grow over time. Reach out to all kinds of community groups, local boards, churches, organizations, clubs, and everyone. Have them bring their calendars, too.
Get out of the meeting room! Go grab coffee from a local coffee shop or get cool drinks at the soda fountain. Go anywhere that feels friendly and open to conversations.
