Re: 'self interest asset matrix'

G* L*

On 21 Mar 2002 at 13:12, SoleilPaz@aol.com wrote:

Hi All, 

We have jumped the first hurdle in our formal process of becoming a 
real live CG by getting voted by our local Parks and Rec as an official 
"Concept." ....... Now, what I am after is a way to profile our members. 
It is called something like a 'self interest asset matrix'. The idea is to 
compile information on people's interests, affiliations, and resources 
which they are willing to use towards our local CG effort. Anybody 
heard of such a thing?  

Soleil,

(What a great name for a gardener - doesn't Soleil mean Sun?!)

The Sustainable Resource Center's Urban Lands program in 
Minneapolis presented an excellent community gardening series 
recently; and included the following instruction on "Asset Mapping", 
which I'm assuming is similar to the "Self-interest Asset Matrix" that 
you ask about:

- Start with a full 11"x17" sheet or better yet, use a larger sheet of 
paper
- Write the name of your garden/garden group in the middle "bubble" 
or circle
- Around the the edge of the paper list the names of garden group 
members, as well as every related group which you can think of:  
neighborhood association, neighbors, apartment dwellers, landowner, 
park, government, church, civic group, senior center, youth group, 
food shelf, school, newspaper, local businesses, etc.  These are your 
"assets"; your garden/garden group is their "asset".
- Draw a line (with or without arrows at each end) between each of 
these groups and your garden/community gardening group
- On one side of each line, list what your garden/gardening group can 
do for that asset (beautification, reducing maintenance, providing food 
for the hungry, providing a meeting place)
- On the other side of each line, list what your asset can do for your 
garden/gardening group (volunteers, advertising, legitimacy, land, 
water, money, campaigning for permanency)
- Use your "asset map" to go out and recruit volunteers or funding 
sources or to cultivate mutually beneficial relationships

It's a great tool and the first time that I had heard of such a technique, 
which obviously has applications in any volunteer/fund raising and 
even business plans.  Kudos to Perdita Butler & Amie Roberts of the 
Sustainable Resource Center/Urban Lands for sharing this 
brainstorming technique with our local community gardening groups.  
(I'm not sure whether "Asset Mapping" is a trademarked concept or 
term.)

Greg Lecker
LightSpaces,
A Vision of Michaud Cooley Erickson
Suite 1200
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN  55402
612.673.6871
Fax: 612.339.8354
glecker@michaudcooley.com

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