tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539Fri, 12 Sep 2025 07:21:32 +0000RCDNewsTo take advantage of opportunities/solve problems, the need for a greater than local/cross-boundary approach can be seen. Regional cooperation is the nominal tool, yet the goal is to be greater; have greater capacity, resources, market,…. Greater is regional; working across boundaries achieves it. Cooperation is possible when people recognize such regional community. This is regional intelligence: Greater Communities solving problems, of which security is foremost; altogether “community motive.”http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)Blogger269125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-3281319422229978550Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:15:00 +00002022-12-14T04:26:59.786-05:00&nbsp;Greetings All –In 2020,&nbsp;Sustainability: Cooperation Industry Earth 2300 – “Think local planet, act regionally,”&nbsp;&nbsp;was published as Chapter 25 of The Elgar Companion to Geography, Transdisciplinarity and Sustainability.&nbsp; The research for this led me to focus on the Technosphere as that which Humanity must manage.&nbsp;In 2011, the notion of "community motive" came to the http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2022/12/looking-ahead-to-2023-bringing-together.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-692197889438914375Sun, 09 Feb 2020 20:04:00 +00002022-02-07T23:36:42.950-05:00 Greetings All – Thought has continued to evolve and it is time to begin reporting about the Built Environment/Technosphere and Cold War Nuclear Geography, topics I’ve posted to Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn but not put that here on the Blog. 2020 – the New Decade will be a greater challenge. Let us prepare. Your thoughts are welcome as always. Bests.&nbsp; Tom Tom (Thomas J.) http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2020/02/decadal-report-mapping-trajectory-of.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-7848060349229116800Wed, 21 Dec 2016 21:13:00 +00002017-03-28T18:37:19.755-04:00 “Community Motive” Driven “Cooperation Industry Earth 2300” – The Evolution of Thought Continues – Annual Report 2016 Regional Community News began as an online newsletter November 11, 2003. The tag line was: "Community precedes cooperation. Regional community makes regions work." The observation “community precedes cooperation” came from my experience as a planner promoting regional http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2016/12/community-motive-driven-cooperation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-7618865581508030519Fri, 04 Sep 2015 02:22:00 +00002015-09-03T22:22:04.568-04:00 Greetings All -&nbsp; Here's the latest evolution of my thinking. Your thoughts welcome. In the future the blog will be updated to reflect them. Bests.&nbsp; Tom Cooperation Industry - News &amp; Thought Recognizing the Community and Profit Motives of Industrious Humanity Draft: September 3, 2015 “Acts of conservation without the requisite desire and skills are futile. To http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2015/09/cooperation-industry-news-thought.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-7952554831892485745Sat, 14 Mar 2015 19:49:00 +00002015-03-14T15:49:31.618-04:00 The U.S. is about to hit the debt limit ceiling again; another budget crisis. "How did this happen?" many wonder.&nbsp;In 1986, I wrote the following article for the World Future Society. If you are short of time, just consider the first line. The need is greater today, the answer the same.&nbsp; REGIONAL COUNCILS:&nbsp; Today's Governmental Tool for the 21st Century (1986) Thomas J. http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2015/03/regional-councils-todays-governmental_14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6391140459185993915Wed, 19 Nov 2014 06:05:00 +00002015-08-26T22:04:21.204-04:00 "Regional/Greater Community Development News &amp; Thought" &nbsp;&nbsp; can be found daily at these locations: Twitter Feed Google+ Cooperation Industry &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Regional Community News, as it was first called, began November 11, 2003. The understanding derived from this research about the nature of regional cooperation around the world at all scales let to the http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2014/11/regionalgreater-community-development.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6956996327070710328Tue, 01 Apr 2014 21:16:00 +00002014-04-01T17:16:42.766-04:00 Diverse Regions: Building Resilient Communities &amp; Territories Regional Studies Association European Conference Monday 16th-Wednesday 18th June 2014 Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Business Izmir, Turkey Call for Papers - One week left to submit your abstract!!! Submission deadline Sunday 6th April 2014 – click here for conference website There is still time to register for the RSA http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2014/04/diverse-regions-building-resilient.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-5690913378899410509Fri, 07 Mar 2014 01:08:00 +00002014-03-06T20:08:00.546-05:00 <!--[if gte vml 1]> <![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--> REGIONAL STUDIES ASSOCIATION GLOBAL CONFERENCE 2014 Tweeting about this event #RSABrazil2014 From Vulnerable Places to Resilient Territories: The Path to Sustainable Development ABSTRACT SUBMISSION DEADLINE – 9th March 2014 (Abstracts should be no more than 800 words) http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-path-to-sustainable.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-2888329602396768510Wed, 08 Jan 2014 00:51:00 +00002016-12-21T11:55:01.930-05:00 The Emerging and Sustainable Cities Initiative (ESCI) cordially invites you to the presentation of “The Art of Shaping the Metropolis” A book by Pedro B. Ortiz, Senior Urban Consultant at the World Bank Tuesday, March 4, 2014 (Originally scheduled for January 21, the presentation had to be rescheduled due to snow.) Inter-American Development Bank, 1300 New York Ave NW, Washington DC.&nbsp; http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-art-of-shaping-metropolis.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6762404060130418466Tue, 12 Nov 2013 06:23:00 +00002013-11-12T11:55:14.712-05:00 Dear Readers – Today is the ten year anniversary of the newsletter part of the Regions Work Initiative. It is, among other things, an effort to make the notion of "regional community” a viable term relating to community development at multi-jurisdictional scales . This term comes from my experience as a regional planner for Virginia Planning District 7, then the Lord Fairfax Planning http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/11/dear-readers-today-is-ten-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-5042941388745739942Tue, 15 Oct 2013 20:58:00 +00002013-10-15T17:00:07.503-04:00 The prior three posts which demonstrate the levels of the global geocode will raise the question, "Why focus on COGs/Regional Councils in the U.S.? The following excerpt from the paper: "Prototype Global Geocoding of Political Geographies for Library and Data Management -&nbsp;Wikipedia&nbsp;Example," a paper to be presented at the Applied Geography Conference, October 31, 2013 in Annapolis, http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/10/why-focus-on-cogsregional-councils-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6436002165138568647Mon, 14 Oct 2013 04:35:00 +00002013-10-14T00:43:43.705-04:00 The Global Geocodes were designed to support analysis of&nbsp;sub-national&nbsp;political geographies. In the case of the United States, there are&nbsp;sub-state&nbsp;regions – counties or their equivalent, and multi-jurisdictional regions of these political entities, within a state or multi-state and, including municipalities within those units. For this level, the nation code 5140 with http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/10/global-geocode-library-organizes-us-sub.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6614279334942621833Thu, 10 Oct 2013 19:41:00 +00002013-10-10T22:53:43.078-04:00 The Global Geocodes are designed to work at subnational levels. Here, for the United States, the nation code 5140 has added to it a two digit decimal number. Like the global codes, codes are assigned using the directional path North to South, then East to West (NSEW).&nbsp;&nbsp;U.S. Census Bureau defined regions are the base, with Maine being 5140.01. See map below. The library function http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/10/global-geocode-library-use-organizes-us.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-3377320107107656182Wed, 02 Oct 2013 21:40:00 +00002013-10-14T16:11:49.587-04:00 Here is a use of the Global Geocodes that I've worked on since 2001 in Library mode to organize Wikipedia pages geographically. Some information is in the "Geocode Introduction" sidebar. If you are interested in more information, send me an email for the current paper and related information. Tom.Christoffel (at) gmail.com Global Geocode Planet, Continents &amp; Oceans http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/10/global-geocode-library-use-organizes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-7612946596994178259Wed, 18 Sep 2013 02:08:00 +00002013-09-17T22:08:37.526-04:00 Many in regional development ask local officials to: "put on the regional hat." This 18 minute video/PowerPoint presentation considers the basis for various scales of political organization and the source of identity. It considers the question of the "regional hat" in a visual manner. The presentation: "Community Motive: The Untapped Identity Factor for Regional Development" was given at thehttp://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/09/considering-regional-hat-short-video.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-2966208590199662316Tue, 20 Aug 2013 17:25:00 +00002013-08-20T13:51:58.190-04:00 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Conference Page&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Plenary Speakers&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Conference Chairman: Professor Michael Storper, UCLA, Los Angeles, USA;&nbsp; Conference organiser: Elizabeth Mitchell, Regional Studies Association 25 Clinton Place – Seaford – BN25 4QU – UK Tel: 00 44 (0)1323 http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/08/global-urbanization-conference-plenary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-7254100731567373956Tue, 30 Jul 2013 05:12:00 +00002013-11-15T12:35:15.181-05:00 July 30, 2013 Dear Reader:&nbsp; Based on my experience as a regional planner and agency director, 1973 -2008, and in recognition of emerging "regional communities," I developed three thoughts about community that relate&nbsp;to the&nbsp;challenge of working across-boundaries as greater or regional communities. The thoughts/theses apply for communities at the scale of bonding or&nbsp;bridginghttp://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/07/these-three-thoughts-theses-if-you-will.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-5243857864857712685Fri, 17 May 2013 05:29:00 +00002013-05-17T01:29:29.116-04:00 <!--[endif]--> Mobilising regions: territorial strategies for growth Regional Studies Association Winter Conference Friday 22nd&nbsp; &nbsp;November 2013, London, UK CALL FOR PAPERS Abstract submission deadline Friday 12th July 2013 – Registration opens 24th May 2013 One of the major impacts of the current economic crisis is the increased pressure to find new solutions http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/05/call-for-papers-mobilising-regions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6036390520360641502Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:29:00 +00002013-04-05T10:29:27.975-04:00&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; At the Southern Regional Science Association meeting in Arlington, Virginia, we have just received a&nbsp;presentation from Kathy Jacobs, U.S. Whitehouse Assistant Director for Climate Assessment and Adaptation.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; This is to alert you to the program, if you are unaware of it, and to let people know that the Public Comment period ends April 12.&http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/04/draft-climate-assessment-report-public.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-2117464103444866166Thu, 28 Feb 2013 20:48:00 +00002013-02-28T15:53:27.351-05:00 OPEN DAYS 2013 University Sessions and Master Class: RSA is the exclusive partner. Please see the our &nbsp;website&nbsp;&nbsp; The Regional Studies Association has been selected as the exclusive partner to DG Regio and the Committee of the Regions for the OPEN DAYS 2013. The RSA will be continuing to work with DG Regio and the Committee of the Regions in the design and content of the http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/02/regional-studies-association-and-open.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-5071459570007863042Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:58:00 +00002013-02-20T00:58:18.542-05:00 With the new focus on the notion of "community motive" in November, 2012 the blog here is shifting, as the title says to: &nbsp;"Greater/Regional Community Motivation - News and Thought" The finding and cataloging of news reports that demonstrate the existence of "community motive" at many scales has continued. It is posted to Twitter&nbsp;&nbsp;Here's what it looks like: News items arehttp://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2013/02/greaterregional-community-motivation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-2056323952555287073Thu, 22 Nov 2012 04:51:00 +00002013-03-22T14:15:11.134-04:00November 22, 2012 Dear Reader – Promoting regional planning and cooperation among the 20 local governments of Virginia’s Northern Shenandoah Valley was my work from 1973-2008. Many people chuckle at the notion that local governments would cooperate. A businessman from California once asked, “Do you have any customers?” The truth was that the Planning District Commission chartered in 1970 byhttp://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2012/11/given-many-problems-we-face-only.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-6809277470340755120Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:50:00 +00002012-11-06T01:50:09.312-05:00 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Multi-jurisdictional intentional regional communities are, in all cases, “Greater Communities” where “community motive” is at work at a more than a local scale. This newsletter provides a scan of regional community, cooperation and collaboration activity as reported in news media and blogs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Top 10 Stories 1. http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2012/11/regionalgreater-community-development.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-8974108821109194305Tue, 30 Oct 2012 06:11:00 +00002012-10-30T02:11:00.381-04:00 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Multi-jurisdictional intentional regional communities are, in all cases, “Greater Communities” where “community motive” is at work at a more than a local scale. This newsletter provides a scan of regional community, cooperation and collaboration activity as reported in news media and blogs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Top 10 Stories 1http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2012/10/regionalgreater-community-development_30.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19560539.post-8706300939734054448Tue, 23 Oct 2012 05:57:00 +00002012-10-23T01:57:03.064-04:00 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Multi-jurisdictional intentional regional communities are, in all cases, “Greater Communities” where “community motive” is at work at a more than a local scale. This newsletter provides a scan of regional community, cooperation and collaboration activity as reported in news media and blogs. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Top 10 Stories http://regional-communities.blogspot.com/2012/10/regionalgreater-community-development_23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Tom Christoffel)0