Memphis motivator hits town

Press, 2 June 1989, Page 5

Memphis motivator hits town

By

KAY FORRESTER

When Ron Terry hit town yesterday, he pulled on a pair of running shoes and set off to discover Christchurch.

The man who guided Memphis towards its economic recovery wanted an impression of the city that had invited him to help launch a similar process, Going for Goals. He liked what he saw. “It looks a prosperous city. First impressions — broad streets, lots of trees, a magnificent (Hagley) park and Botanic Gardens, and a wonderful museum I want to go back to, and very friendly people who were ready to talk to me ... and ducks, lots of ducks on the Avon.”

If Christchurch has problems, they do not show, Mr Terry says. The message the former chairman of the Memphis jobs conference and president of the First Tennessee Bank has for Christchurch is: "It’s your city. You decide. Get out there and do something. “I’m not going to tell the people of Christchurch how they should solve their problems.

"I’m going to relate the story of another city facing problems a decade ago and its people taking the city into their hands to create an environment in which a new vision of the city became apparent.”

The crux of Memphis's solution to its problems was the partnership between business leaders and political leaders, Mr Terry feld.

The first jobs conference of 1979 turned up ideas but it was not until the second year that momentum picked up. Mr Terry credits that to the availability of $2O million of state funds and to a business footing for achieving goals.

In the first year about 400 people were involved in the jobs conference. Mr Terry admits to being very sceptical about the “do-gooders” he expected to find among that group. “I expected people with pet projects but the process we developed gave top priority tn economic growth and it was the projects and goals that offered that which got support.” ■ Strong leadership at Going for

Goals would stop any grandstanding by people with pet projects, he said.

Mr Terry believes all groups in the Memphis community felt they were listened to — “Art groups, community groups, racial minorities. The black leaders knew that economic growth was important and that unemployment fell hardest on weaker groups. That the political leaders and the business community were behind it counted for a lot.”

After the third year, when the major goals were set of establishing Memphis as a distribution centre and a tourist destination, Mr Terry suggested the conference had done its job. He says now, “I guess I was a bit tired. I thought we could get on with the execution from there and not worry about any more public planning forums.” The people of Memphis wanted the conference retained and they are still held regularly. Mr Terry has not been directly involved since 1981, though he spoke at the conference two years ago. He believes the concept of a planning forum can work for Christchurch but it will take the commitment of the city to achieve results. Especially important was the partnership between business and city leaders, he said. Vital, also, was the participation of city residents in the initial forum tomorrow and on Sunday.

Forum agenda The Going for Goals agenda is: Saturday, June 3: 9 a.m. Open-

ing session, Town Hall auditorium. Addresses by Going for Goals chairman, Mr Alan Shadwell, and the president of the First Tennessee Bank and former Memphis jobs conference chairman, Mr Ron Terry. 10 a.m. Morning tea. 10.30 a.m. Break up into six discussion groups: business development; culture, sport and recreation; education and health; primary resources; technology and information services; and transport services. Brief presentations by experts. A moderator will lead discussions. A scribe will record discussions which will also be taped. Discussions to identify Canterbury’s strengths and opportunities for economic and social development. Human resources and Christchurch’s images to be discussed by all groups.

12.30 p.m. Lunch. 2 p.m. Discussion groups. 4 p.m. Summary session in auditorium. 4.30 p.m. Public forum ends. Task force committees meet to summarise key points of discussions. Sunday, June 4: 9 a.m. Opening session in auditorium. Addresses by Mr Alan Shadwell on aims and objectives and Mr Ron Terry, “Are we on the right track?” Taskforce committees summary on first day recommendations. 10 a.m. Morning tea. 10.30 a.m. Break up into discussion groups. 12.30 p.m. Lunch. 2 p.m. Discussions groups. Finalise recommendations. 3.45 p.m. Afternoon tea. 4 p.m. Summary session in auditorium. Taskforce reports. Recomendations. 4.30 p.m. “Where to from heqp?”