“Yes, there is a picture of me riding a camel in Petra, but….” 

The “but” was me trying to change the subject to the more substantial parts of my recent trip to Jordan.  When I came back to town hall here in Hooksett, New Hampshire after returning from Jordan, the camel ride quickly got around.  However, what I wanted to tell people about was what an excellent experience I had and the things I had learned.

Another member of my staff, Project Coordinator Katie Rosengren, and I had the opportunity to participate in the USAID/Jordan Local Enterprise Support (LENS) Project to work with communities in Jordan on community economic development initiatives.  We were assigned to work with two specific municipalities, Naour and Amriyah, both in the Amman Governorate.  We met with their mayors, local development officials, local business leaders, community-based organizations (CBOs), consultants and local residents.  Everyone we met was friendly and helpful.

The Municipal Management Association of New Hampshire meets regularly.  When we get together inevitably we discuss upcoming projects that members are undertaking.  Other members, who have already been through similar projects, will provide suggestions on the best way to move forward and provide warnings of pitfalls they should avoid.  These discussions provide invaluable assistance and are one of the major benefits of the Association.   Providing this sort of feedback based on our experience was our role in Jordan. 

Presentation to Amriyah mayor

For example, Amriyah is very interested in building public-private partnerships for a local economic development project that would increase tourism.  Dhab’a Fortress, dating from the Ottoman Empire, is located just outside of the village (http://goo.gl/SH4kmY).  It certainly has potential to bring tourists but, like many small towns here in New Hampshire, Amriyah doesn’t have the funds for the development or marketing required.  We discussed with city officials how they can work with the private sector to make sure that the resulting project would be in everyone’s best interest.        

We then had the opportunity to participate in a public/private dialogue (PPD) local officials had with about 30 local business leaders.  It was a very open discussion and we had the opportunity to hear them talk about some of the ideas we had brought forth.  This forum led to the decision to put together a committee to keep the dialogue going.  A very successful outcome, I believe.  We made similar progress in the other municipality, but I will save that for a future blog post. 

When I learned about this opportunity, through ICMA International, I approached my wife.  She teaches in a high school and, coincidentally, there was an exchange student from Jordan in her school.  She asked him about whether it was safe and he described Jordan as “a very nice country in a bad neighborhood.”  I don’t want to talk about the “neighborhood” but I can say from firsthand experience Jordan is a very nice country.

People do ask if I ever felt in danger.  Certainly, there are heightened security measures in place.  I made it a game to try to get through the hotel metal detector without setting it off and any bags we brought in were x-rayed.  And, actually, there was one time that I did have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something could go very wrong.  That was when the camel began lumbering to its feet and I realized that I was seven feet off the ground with no stirrups and only my grip on the saddle horn to keep me from falling.   

What an amazing trip!  

                                                                            

                                                            Me and my camel in Petra