Rural Europe on the move English_chap7_13 | Page 43

The Art of Being Different
3a. 3b. Workshop Lesachtal 1996: in the middle of alpine rural reality
4. Hans Windbichler (second from left) in 2019 as major of Lesachtal
From attendees
to actors
This was a chance to cultivate a more developments: the general trend
open mindset which welcomed the of centralisation in all parts of the
outsider. We wanted to share what administration and the loss of
had worked well for us from a rural independent regional management.
a workshop in Lesachtal. Forum development perspective but also In 1996 Lesachtal lost its independent
Synergies placed trust in me, what our unsolved problems were. regional management status and was
giving me confidence that I had Participants from other countries pooled together with other regions,
the skills and enthusiasm to take might offer valuable ideas or shared which had quite different character in
such challenge on. This trust was experience. And so Lesachtal became terms of geology, farming, heritage
fundamental for me. It shifted my a place to visit during the Sustainable and education, just as it happened in
thinking. I had something to offer, not Mystery Tour. Beaufortain, as described by Philippe
It was just logical to me to host
to ask for. We were more than just
attendees at workshops, we were all
actors in sustainable development,
active participants and invited to really
get stuck in. It was how I became a
networking person.
This was significant for Lesachtal, as
Barret in chapter 8. The positive
Administrative
changes and new
local energy
Times change, politicians change,
development, however, was that Hans
Windbichler decided to become an
active local politician. Today, he is the
mayor of the valley. He is excited and
eager to bring new energy to rural
funding schemes change. For us development and his long experience
the place was expressing openness in Lesachtal, a significant change in farming and working on regional
and hospitality to the world beyond in rural development energy came development makes him just the
the boundaries of our own little valley. due to more or less coinciding candidate for the job.
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