Coastal Communities Network - Nova Scotia Canada

Thursday, July 29, 2010

CCN - Guiding Principles

The operations and activities of the Coastal Communities Network are based on the following principles and beliefs:

that CCN believes in the inherent worth of small communities;
that CCN’s strategies and actions reflect the interests of small communities;
that CCN believes in open, transparent, participatory democracy;
that action based on common understanding is the most effective way to promote the survival and development of small communities;
that social, economic, cultural, political, and environmental issues are interdependent factors influencing the well-being of our communities;
that CCN has an important role to play in providing a forum for community participation;
that CCN believes that, through cooperation with other organizations, we can achieve more than could any one organization on its own;
that, while CCN must develop a working relationship with government, it operates independently of government;
that CCN is "grass-roots driven": that is, CCN’s strategies and actions reflect the experience and insight of its member organizations;
that the composition of CCN, its member organizations, its Board and committees, attempts to properly reflect the diversity and aspirations of small communities in Nova Scotia;
that CCN believes in involving many diverse viewpoints, while attempting to reach consensus;
that the CCN Board is accountable to its members for its activities, and it must operate efficiently and effectively.