The response to our recent column regarding the creation of an Asset List to serve the needs of the (Cumberland County/Sackville and Area) region has been overwhelming and positive.

I am most impressed by the intelligence and directness of the questions about the Asset List. This column is an attempt to address some of those questions. The Amherst Daily News, which has gone above and beyond, in their support has agreed to publish a sample of what the Asset List Questionnaire might consist of in its final form. It shows the types of questions we are considering and how comprehensive we want it to be.

Ultimately it will be you, the Asset List contributors, who determine what the Asset List looks like and what interests are represented. The sample questionnaire you see published today is not limited to the categories you see.  We will encourage all contributors to add their own categories and information at will. The List you see represented today in this newspaper is meant to show you the types of things we are considering.

Our partnership with the NSCC will see a project person from there, beginning this week, contacting the chambers in the region (Cumberland County/Sackville and Area), the various municipal units and regional development authorities. The project

person will set up appointments for their  representatives to come and have an overview for filling out of the Asset List Questionnaire.

This aspect of the process also has no limitations and is not just limited to the organizations and institutions I have just described. I encourage any groups or individuals who wish to help in any way to contact your local Chamber.

For the purposes of getting this project off the ground, it should be noted that we are looking at a short timeline for filling out the Asset List Questionnaire and returning it to the NSCC coordinator. The process of collating information and entering data into the preliminary database is a lengthy one so we will have  to keep time  allotted to the collection of initial data as economical as possible.

For those with concerns about the speed of our approach to creating the Asset List, it should be also noted that we have the capacity to add to or edit existing lists at any time after its creation.

There is in fact an area of the Asset List where change is the only constant. We call this the Dynamic Category and it involves those in the professional trades, retail, accommodations, food and beverage, event organization and so on. Because these are sectors where change is frequent they will be able to be updated by individuals or representatives with an access code once the active web database is in place.

Other areas such as infrastructure and scenic sites, which do not change that often will fall under the Frozen Category and any changes will be made through the website or database administrator.

I believe strongly that the Asset List is one of the things we must do for ourselves to contribute to the prosperity of this region. No matter where you live and do business  in the region; whether it be be Sleepy Hollow, N.B or the Parrsboro Shore, N.S. the  Asset List can include you and identify you as a significant part of this region.

If the various geographical entities that make up this region are to survive, and to thrive we must begin facing the rest of the world united. The feedback I have received during the last couple of weeks has increased my resolve to help make that happen. The development of the Asset List is a significant step toward that end.