DATE:    3/13/01
CONTACT: Dr. Tom Potts, (864) 656-0372; tpotts@clemson.edu
WRITER:  Diane Palmer, (864) 656-4741; spalmer@clemson.edu

"Developing Naturally" program
goes international

     CLEMSON -- Have you been thinking of starting a bed and 
breakfast or a nature-based home business but just don't know 
where to start? A Clemson Extension specialist may have the answer.
     Tom Potts, associate professor, Strom Thurmond Institute
associate, and Clemson Extension specialist, can help you with 
his program "Developing Naturally Enhancing Communities," which
reflects Potts' years of community development work.
     "Years ago in conjunction with S.C. Parks Recreation and 
Tourism we facilitated the development of the S.C. Bed and Breakfast
Association," Potts said. Today it is alive and well and effective,
according to Potts. 
     A bed and breakfast manual, was also written, which is designed 
to help people start a small bed and breakfast in their home. Today
that publication can be obtained from the Web in English, Slovak,
Spanish and Polish. 
     The manuals, are available on his web site free at:
http://www.developingnaturally.com, and include such topics as: 
Beginning a Bed & Breakfast in South Carolina; Developing Naturally: 
An Exploratory Process for Nature-Based Community Tourism; Nature-
Based Tourism Enterprises Guidelines for Success 2000 Edition and
Recycling for the Hospitality Industry. The manuals are also 
translated in Slovak, Polish, Spanish and Chinese.
     Potts' program also provides assistance in starting a nature-
based business such as kayaking or fishing guide or doing nature 
guided tours in your area.   
     "The ideas are limitless," Potts said.
     However, Potts' major area of interest is the improvement of
community environments and quality of life.
     "We try to give communities some tools with which they can 
decide how they want to develop their own communities," Potts said.
"Figuring out ways to generate income is a major concern for many."
That is the reason Potts developed materials in practical small
businesses such as bed & breakfasts.   
     In partnership with Clemson Extension specialists Fran Wolak 
and Joyce Christenbury, Potts designed a recycling program for the
coastal hotel industry that showed them how to be more environmental
friendly. The Westin Hotel gave Clemson an award for introducing
recycling to Hilton Head. 
     As a result of these efforts a recycling manual was developed.
     In addition to his community development work in the states, 
Potts has held workshops in Venezuela, Poland, and Slovakia over 
the past six years. 
     "This year I've been invited to Mongolia, Albania, Georgia, 
and Siberia just to do nature-based community development trainings."
Potts said. "This type of international demand is impossible to meet 
in person."  So, Potts made all of their publications available on 
the "Developing Naturally" web page. 
     International "Developing Naturally" partnerships are being
formed. A university in Nicaragua asked Potts if they could join
"Developing Naturally" last year as a partner. "They have asked us 
to come down sometime in May and talk to their hospitality and 
tourism industry about the bed and breakfast business and again 
in August to meet with development officials from all over South 
and Central America," he said. They are also developing partnerships 
in Slovakia, Russia, and Turkey.
     "This is a very exciting time for us," Potts said. "The world 
is discovering products, ideas, that we have developed at Clemson 
and applying them all over the globe."
     Last month, 3,323 people worldwide downloaded information from 
his web site.
                                END