THE ISSUES OF A LOCAL COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT BE ARBITRARILY SETTLED AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECOGNITION OF THE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PROCESS PLANNING WHICH ARE--THE NATIONAL, THE REGIONAL, AND THE LOCAL. ALMOST EVERY GROUP THAT IS ORIENTED TO RURAL YOUTH HAS A NATIONAL OFFICE WITH REGIONAL DIVISIONS. THE SPEAKER SUGGESTS THAT THE CONFERENCE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A STYLE OF ACTION FOR PLANNING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AND THAT THE QUICKEST WAY TO CULTIVATE A FREE SWINGING STYLE OF ACTION FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY IS THROUGH PERSONAL REACTION TO CONCRETE CASES. SEVERAL CASES ARE CITED WHERE PROJECTS PLANNED AT A HIGH LEVEL WERE UNSUCCESSFUL, AND IT IS SHOWN HOW LOCAL INVOLVEMENT COULD OR DID AID IN MAKING THESE PROJECTS MORE SUCCESSFUL. THIS SPEECH WAS PRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL OUTLOOK CONFERENCE ON RURAL YOUTH, OCTOBER 23-26, 1967, WASHINGTON, D.C., SPONSORED JOINTLY BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENTS OF AGRICULTURE, HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE, INTERIOR, AND LABOR, OEO, AND THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON YOUTH OPPORTUNITY. (ES)