This extension education publication contains insights and tools to help community members develop a strategic vision and action plan for their community. Presented first are an executive summary and an introduction that includes 10 reasons for a strategic visioning process. The first section, which deals with harnessing the power of vision, explains the processes of strategic thinking/planning/visioning, lists six elements of a good vision, and discusses the role of visioning in empowering communities. A 10-step community development process is outlined, discussed in detail, and then illustrated through case studies. The strategic visioning component of the process is examined in detail, and sample strategic visioning meeting agendas and case studies are presented. Concluding the publication is a summary sample plan. Eleven figures and 24 references are included. Appended are the following: steps in evaluating existing community plans; sample vision statements; test for determining if a statement is a mission statement or vision statement; list of 12 keys to a successful strategic visioning and action process; sample written agreements of commitment; sample themes, slogans, mottos, and goals; benchmark indicators; building scenarios; cause and effect diagram; hypothetical scenario of a community celebration in 2005; and strategic vision and action plan worksheet. (MN)