Trends, strengths and assets, weaknesses and problem areas, goals, and public policy questions in the area of human relations and community life in rural New York state are presented with supporting statistics. Trends considered include rural and elderly rural population increases; suicide, homicide, and domestic violence rate increases; demands for community, personal, and health services; and support for the arts. Strengths and assets defined are community and family support systems, economic attractions, sense of control over one's life, wealth of cultural resources, and aesthetic qualities. Problem areas reported include continuing poverty, inaccessibility and insufficiency of personal and commmunity services, rising cost of living and taxes, and underdeveloped information networks. Major goals proposed include ensuring consideration of rural concerns in public programs and policy, encouraging participation in governance, fostering rural culture and values, expanding access to library and cultural resources, and providing equitable service to all state citizens. Policy questions suggested focus on how the state can achieve cost-effective use of resources in addressing rural needs, promote cooperation and coordination between public and private rural service agencies, and apply quality of life regulations to benefit all New Yorkers. (NEC)