Summerton S.C. Blog

The World in 2050

What will our world look like in 2050? Not just here in Summerton, but in Clarendon County, across the U.S. and around the world. The following is a brief collection of both negative and positive predictions about our world in 2050. These predictions were extracted from multiple reports and studies by groups around the world focused on the future of America and this planet. You may find that they all point to redefining society and life on Earth as we transition from a Type 0 to a Type 1 Civilization.

So here we go! Here are just a few of the major predictions about our future come 2050. As you read these predictions about the future, think about how they might relate to life in Summerton - or in your town:

Agriculture

Demand for Food and Water resources will grow substantially as the global population increases. Unfortunately, much of the world's fish stocks in the ocean could become extinct by 2050 and global yields of food crops could also plummet nearly 10% by 2050 leading to food scarcity.
High-tech solutions, precision farming systems, as well as approaches borrowed from organic farming, will all be needed to boost yields several times over to meet the growing global demand. Expect to see widespread use of drones, autonomous self-driving farming vehicles, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or crops, and 'open' farming machinery - see Open Ecology.

Business & Manufacturing

Collaboration, 'Open' Solutions, Sharing, and a focus on continuous Innovation will be the key business strategies pursued by most industries. Many new materials for housing, clothing, technology ... will be developed and used to revolutionize many industries and the products they produce. See 4^th Industrial Revolution
Hi-tech, intelligent buildings powered by alternative energy sources will be used by most growing and forward-thinking companies. Use of Smart 3D Printers and Advanced Manufacturing Techniques will transform manufacturing and be the norm. The telecommuting workforce across the U.S. and around the world will continue to grow, and the market for the Internet of Things (IoT) will be huge - consisting of trillions of interconnected devices of all sorts.

Education

Continuous life-long learning needed by all humans to adapt to the global economy. Human illiteracy will be largely eliminated around the world. Fully accredited cost-competitive private, online schools and universities will dominate the education landscape by 2050 - Think MOOCs !
Free and open access to most of the world's digitized information will be available to almost everyone in the world. Use of 'open access' textbooks and research, coupled with the spread of 'open data', will revolutionize the education system and help to dramatically lower costs. Read Next Generation Education 4.0 Systems

Energy

The official end of the 'Oil Age' and use of fossil fuels on Earth will occur by 2050. Renewable energy sources will provide up to 80% of U.S. energy needs by 2050, e.g. wind, solar, hydro, hydrogen fuel cells, and more. Nuclear 'fusion' power will also finally become commercially available
Continent-wide smart 'supergrids' will be deployed and used to better manage the world's energy distribution system. Both the high cost and scarcity of energy on Earth will become a thing of the past.

Environment

Average global temperatures will likely rise more than 4°F by 2050. The resulting climate change will make storms far more intense, e.g. hurricanes, tornadoes, cyclones. Sea levels across the globe will rise by a little over 3 feet, flooding many coastal cities in the U.S. and around the world.
Nearly half of the world's rain forests and jungles will vanish by 2050, and approximately 5 billion of the world's projected 10 billion people will live in water-stressed areas. Wildfires will triple in many regions of the globe, deep ocean mining operations will become widespread further destroying sea life, and major extinctions of many animals and plant life will have occurred by 2050.

Global Economy & Trade

The U.S. dollar will lose its global dominance by 2025 as the Euro and China's currency become co-equals in a "multi-currency" monetary system. India's economy will finally rival that of China and the U.S. by 2050, and Brazil, Mexico and Indonesia will finally begin to rival the economies of the U.K. and France.
Collaboration, 'Open' Solutions, and continuous Innovation will be the key strategies for success in the 21st century global economy. New financial systems, economic development, business models and tools will have emerged, e.g. Bitcoin, Micro-financing, Electronic Wallets.

Government

The vast majority of countries will have adopted some form of democratic government by 2050, and the U.S. will learn to work with more closely with new partners around the world to reinvent regional and global governance systems.
Both Public and Private sector organizations will shift their focus to long term investments and solutions. Governments will have to learn to adapt fast enough to harness change and new technologies, instead of being overwhelmed by it. Many Non-State actors will take the lead in confronting global challenges, e.g. global business conglomerates.
Building leadership in government and business that can be 'trusted', that is not corrupt, is citizen-centered, and not built on greed and the quest for money and power... will continue to be a major challenge for society.

Health

Skyrocketing global population will spur the faster spread of infectious diseases and viruses. By 2050 we will see more instances of global pandemics and the spread of deadly diseases. Read Health 4.0 by 2040
Rise of 'Regenerative Medicine', Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Research, and the development of 'Human Augmentation' technologies will dramatically alter people's life spans and capabilities.
Use of genomic information and biorepository systems will transform healthcare and help dramatically lower costs.
Reduction in child mortality and improvements in health due to numerous advances in medicine. Genetically engineered "designer babies" will become more commonplace

Military &Warfare

Unfortunately, war will not become extinct, though its frequency and scope will continue to change and adapt to rapid shifts in power and events on the global stage. Global power will shift to networks and coalitions of nations in a multi-polar world.
Development of a wide range of new weapon systems will continue - see Future Weapons. There will be more widespread use of fully autonomous, semi-intelligent military weapons, e.g. drones, robots.
Expect to see weapons and warfare spread to outer space as the quest to colonize the moon and other planets becomes a reality.

Population

It is predicted that the global population will reach a plateau of approximately10 billion by 2050, barring any unforeseen major pandemic or major extinction event.
By 2050, one in every six people on earth will be over 65 years old, and over 60% of the world’s population will live in urbanized areas and smart cities of the future.
Mass migration of the world's populations effected by climate change will increase.
The U.S. will continue to see steady population growth through 2050, with the Southern and Western regions of the country leading the growth

Society

The importance of Personal Privacy will remain a high priority for people everywhere as business and government continue to infringe on this area of life.
Women will take on a growing leadership role in business and government around the world.
By 2050, it is predicted that 30 per cent (2.8 billion) of the World's population will identify with Islam compared to 31 per cent (2.9 billion) identifying as Christian.

Space Travel & Colonization

Spaceflight technology will take a major leap forward allowing for Inter-Planetary travel. Public and private sector organizations will be aggressively moving forward to explore and exploit resources on nearby planets in outer-space. There will be permanent human settlements on the moon, followed by the first permanent colony on Mars.
Different life forms will begin to be discovered on other planets and galaxies by 2050.

Technology

The pace of technological innovation will continue to increase. There will be another 1,000-fold increase in computer power, data transmission rates, storage, ... Mobile solutions will rapidly evolve, especially as the world embraces a wide range of wearable technologies. Implantable technologies will start to gain widespread acceptance in healthcare, warfare, and other sectors of our lives by 2050.
Trillions of 'Internet of Things (IoT)' and Smart Appliances will be deployed and interconnected. Use of 3D printing technology by individuals and manufacturing industries will become widespread. Drones will be employed by many industries, e.g. agriculture, manufacturing... Robots will become a common feature in homes and workplaces around the world.
Hopefully, many other new technological breakthroughs will be developed just in time to boost economic productivity and solve many of the challenges related to a growing world population, rapid urbanization, climate change, ...

Transportation

Electric cars will largely dominate the automobile industry by 2050. In addition, hi-tech self-driving cars and trucks on the road will be commonplace.
Look for completion of high-speed rail routes between major cities across the U.S. and around the world, e.g. Maglev and HyperLoop systems. A trans-global highway and rail network will have emerged that will eventually link all continents.
The commercial space transportation industry will continue to grow far into the foreseeable future.

The rate of change will not be slowing down. It will continue to increase and amaze us. The U.S. and the rest of the developing world will learn to adapt to these many new technologies and changing scenarios as we continue the transition from a Type 0 to a Type 1 Civilization.

Focusing on Summerton & Clarendon County in 2050

So what does all this mean for the citizens of Summerton and Clarendon County, S.C. Let's take a quick look at some probable changes and scenarios we can expect to see in our future. Be sure to also read the Clarendon County Comprehensive Plan 2018-2028

Demographics

Population

Conservatively speaking, the population of Summerton and the surrounding area should more than double by 2050. That means Summerton's population may slowly but steadily grow to over 2,000 residents and Clarendon County may grow to over 60,000 people by 2050.

Education & Training

The education and qualifications of the local workforce will have a direct impact on the ability of the area to attract new industry and businesses. Improving the level of education will be a high priority for the community. By 2050, every person will have at least a high school education. At least 50% will have 2-year community college or 4-year university degrees – a necessity if they are to compete in the global marketplace.

The means of delivering education and life-long training to citizens will change dramatically. For example, consolidation of small school districts will occur to cut administrative overhead, save money, and improve the range of educational services provided. Privatization of higher education systems by for-profit universities will rival or replace state-run schools supported by tax dollars. Self-paced online education programs will replace many traditional brick-and-mortar high schools and universities. Read “The Open Education & Training Revolution Continues”.

Income & Jobs

In 2050, people will still continue to work in the following fields - Agriculture, Forestry, Manufacturing, Construction, Transportation, Finance, Education, Retail Trade, Hospitality Services, Food Service, Tourism, Healthcare, and Public Services. However, expect to see a significant shift in the percentage of people working in each of these industries.

By 2050, many new workers will be needed to work in the rapidly expanding information and technology industry. Many new jobs will open in the hospitality, food service, entertainment, tourism, and outdoor recreation industries. Expect to see significant growth in ecotourism, agritourism, water parks, miniature golf courses, marinas, hotels, condos, new homes, restaurants, retail businesses, new homes, retirement communities, and much more.

Along with the new industries will come many new jobs – many of which will be higher paying jobs requiring a more complex set of skills. Thus the need for improvements in the local education and training programs.

Housing

By 2050, as the population doubles in the area, the education standard is raised, and higher paying jobs in new industries become the norm, expect to see a boom in the housing market and construction industry. Many existing summer homes will be upgraded to year round homes. Expect to see more construction of high-end condos and townhouse communities along the lake. More secure, gated communities will spring up to accommodate retirees from other parts of the country. Many of these new homes will be better constructed 'smart homes' incorporating solar power and other hi-tech features. Skilled workers will need to be trained to build these new homes.

Expect the prices for these new homes, lake-front property, and land in general to climb dramatically over the coming decades. It's not going to happen overnight. Think long term – think 2050. Key to the growth is Lake Marion, our weather, and the geographic position of Summerton and the surrounding area halfway between Columbia and Charleston, S.C.

“It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” - Yogi Bera

Local Government – The Public Sector

The mayor and town council of Summerton are going to face some major new challenges in the coming decade. By 2050, the number of residents and businesses in Summerton and the surrounding area will more than double. The town will need to refine the 'Comprehensive Plan' for Summerton to include new infrastructure that will be needed, online information systems, updated town ordinances, zoning, town boundries, taxes, new services, utilities, additional staffing, and much more.

Once the pace of change begins to pick up, to succeed the town will need to consider hiring a professional town manager who will need to work with the Clarendon County government, Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Governments, and the State and Federal governments to obtain grants and participate on more intergovernmental initiatives. By 2020, there will begin to be many additional governmental functions that only a full time town manager and professional staff will be capable of handling.

The town will need to start focusing on many potential new local and intergovernmental initiatives such as: improving the education system; providing additional public health and healthcare services; establishing a public relations and marketing programs to attract developers and new industries; raising additional revenue; bolstering disaster preparedness and public safety programs; building up tourism, agribusiness, tackling environmental issues, providing more online government services, and much more.

Local Business – The Private Sector

The number of businesses in Summerton can expect to grow from approximately 80 small businesses today to more than 150 by 2050. The number and type of businesses will include many traditional businesses, e.g. realty, insurance, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, banks, retail stores. Read Best New Business Ideas for Small Towns

Now - think about telecommuting centers, information technology companies, ecotourism companies, assisted living centers, family recreation facilities, alternative energy system, the Internet of Things (IoT), construction of 'smart homes', farms planting genetically modified organisms (GMO); precision farming; drone operators; … Many of these new businesses will require more a more educated workforce with hi-tech skills. There's a lot of work to be done!

Non-Profit Community Organizations

As the population grows and becomes more diverse, non-government organizations (NGO) like churches, charities, civic groups, and veterans organizations will not only see an increase in their members – but many new organizations will emerge to serve the changing population.

Think of more proactive environmental groups, new religious organizations, increased activity by historic preservation groups, the need for more charitable services, the rise of home owner associations (HOA), more social groups...

Like the government and local businesses, the use of information technology (IT) to run their operations and reach out to their members will be of great importance. Think computers, telecommunication networks, video conferencing systems, social networking, mobile solutions, and… Notice how it all comes back to education, training, and technology for the organizations and workforce of the future.

Links to Selected Articles & Web Sites

The following are a few selected articles published by the Summerton Weekly News over the past several years on the future of Summerton, South Carolina, the USA, and the World.

Selected Web Sites

Selected Videos

Summerton is known as a wonderful place to vacation, raise a family, run a business - or simply retire to, when all is said and done. The deep spiritual commitment and sound family values of its people are reflected in the many churches and close-knit residential communities in Summerton and the surrounding area. However, the town of Summerton is now caught up in the transition from its deeply rooted agrarian past into the modern 'Information Age' of the 21^st Century.

Change is going to continue to come to Summerton and the surrounding area. There is really no stopping it. So rather than fighting it, the community needs to embrace it and be more proactive in shaping its future – rather than letting 'outside forces' dictate what's going to happen. But you know what? It turns out that Summerton is well positioned to thrive in this coming century.

To close, let me quote Yogi Bera again - “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Links to Selected Summerton & Clarendon County Web Sites

Clarendon County

Other Selected Sites

Over the years, I have managed a government organization, a private company, a non-government organization (NGO), and most recently was elected to head up a non-profit all-volunteer community organization. It turns out that roughly the same management skills are largely needed to lead each of them. However, leading a non-profit all-volunteer organization has a few unique personnel management challenges.

The following is a brief list of recommended best practices for managing an all-volunteer community organization based on the literature and practical experience.:

Developing a written plan is one of the management keys to success for all volunteer organizations.
Creating a detailed policy and procedures handbook is an essential step to orient and inform volunteers about your organization.
Create job descriptions for all key positions, e.g. management officials, committee chairs, etc.
Finding the right ‘qualified’ person to fill each of the key positions in the organization will help your all-volunteer program to blossom and operate smoothly.
Provide training in managing an all-volunteer organization for the people occupying the key positions in the organization.
Make sure there’s a good fit between the needs of volunteers and the organization. For example, a volunteer may be motivated by a desire to be of service, an interest in learning new skills through a volunteer role, or an interest in meeting and being with people.
Develop a volunteer application and profile that will document their background, skills, interests, and more.
Help get volunteers to know each other and share their background, needs, skills, interests…
An orientation process should be established to help introduce new volunteers to your organization, its mission, goals, organization structure, policies, operating procedures and more.
Management officials should make sure there is a process in place to recognize and thank volunteers for their work as individuals - and as a collective group.
Feedback and suggestions from volunteer members is essential to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the organization.
Being able to track and demonstrate the overall accomplishments, impact, and value of the organization to its volunteers and community supporters is essential.
Raising and managing funds needed to operate the organization and its programs is another one of the keys to long range success.
Having a building with space to house the volunteer workers with a conference room of some sorts to hold meetings and social gatherings is a major plus.
Finally, information management systems are needed in this day and age to facilitate communication with volunteers who can only show up for work on an irregular basis. A web site, social media page, and email will greatly facilitate communications.

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) report, volunteerism peaked between 2003 and 2005, when 28.8 percent of Americans reported having volunteered the previous year. Last year, about 62 million Americans volunteers contributed their time to a wide variety of organizations in communities across the country.

Share your ideas on best practices in managing a non-profit all-volunteer organization with our readers.