The News Opinion Perspectives
Perspectives (16)
After writing the front page story about the Jan. 23 Warrenville City Council meeting, I took some time to ponder the state of affairs of our city.
Having spent time as an alderman (and chair of the Finance Committee), having spent time on the board of the chamber of commerce (still am), having spent three years so far on the Warrenville Park District Board, I have accumulated a working view of public institutions in our community.
My Bad
This issue contains a letter to the editor written by Scott Shaw. His letter speaks for itself, but it concerned me that he seemed so upset by something I wrote. I tried to determine what that might be and only came up with two possibilities.
First, some background.
In the last issue of Village Chronicles (12/30/11), we completed our thank you's to the volunteers who make the newspaper possible. We also closed out the year with a review of the issues we have been following for more than two years – issues of importance to the community.
As promised, we bring you background on a few more of the volunteers who bring the Village Chronicles to your mailbox.
Bobbie Mignin, known for her column Neighbor To Neighbor. Bobbie also writes feature articles for us and delves into her stories with depth and meaning for the community. A trained journalist and professional writer, Bobbie brings an anchoring presence to the Village Chronicles. Along with Shawna Coronado, Bobbie helped our fledgling group get started back in the Warrenville Sentinel days, and really helped us swing into the Village Chronicles era! Altogether, Bobbie has partnered with our writers group since spring 2008. Thanks Bobbie!
Last Sunday evening, 14 people gathered at a new local restaurant, Montri
In our last column, we commended the spirit of volunteerism that pervades our readership area, and pointed our readers to a separate story about specific standout volunteers.
And we alluded to a host of other volunteers, who, though left unnamed for now, surely know who they are. People who give of their time, energy, and ideas to projects that benefit the community almost always receive tacit recognition. We value them, not always openly and by name, but we do value them.
Sharing and Can-Do
Thursday evening, Nov. 10, the Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce held its first annual Community Treasures Banquet.
The chamber felt it was time it recognized those who do a lot of the community’s work through volunteer efforts.
Both the Warrenville and
Just think of it. So many organizations make up our community: School PTAs, church boards, Kiwanis and Lions Clubs, the chamber itself, library board members and their auxiliaries that help raise funds or extend the library’s reach into the community, park district boards and their supporting citizen groups, city boards and commissions, charities, art organizations, and many more.
All serve the community generously and give the community depth and muscle to create still more quality-of-life assets at work among us.
What would our cities be like without these volunteers? These movers and shakers demonstrate their care and love for the community by donating their time, talent and energy to building the community’s depth and strength.
We tip our collective hat to the award winners.
These are the citizens who help make things happen in
Congratulations to each one of you. And our deepest thanks to you all.
On a different but very related note, we were participants in a public input session at the Warrenville Public Library on Saturday, Nov. 12. Present were nearly 30 people, members of the public, some community leaders, and board and staff of the library.
Together we were led by professionals in a process designed to uncover the needs of the community with respect to the library. Hopes and dreams were expressed. Clear lists of problems and shortcomings were developed, as were the many positives possessed by the library.
The overwhelming outcome was a profound respect for volunteers and collaboration with other people, taxing bodies and organizations. Together they define the needs of the community. Together they identify the role of the library in meeting those needs.
Not alone in its mission, the library serves community needs along with so many entities. Together they can work together for the broadest good for others. Not only is this enrichment of role but also of effectiveness as scarce resources are used to do double duty.
We think this is recognition of the value of volunteerism and citizen leadership. Good things come from excellent organizations and taxing bodies.
An attuned and sharing community makes these efforts even more fruitful and valuable.
Perspective—Lagging Indicators
Well at last the recession is over! Now everything will be just fine. It was bad when the recession was with us, but now we can get back to normal. Right?
Wrong!
To hear or view the media, you would think things will be hunky dory from now on. But wait, there are those nasty little tidbits known as lagging indicators.
Swinging Pendulums and their Targets
“For whom does the bell toll? It tolls for thee!” We thank Ernest Hemingway for that wise citation, but we will alter it to fit the times by replacing ‘bell’ and ‘toll’ with ‘pendulum’ and ‘aims.’ It would then read: For whom does the pendulum aim? It aims for thee!”
Now the why.
Excessive speech and over-reaction seem to be the norm of the day. This is especially true in arenas of public discussion. Pick any TV station, newspaper columnist, cable TV outlet, magazine, or blog—most are rife with verbal overkill.
Gifts And Other Aspects Of Mission And Service
A ray of light lands on the floor; it flitters a little, then moves several inches to the right. Suddenly a patch of glittering light comes into view high up on the wall. The same light?
On the subway not far from the Loop. Coming into another station, the blur slowing down now, coming into a moving horizontal focus. Posters, on the wall of the opposite track. Bright splashes of blue, magenta, and a dancing check-like shape in white, with rough uneven edges, sort of like a Nike symbol. Stunning. Breath is held. The color and the imperfect check-like thingy. The mind jitters.
