Things to be Thankful for...

In titling a post like I just did I have to be really careful not to make things super corny or to lose the sincerity of the message... Let me give you an example:
I could say that I am thankful for health and provision and for friends and family, which, depending on how you say it, can sound sickly sweet and maybe isn't how you feel the rest of the year... even though I mean it with all of my being!

This Thanksgiving I was lucky enough to be able to visit my brother in Wisconsin.  On the substantial drive to and from, Rose and I were able to share and discern what we are truly thankful for.  One of the things that we were both truly thankful for is the ability to argue and disagree that we have cultivated.  We are able to argue and not be disrespectful to each other and even though we often don't understand each other, we always stick with it until we have a resolution.  We have been working on streamlining this whole process, but you know... baby-steps are important before you start running...

As I think about the City and everything that is going on around our community, this practice comes up again and I am again thankful that Rose has helped me figure out enough of myself to be useful to the wider community and the City.

Another thing that comes to mind and that I am very thankful for is the body of volunteers that serve on the various boards and committees in the City.  We are nearing the end of the service terms for many of these people and I cannot thank them enough for the multiple years they have contributed to our community.  A lot of work gets done in these committees and it is a great place to put down a small initial investment in making the community a better place.

Of those finishing up their terms this year most are long-time contributors, all of whom have served honorably and who deserve our thanks.  Bob Spry, Hal Greenwood, Robin DuChien, and Bill Lenz fit the bill for this and we hope that they stay involved in whatever ways they can!

Many others are serving another year or two (or more) and I am very thankful for them as well!  I look forward to working together with them on many different occasions!

As people move on, there are opportunities for new people to step into these places.  Like I mentioned before, these positions are a great investment in our community and have only one or two meetings a month, with opportunities for getting more involved if you want.

If you are at all interested in participating, please let me know and I would love to sit down with you and talk about each of the positions.  Everyone who wants to apply for a board position needs to fill out a short application which is available at City Hall.  After the application has been received, the City Council will review the applications and ratify the candidates.

Currently there are several opportunities:
1 seat on the EDA (Economic Development Authority) Board-- If you have ideas concerning how we can help promote business and economic health in the area, please consider serving here!

2 seats on the Park Board--If you have ideas concerning the use and management of the City's park-lands, this is the place for you!
2 seats on the Planning Commission--A very important board, the Planning Commission sees and discusses zoning inside the city and how the city can best use its resources and manage the usage of land inside the City.  If you want to be a part of this very important business, fill out an application!
1 seat on the Public Utilities Commission-- This commission sets the prices for utilities, sets policies, and looks into how we can make out utilities better through upgrading equipment, pursuing renewable energy options, etc.  If any of this sounds great to you, I encourage you to apply!

Again, if you have any interest in these, but are on the fence about any aspect of it, give me a call and I will buy you a cup of coffee and discuss your concerns with you.  I would appreciate having to buy many cups of coffee!

I hope that you all found wonderful things to be thankful for this year.  I know that I have many!
Now its time to hunker down for the holidays!

All of the best!