Tags
community spirit, hometown pride, Love, MCS, multiple chemical sensitivities, New Year Resolution, revitalizing a town
It’s amazing what is right under our noses but we don’t see it. This hornet’s nest is in plain view now that the leaves have fallen. I probably walked by it 40 or 50 times and never knew it was there.
Last night I was at a meeting with a group of people from my town who want to improve the overall spirit of our town. Those in our town know of the hornet’s nest in the room — apparently we are the city with the highest taxes in the US, 51 percent poverty rate, empty houses, loss of major industries …. What lots of people aren’t talking about are the things in plain view:
A BEAUTIFUL RIVER
NATURE TRAILS AND BIRD WATCHING
AMAZING SUNSETS
ABUNDANT WILDLIFE
LOTS OF PARKS
What was great about our meeting last night:
People showed up to voice the needs of their pet project rather than vent about a pet peeve.
Everyone commented how it was great to sit in a room where everyone had something positive to say.
We all learned something new about positive things happening in our community that we didn’t know about.
Every person offered help in some way: time, expertise, money, office space…
The group agreed to leave off perfume/cologne, aftershave, lotions etc. so that I can attend the meetings.
The meeting wasn’t about what can someone do for me — it was what do I have to offer to my community.
We generated a list of things to work on but I would love to hear if you were to decide to move to our community — what would be the most important thing we could offer that would make us special? Would it be nature trails or the arts or great food …?
What do you love most about where you live?
Love,
Colleen
Life in the City with a Future 
JOBS– EDUCATION– SHOPPING– APPEARANCE & ATTITUDE OF THE COMMUNITY–SERVICES AVAILABLE–INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY & AGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE COMMUNITY–SERVICES FOR SENIORS–ACTIVITIES– CLIMATE– MUSIC SCENE–ARTS–COST OF LIVING–AVAILABLE HOUSING– COST OF HOUSING—COST OF SERVICES & AVAILABLE SERVICES-FARMERS MARKETS– HEALTH FOOD STORES—POLLUTION CONTROL– WATER SOURCES—-CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS–(THIS SPEAKS LOUDLY ABOUT A COMMUNITY) –GOOD BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS– MAIN STREET ORGANIZATIONS– BANKING— PHONE & CABLE & INTERNET AVAILABILITY –AND SO MUCH MORE—–
We have a few of those — I think we need to work on a few others. Love our farmer’s market. Great ideas thanks. 😀
CAN YOU TELL GARY WAS MAYOR– & I WAS ON THE CITY COUNCIL & MANY MANY MANY OTHER ORGANIZATION BOARDS IN MANY TOWNS OVER THE YEARS!!! 🙂 IT IS A LOT OW WORK——— OUR MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENT– WAS WORKING TO BRING ABOUT A NATIONAL PARK IN AN AREA WE ONCE LIVED!!!
Now you really have to write that book I’ve been harping on about. 😀 Is there anything girlfriend you haven’t done? ❤
Yay, sounds like a really great meeting. 😀
What could you offer? I’d have to go with nature trails, public spaces like libraries, and integrated outside spaces to sit and relax (away from traffic). If you’re happy for some blue-sky thinking, how about throwing in some theatres and hands-on museums, some street festivals and community events, all within an attractive townscape? I don’t want much do I? 😉 What’s your budget like?
Love your ideas. We have some of those things. We used to have two movie theaters now we have none. We have no budget. We are as grassroots as it gets. We decided to print up postcard like invitations to leave at businesses and schools. I donated a photo. Another person is donating time to write the message and another is ordering them. We have to pass the hat for the 10 bucks to print them. We figure once we start doing some good stuff hopefully people will be on board to help raise the funds. Right now our main goal is to be a type of TED talk think tank. People come to present good stuff they are working on and we offer suggestions to take it further.
The think tank sounds like a wonderful idea. If people feel like their ideas and efforts are being respected and encouraged then the only way for Fulton is up. 🙂
I hope you get a good response from the postcards. Raising public awareness and interest is crucial to get that snowball rolling. Good luck.
It’s lots of fun being with positive people. Hopefully we’ll get the cards soon. We’re still trying to narrow down the photo choice. I’ll keep you up to date on our progress. 😀
If you ever need any of my kind of graphic design/art for posters etc. please let me know. No strings. Well, except that deadlines need to be flexible or I’ll freak out. 😉
I’ll pass on the info to the group. Wow! Two meetings and we’ve already gone international. 😀
😀
It is so great to be in a meeting where people are working with, rather than against, each other.
That lack of perfume/fragrance/chemicals made it so you could attend but I wonder how many others appreciated the fragrance free as well. There were probably fewer headaches at the meeting because of the lack of fragrance. If people don’t have headaches, they are usually more agreeable.
AMEN—- AMEN!!!!!!!!!
❤
Hmmm. I hadn’t thought about it elevating everyone else’s mood. Good point.
Hey Colleen, one of the things i love most about our coastal town is the south westerly breeze: straight from the ocean. Its capability for cleansing the air of pollution, moulds, woodsmoke, is a true blessing. I’ve recovered a little bit, and through my gratefulness for this respite, I’m noticing so many good elements. We went for a lovely beach walk last night 🙂
I’m so happy for you!: “The group agreed to leave off perfume/cologne, aftershave, lotions etc. so that I can attend the meetings.” This has made my day. You are so lucky to have experienced the shiny side of humanity, too. Isn’t it wonderful?
And I must say, your outlook is truly inspiring. You live in a beautiful place. Is the air fresh there?
PS: I’ve missed my blogging sisters xo
Welcome back. I love love love the ocean. The sound and smell and look of it. Our air is pretty clean except on laundry days when driers are spewing out fabric softener fumes. I wish everyone would wash on the same day and get it over with at once.
The group dynamic is such that new people with come to present stuff so hopefully they leave the toxic stuff off too. I’m looking at it from the perspective that this a chance to educate more people.
I have to say I missed the shiny side of humanity lately — I’m glad a few people are willing to be beacons and light the way.
Stay shiny and strong yourself. 😀
That meeting sounds wonderful!!!! Hard to pick one thing I love about where I live. Hope it’s okay if I make a list! 😀 The Hills, the scent of pines, wildlife especially buffalo & mountain bluebirds, the parks, especially Wind Cave National Park where they spray NOTHING!!! The old sandstone buildings in town, the old photos on the historical buildings, the historical museum–one of FEW public buildings I can actually go into without getting sick!!!!! The river, the springs, the friendly people, the tourists, the VA, the unexpectedly warm days in the winter, the sunshine… Sorry, getting carried away. 😀 My grandparents (all 4 of them!) used to live here before they passed away, so this town also still carries the delight/”romance” of summer vacation/loving grandparents for me.
Wow. I’m ready to pack my bags and move there now. Sound wonderful.
I would love it if you did!!!!!! 🙂 It would be so cool to have another MCS sister close by. 🙂 I have one 2 hours away & sometimes we get together & it’s fantastic.
Yay!
And I love nature trails, community gardens, art, music, and real (not processed) food, as long as they are all fragrance-chemical-free 😀
Ditto to all of those.