Community Builders
Weekly update #262 1/26/2025 to 2/1/2025
Where have all the community builders gone? Before that though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
Twenty members of the Seymour Fire Department attended Ice Rescue training this past week. After the classroom session in the morning, they broke out the gear and headed to a nearby detention pond to get wet. From having their elbows under them and kicking like they were swimming for self-rescue to pulling one another out, they were tested on their skills. While training isn’t anything new for SFD, I would still like to say thank you for all your efforts to improve your knowledge and skills for the future, and thanks for letting me participate for part of the afternoon.
Schneck Medical Center opened a freshly remodeled wing this past week. Hopefully, you won’t need it anytime soon, but the thought and effort they put into the design should make your stay more comfortable if you do. From patient care to considering employee needs, they tried to look at it from all angles before construction began. Thank you to everyone who hosted the tour. I enjoyed learning about your offerings.
This week saw one of our long-time parks department employees work his last full-time shift. Congratulations to Willie Reinhart on retirement. Thank you for all the love you have poured into our parks over the years; they reflect your hard work and dedication. Like several team members before him though, Willie will return as a part-timer after some time off to continue to help keep our parks beautiful.
Speaking of parks, I had a chance to call bingo at the Community Center one morning this week. Some of the comments overheard as the numbers were called will bring a smile to my face for weeks if not months to come. All said and done, I believe everyone picked up a few prizes and had a good time visiting with friends and neighbors. If you are off during the day and not participating in Community Center activities you are missing out. If you are participating, don’t forget to invite a friend to the next event.
Over the years, I have been lucky enough to be involved in many different communities, both within our local community and beyond. From volunteering at Derby City BMX to being a charter member of a local ToastMasters Club, I have gotten to meet and learn from some amazing people. A few decades in the saddle of a bicycle and being a part of non-profit boards has allowed me to expand my community in ways, as a young man, I would have never thought possible. As our firefighters work and train alongside one another they build a community all their own and make lifelong memories. We have a chance to expand our community ties with co-workers over the years. Even participating in activities at the Community Center deepens our ties and strengthens the fabric of our community. So I ask you again, Where have all the community builders gone? What are you doing to try to bring people together near and far? Are you in the game of life or watching from the sidelines? Today, I will leave you with a quote from author Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."