Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The nugget. (Sisters, Or.) 1994-current | View Entire Issue (May 15, 2019)
24 Wednesday, May 15, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Veterans honor local student Ana Gilbert received a State of Oregon VFW medal and certificate of merit for her VFW Patriot Pen essay at a recent Sisters VFW Post 8138 meeting. She submitted the piece to the local post in October. Family present were her grandparents and her brother, Eric. Ana was selected from all students who wrote essays in District 10 (which encom- passes all Central Oregon, including Warm Springs). Ana won $200 from the local post this year, another award at District 10 in Bend, to repre- sent District 10 in Salem, was awarded another $200 from the State of Oregon VFW in Salem, and another $300 from State VFW Womens Auxiliary for placing fifth in the state. <Ana did an exceptional job expressing her patriotism and thankfulness for all veter- ans,= said Bill Anttila, service officer of VFW Post 8138. <Her grandparents were grate- ful to VFW for offering this award, and stated it was a very proud moment for them. We, the men and women of Sisters Post 8138 are proud of Ana, too, and we salute her for her achievement.= PHOTO PROVIDED Pat Bowe presents a check to Ana Gilbert for a Patriot Pen entry. In the PINES By T. Lee Brown Community — one mistake at a time The word <community= used to imply something fairly innocuous 4 a group of people who have something in common, like living in the same neighborhood. Then it became a touch- stone for all that is warm and fuzzy, glowy and good. Creative types, Nosy Nellies, and compulsive do-gooders seem particularly susceptible to its charms. And yes, those descriptions apply to me. It9s an inspiring word for folks who genuinely want to make life better 4 and not just for their own selves and families. Community. The word conjures an invisible con- gregation in my mind, in an imaginary church, singing together in perfect harmony. My imagination doesn9t zoom in too close, doesn9t require me to shake hands with each congregant 4 much less do them a favor that might inconvenience me. Some people tell ourselves we9re doing things <for the community,= but what the heck does it really mean? Probably 80 percent of my so-called community work involves me having meet- ings with other would-be do- gooders, or sitting all alone in front of a computer. Is that community? What happens when people in the community need our help 4 not our Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben General, Cosmetic, Implant and Family Dentistry ~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~ We are here to help you smile with confi dence! 541-549-0109 | 304 W. Adams Ave. | Sisters Open 6 days a week | 541-595-6420 Tuesday-Thursday 3-9 p.m., Friday-Sunday 12-9 p.m. attendance at a catered fun- draiser, not our slogan on a beautifully crafted flyer, but our hands-on help? What hap- pens when we are confronted with real human beings, rather than a foggy mass that allegedly benefits from our altruistic, self-proclaimed community-mindedness? Recently I had cause to explore these questions. A vol- unteer I know made a signifi- cant mistake of a bureaucratic nature. Let9s call her <Sarah.= A young working mom with a hectic schedule, Sarah is not her real name, but she is a real person in the Sisters community. The mistake she made led her to ask for help and collab- oration from a couple commu- nity organizations 4 ones that operate with full-time staff, decades of experience in the nonprofit and business sec- tors, and/or serious revenue. Due to the nature of Sarah9s error, these orgs hold the keys to getting Sarah and her little group out of this mess. But to help her, the orgs would have to collaborate with her. They9d have to share. Which might be a big ol9 logistical pain in the rear. But I figure that9s what real community does. It collabo- rates. It shares. Collaboration, sharing, and hassles are the building blocks of which true community is made. Smooth sailing doesn9t bond people to each other. Crisis does. Ask anyone who9s been through an accident, death in the fam- ily, or a near-miss from a for- est fire. Ask author Rebecca Solnit. She researched how people behave in the wake of disasters. She writes: <What startled me about the response to disaster was not the virtue, since virtue is often the result of diligence and dutifulness, but the pas- sionate joy that shined out from accounts by people who had barely survived.= She goes on, <These peo- ple who had lost everything, who were living in rubble or ruins, had found agency, meaning, community, imme- diacy in their work together with other survivors.= We don9t have to wait for a war or an earthquake to develop real community. We can do it today, when smaller problems like Sarah9s arise. Her situation got me think- ing. Real community isn9t a mission statement: it9s a series of actions. Many of them aren9t written into anybody9s five-year plan or given a line item on a budget. Real community makes dinner for your neighbor9s family after their dad goes in for surgery. It frees your driveway of snow because hey, it already had the snow- blower out. Real community tries to put out the fire in your barn. If the barn burns down? Real community raises a new one. It lends valuable equipment to scrappy performers. Shows up for the picnic on an uncomfortably hot day. Gives you a call when you9re having a hard time4not just when it wants something. Real community takes the time to help people, even if they9re imperfect, wield little financial or social power, or don9t fit our demographic ideal. If they9re young and make rookie mistakes, so much the better. Real community understands that the young adults of today, with their lack of bureaucratic experience, their demanding families and day jobs, are the community leaders of tomorrow. So. What are these organi- zations going to do for Sarah? My hopeful side believes they9ll see an opportunity for synergy and lend a hand. They9ll share their resources, knowledge, and collaborative spirit. My inner cynic thinks they9ll wear a big ol9 smile as they gently but firmly push her aside. I tell my cynical side to hush up, that things are gonna be just fine for Sarah. Because in Sisters, we don9t just drop the C word for show. We have the heart and generosity to build real community, one mistake at a time. BOOK YOUR FREE INTRO SESSION TODAY! Y Memberships CrossFit starting at Weightlifting $39/month! Cardio • Powerlifting g Barre • Yoga • Pilates s Sauna • Strongman Bodybuilding Call 541-699-7800 or email coach@level5fi t.com www.level5fi t.com | Located in Ray’s Shopping Center 24 HR. ACCESS! Black Butte Ranch Rural Fire Protection District Notice of Budget Hearing