In the yellow glow of an early autumn Western New York sunset last night, our heroic Grand Island volunteers and I brought our four-month effort to give voice to town residents to a close. What began last April in the spring dew culminated in a fall mist rising from front lawns, as we walked through a bucolic neighborhood off Baseline Road, delivering our final message in support of change.
Working with our Grand Island Team has been an immense privilege. Captain Don Keller led us last spring through the long road of signature gathering; Dan Drexelius guided us into the town’s heart and soul; Jeff Eberhard gave up too many evenings and Saturdfay mornings with his children. Marty Remmes left his work behind to pitch in; Dan Robillard added his insight and experience; Don Chonka and his beautiful bride rendered kindness and kindred spirit, John Bianco and John and Ray Sobieski joined the band with great enthusiasm; all our Let People Decide veterans who lent a hand in exchange for community grace: Cathy Snyder (no one worked more diligently), June Kreutzer, Bob and Marti Wohlegumuth, Merrill Trefzer, Nick Hanes, Wally Piotrowski, Terry MacKinnon, and Jim Lawson, and all the other members of our brilliant Grand Island corps.
Through it all, Lynn Bochenek, as always, kept us organized, and Jennifer Keller kept us fed, informed, and on the move while simultaneously shepherdingg two sons through the end of one school year, the activities of summer, and the beginning of another school year.
Because of all these folks’ kindness, grace, and devotion to community, the interests of Grand Island and all of Western New York have been enriched and advanced.
And to have played a small role in all of this, yet again, makes me the luckiest guy alive.
October 1, 2010 at 12:40 am |
Since you used a wrestling metaphor in a prior post (“tag-teamed”), I have another wrestling metaphor that is applicable.
To parahrase Stone Cold Steve Austin: “You just got your butt whipped.”