National Day of Service

Guess I’ve not been paying attention, because I didn’t realize that September 11th had been declared a National Day of Service until this morning!    It made my column this week (that I wrote Wednesday) oddly prescient!

By the time you read this, September 11^th will either be here or be looming.  I don’t have to tell you the import of that watershed moment.  For the first time in a long time, we stood shoulder-to-shoulder with not only our countrymen, but with the global community as we stared down fear and hatred to answer with resolve and sacrifice.  The years that have followed have had high points and great lows, most recently, the last eleven months have brought about very difficult economic times for far too many of our friends, neighbors and colleagues.

Over 230 years ago, Thomas Paine said, “these are the time that try men’s souls.”  2009 is another of those times.  Has our nation and our planet seen much more difficult times?  Yes.  Have we faced much deeper darkness?  Yes.  But now as then, the question was, “how will you respond?”  In this life, control is an illusion.  Your response, your reaction to trying times are truly all you can control.

I ask you to respond to these trying times by reaching out to help another.  Be it a friend or a total stranger.  Stand shoulder-to-shoulder with others, make a difference.  It doesn’t matter if you have ten dollars or ten million dollars, or if you have ten minutes to volunteer or ten months – every dollar, every minute makes a difference to *someone*.  There is a tremendous amount of need in our community as people struggle with these times. Make a difference – in this time of difficulty, in this time that tries men’s souls, have your soul answer with giving.

In that spirit, I have an easy way for you to help.  Service League of Green Bay is holding their annual rummage sale to help the children and families of Brown County on October 10^th.  If you have any gently used clothing or household items that you’d like to donate, just drop them by the Chamber at 441 Main Avenue on or before October 7^th and I promise to get it to the people who need it.  If you are coming to Taste of Wine & Beer on the 2^nd, bring it that night and I promise to get it to the people who need it.  (What?! You don’t have your tickets to a great night out … Taste of Wine & Beer, what’s stopping you?!  Click this link now!)

Until next time,