By Dale A. Burk, Stevensville
As we move further and further into the New Year, those of us who have been a part of this community’s flow into the future for a long time now have become painfully aware that we are at a critical time of change in how we get things done in and for our community. Whether we like it or not, we are facing a need to ‘fess up to the reality that a generational time of change has come upon us.
At the center of this dialogue is an organization with a proud history of working for good on behalf of this community – the Stevensville Civic Club. Legend are its accomplishments and those who made those achievements happen. Central to that idea, of course, is that of vision, providing the ideas and possibilities that, through dialogue and hard work, become reality. It is through personal involvement of its citizens that any community is made a good, even better, place to live. And work. And play. And share in seeing to it that we deal positively with that most fundamental of the process of life – change.
Fundamental to all this is, of course, the staging of our annual and beloved Creamery Picnic, for which the Civic Club has always provided both the broad support, leadership and citizen involvement that makes such an event work. But there have been many others over the years. Support for those in our community who strive to excel or achieve in bettering things here are part of the picture. The walkway to the river comes to mind. So does the town park just north of the Bitterroot River bridge. Improvements to the town park on our western edge, now including a new children’s playground and a skate park. Support of our young people and the schools. Advocacy of citizen involvement in the local processes of government, town, county or state, always in a non-partisan manner. A program of awards honoring with a variety of categories those in our town who contribute mightily to its vibrancy – citizen of the year, business of the year, organization of the year, teens of the year, etc. Wow, have we witnessed the incredible contributions by those so honored over the years for their commitment to the betterment of our place in the sun.
For years the leadership and participation by our fellow citizens in Stevensville has revolved around the presence of the Civic Club. It’s not only a place to bring a new idea or suggestion, or your energy, it’s the centerpiece of how we get things done on behalf of our community. Leadership and participation by our fellow citizens in the Civic Club over the years have resulted in profound betterment of our shared walk in this place.
We are, however, at a time when we need new blood, so to speak, to step up and get involved. The ongoing process of time, the realities of generational change, has come to pass in Stevensville. In recent months, we have lost many of our stalwarts who have made things work in our community. And, frankly, weariness has come upon many of us who have been involved for ten, twenty, thirty years or more. We need to see a younger, newer, more vital element of our fellow citizens step up and take up the cause of working toward the good of our shared way of life in a place where good people have always pitched in to do things that need to be done in concert with others for the good of the community. So, this is a call to those among us who want to pick up the baton of leadership, of personal involvement, and a commitment to our community to step up, to provide the needed influx of new ideas, new vitality and renewed energy to an organization that is both needful of them, of you. In doing so you will find it worthy of your time and effort.
The Civic Club meets the second Thursday of each month – and the major annual meeting to not only reflect on what’s been accomplished in the past year but to provide a look into future opportunities is to be held this month – Thursday, February 11th at 12 noon at the First Baptist Church at 402 Church Street in Stevenville. So, this is not only a suggestion that “we need you” but an invite for you to join others, to join us, in making this the kind of place we want it to be. Frankly, you of the younger generation, the community needs you to do so – now!