[Ed – Guest Opinion: Heartfelt and loving Cranberry Lake RANT]
I am on the board of the HUB – happily so. I do a whole bunch of work — all the fundraising (with help from board member Denise Barstow) all Facebook postings, all event organizing, all message answering and I am the official secretary so I attend all meetings, create the agenda, take minutes…. etc etc etc.
I am not bragging. I do this happily and with love.
I love Cranberry Lake and I want things to look and be better here.
Today, just now, I went down to the HUB property with two gallons of cider vinegar, a container of salt, my own Dawn detergent. I mixed up two containers worth of the weed killer and poured it over one sidewalk full of weeds. My family is here. My husband is working. I have dogs, cats and fish that need attention. YET, I AM AT THE HUB KILLING WEEDS! A nice couple walked by and thanked me…. great, I don’t need thanks, I NEED HELP.
All board members have jobs and they do them. The other “stuff” we could use some help with. People kindly volunteered to water – YEAH – I only had to take four days. Nick Hunter took two.
Do you care about how Main Street, Cranberry Lake looks? Do you want a revitalized hamlet with good looking properties and lots of event opportunities?
SHOW THE HELL UP AND VOLUNTEER. Do we need your money, of course. Many of you are very generous. Thank you.
CAN YOU SPARE LESS THAN HALF AN HOUR A WEEK AND KEEP THE WEEDS AT BAY AT THE HUB?
CAN YOU MANAGE TO BUY SOME VINEGAR, SALT AND DAWN DISH WASHING FLUID – EXACT RECIPE: ONE GALLON VINEGAR, ONE CUP SALT, FOUR GOOD SQUIRTS OF DAWN. MIX. POUR ON WEEDS. THEY WILL DIE AND IT DOES NOT HARM INSECTS OR LEECH INTO THE LAKE….. We don’t use harmful chemicals like RoundUp that do leach and kill things we don’t want leached or killed.
Can you VOLUNTEER to mow the very small lawn every week or so depending on growth? Can you “own” part of the HUB”s success.
I am 60. Many other volunteers call me “kid” or “kiddo”… I laugh. I am no youngster. But I care a whole awful lot so I do what needs doing and wonder where is EVERYONE ELSE.
I QUOTE THE LORAX… “UNLESS SOMEONE LIKE YOU CARES A WHOLE AWFUL NOT, NOTHING IS GOING TO GET BETTER, IT’S NOT.”
I HEAR a lot of complaining about this hamlet. YOU ARE NOT HELPING if you are NOT HELPING. Whining does nothing except discourage people who are actually volunteering!
If the HUB isn’t your “thing” – find a THING and volunteer. It’s not hard to find a half hour or hour a week to do some good. Try helping the Library, the flower and banner committee, the Fire Dept, The Fire Dept Auxiliary, the Boat Club. All of these organizations are led by volunteers who work many hours every week – even when their families are here, even when their dogs need walking, even when there is a party to go to or boat ride to take. There are other organizations in Wanakena that I am sure can also use more help.
If you can VOLUNTEER for the HUB I guarantee I can find you something to do that will not wreck your life or eat up all your free time.
Message the HUB page. Tell me what you think you’d like to do or just ask what you could do. I’ll find you something to do and I guarantee you will feel better for taking concrete action.
Write your donation checks, we need them. We also need help with the workload.
Volunteer or shut the hell up about how the hamlet looks, how this, that or the other thing “bothers” you.
I’m bothered so I show up and work my bit to make it better. SO DOES EVERY OTHER BOARD MEMBER FOR ORGANIZATIONS IN CRANBERRY LAKE.
RANT ENDED. This viewpoint is not shared by all HUB Board Members nor am I speaking for any of the organizations I just mentioned.
I am speaking for myself… Susan Sweeney Smith – and yes, I am talking TO YOU
