The Valleyist Papers
A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS WRITTEN IN FAVOUR OF THE IMPROVEMENT OF STEPHENS VALLEY
Author – William Ray
Edition 4. Issue 4.
Here in SV, one of the most common activities is criticizing the actions of the Developer. However, they are now apparently fully involved with making one of our most fervent dreams come true. Since they have begun constructing the Town Center, perhaps it is time for us to pitch in. We now have a job to do...the most essential work to assure the success of SV. It is time for us to redouble our efforts to build the community through strengthening our ties with each other. The buildings will collapse without our work to build the foundations upon which they will stand.
In a way, Rochford Realty and Construction is now involved in building the ballpark of our dreams. Now it is up to us to build the home team that will play there. No one will pay to just go to a beautiful ballpark without a sports team to watch. By the same token, no sports team accomplishes greatness just by watching the ballpark being built (and occasionally complaining about the way it is being built). Community building is not a spectator sport. Rather, it is an intensive activity that requires training, coaching, practice, and dedication to success. Let’s talk about our part of this project.
Perhaps the biggest elephant in our team-building room is the unrelenting political polarization of our neighborhood, city, state and country. That elephant is there, but we do not have to feed it. Yet, vocalizing differing beliefs about these issues is creeping far too often into the relationships of SV neighbors. It seems certain that berating each other over political differences is not an element of the life we envision for ourselves enjoying our homes in SV, and certainly not a part of the idyllic lifestyle we hope to enjoy when we have the Town Center in place. Don’t we want to be together more? Do any of us want fewer friends in SV? Don’t we want to stroll together to restaurants, bars, retail outlets, and new green spaces where we can enjoy music events and farmers’ markets? Sure, we do. Rochford cannot build such a life for us. Only we can do that.
There are many ways for us to accomplish this by mimicking the success of others. Let's look at one of those examples – Rotary. Rotary Club is a global network of volunteers dedicated to making a positive impact in communities around the world. Founded in 1905 by Paul Harris in Chicago, Illinois, the organization has grown into one of the most influential service clubs, with over 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs across the globe. The Rotary Club operates under the motto "Service Above Self," embodying its commitment to humanitarian efforts, leadership development, and community service. Rotary was not perfect upon its founding. It started as a “men-only” group and remained such for eighty years before they opened membership to all. But one thing they did get right from day one, was their adherence to the goal of enhancing relationships among the members and transforming a diverse group into a strong functional team.
The club focuses on six main areas: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, supporting education, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Among its most notable initiatives is the PolioPlus program, launched in 1985, which has played a crucial role in the near-eradication of polio worldwide through vaccination efforts and advocacy.
In addition to global efforts, Rotary Clubs actively contribute to their local communities. Members engage in various activities, such as organizing food drives, funding scholarships, constructing schools, and assisting in disaster relief efforts. But for us in SV, a key aspect of the Rotary Club is its emphasis on leadership development and networking. Members come from diverse professional backgrounds and use their expertise to drive positive change. These are the concepts we should borrow for our work to support the strengthening of our home neighborhood. We do not have to create an actual chapter of Rotary; we simply need to mimic their success with our own work to accomplish community.
If you’ve never been a Rotarian, nor been to a meeting of a Rotary Club, you haven’t experienced the comradery of having a meal with a group of friends each week, listening to an interesting program, and being constantly reminded of the Rotary 4-Way Test. The test is a few simple words that attempt to shape the thinking and the conversations among Rotarians. It goes like this:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Rotarians are very serious about this test of the things they say and do. At meetings, Rotarians wear badges with their first names on them, and this test is also printed right thereon the badge. The podium where guest speakers stand is emblazoned with this test. Heck, it is said that some really hard-core Rotarians have it tattooed on the back of their hand.
The point here is that this test has been effective at keeping the Rotary Clubs successful for over a century. Their success is not limited to weekly meetings. Rotary Clubs, and other civic clubs like them, teach groups how to cooperate, how to build friendships, and, in turn, build community. We residents of SV have a task before us. We are assigned the job of building SV in ways that the developer cannot. Living by this 4-Way Test is a simple way for us to accomplish our assignment. If we do not learn how to honor this code, then we are guilty of just leaning on our shovel while others to the work of building the SV community.
That’s not the way we roll.
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