May 2, 2008 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

This week is Volunteer Week across Canada. This is the week when we pay tribute to the most valuable resource our nation has...volunteers.

Too often someone will say that what they do is not important as they are “just a volunteer.” Or, they will downplay their contributions because they “volunteer” and are not paid.

Personally, I don’t think we should thank our volunteers just one week out of the whole year...we should be thanking our volunteers each and every day. Without volunteers our communities would be in very sad shape. Volunteers are the ones who make sure that we have activities in our communities, not only for the children, but for all ages. Volunteers are the ones who keep the community functioning in all areas...most particularly the areas that we don’t always see. Truthfully, too often we are not aware of everything that volunteers do because so much of the work happens behind the scenes, and we reap the benefits of that hard work.

So today, and every day, remember to thank the volunteers who make your life better, and to those who volunteer...thank you for all you do!

Beth

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Potential

Continuous effort--not strength or intelligence--

is the key to unlocking our potential.

- Black Elk

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Adversity

If we had no winter,

the spring would not be so pleasant.

If we did not sometimes taste of adversity,

prosperity would not be so welcome.

-Anne Bradstreet

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Choices

Until a person can say deeply and honestly,

'I am what I am today

because of the choices I made yesterday,'

that person cannot say, 'I can choose otherwise.'

- Stephen Covey

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Forgetting

May I forget what ought to be forgotten;

and recall, unfailing,

all that ought to be recalled,

each kindly thing,

forgetting what might sting.

- Mary Caroline Davies

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Planted

Be planted, not potted.

– Rev. Willie Wilson

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April 18, 2008 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

I would like to extend my congratulations to the Alix Wagon Wheel Museum board and volunteers, as well as all those who assisted in making the Museum’s Spring Event such a wonderful and memorable afternoon.

Such an event would not be possible without the leadership of our very own Eve Keates, who manages to make keeping all the rest of us in line look so easy.

A highlight of the afternoon was the unveiling (as it were) of the reprint of the original “Pioneers and Progress” history book. The books are now available and make great gifts.

Beth

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To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

Ignorance

Human misery is more often caused

not so much by stupidity as by ignorance,

particularly our own ignorance about ourselves.

- Carl Sagan

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Understanding

Without an understanding of who we are,

and from where we came,

I do not think we can truly advance.

- Louis B. Leakey

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Storytellers

Humans are the storytellers of God.

There is something that exists inside all of us

that can make an interpretation

of everything we perceive.

– Miguel Ruiz

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Impact

You can never tell what type of impact

you may make on another's life

by your actions or lack of action.

Sometimes just a smile on the street

to a passing stranger can make

a difference we could never imagine.

- Ed Foreman

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Self image

Our self image and our habits

tend to go together.

Change one and you will automatically

change the other.
- Dr. Maxwell Maltz

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April 4, 2008 Chautauqua

From the Editor's Computer

Sharing a meal with someone can be a pretty profound experience. Perhaps that is why so many of our special occasions (weddings, birthdays, graduations, retirement, funerals, etc) involve food. Food has a way of bringing people closer together.

You tend to remember those you’ve shared a meal with. Also the conversation shared over a meal has a unique intimacy that you don’t find in any other setting. Complete strangers will open up and share their innermost thoughts when they are partaking in a meal in a manner that they would not even consider otherwise. Sharing a meal with another seems to release some people from their usual fears and concerns.

Through the years, I’ve enjoyed many a banquet, potluck, dinner theatre and other meals with folks I would not have met otherwise. While I may not remember their names or occupations after we part, there is something about the conversation that sticks with me so that should I chance to run into them again, I remember them from the meal and conversation.

Our society used to revolve around community events that invariably also included a meal. By sharing the fruits and labours of the kitchen many strong ties were forged between people and roots extended deep. In a manner of speaking it was the shared meals that defined the community.

Next time you are at a special function or potluck, enjoy the food, and more importantly, the conversation with the person next to you.

Beth

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To contact The Chautauqua, email: thechautauqua@gmail.com.

In between

If you truly want to make a big change,

you've got to learn to tolerate

the "in-between" time. That's the period

in which we let go of

who we know ourselves to be

in order to allow for the possibility

of who we might become.

- Katherine Woodward Thomas

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