In Other Words: Goal of Focus 2020: Make our region a better place

There are very few things more valuable to a community than people raising their hands and saying they will volunteer to help.

Volunteers give the most precious gift we have in life — the gift of time — and volunteers do so for no pay or personal gain, but rather for the simple satisfaction of trying to make things better, make life more enjoyable and in the hope of building a better community and region.

We owe a lot of people in the Mitchell area a “thank you” for their gift of time. Over 100 volunteers from around the Mitchell region donated an estimated 3,000 hours of work over the past nine months to listen to people in the region and then develop the best ideas and plans in the hope that we can build a better future together. These ideas and plans are called Focus 2020.

To each committee member, to everyone who took the time to attend public meetings, to the committee chairs and co-chairs, to individuals who took notes at committee meetings, to the technicians who helped us develop a Web site, to organizations who donated meeting rooms, and to all the individuals who took the time and courage to share their ideas, thank you.

Implementing Focus 2020 plans and ideas will require even more time, energy and hard work. It will not be easy.

Change is often perceived as threatening. It takes time to get comfortable and will provide disagreements along the way. Focus 2020’s work is full of ideas and challenges that are not intended to harm anyone or hurt community organizations. These ideas are intended to improve the region and communities where we all live, work, play, raise our children and live out our lives.

Even if you have not been involved up to this point in time, I encourage everyone to raise your hand and say “I would like to help, I would like to volunteer.” The goal of Focus 2020 is to make our region a better place. We have a long road ahead of us, and your time will be valued and greatly appreciated.

Mark Buche, of Mitchell, is chairman of the volunteer planning group Focus 2020.

In Other Words features opinions from local and other contributors who have areas of special interest or expertise. Material shouldn’t exceed 600 words and can be sent, along with a photo, to: Editor, The Daily Republic, 120 S. Lawler, Mitchell, S.D., 57301. The Daily Republic cannot guarantee all submitted material will be used.

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