The generosity factor is one good reason to hang your hat in Estevan and the nearby rural municipalities and communities.
Of course there are many reasons to call these places home, but one compelling factor has to be our community's willingness to get things done or at least help others get them done.
Naturally there are those among us who love to continually gripe and complain about what isn't being done, and hey, critics are required too, but for the most part, we're listening to those who follow the edict of Larry the Cable Guy "jest git 'er done."
Well, we do:
Spectra Place is the most recent and dazzling example and now we're putting strong odds on the Hearthstone committee to pick up enough cash to design and build us a brand new nursing home and seniors' complex within a couple of years for a cool $7 or $8 million as our local contribution.
Estevan is one of the major supporters of the upcoming Telemiracle push and we continually exceed our fundraising targets within a two-day stretch during our United Way telethon.
Local field offices for major oil and other resource sector companies issue cheques with impressive amounts attached to them for a variety of well-intentioned and well-organized community campaigns the needs are many and unending and the amount of support from them, is also, it seems.
Local service clubs chip in with impressive activities that raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year and our school kids conduct all kinds of crazy events to hustle dimes and quarters that end up totalling thousands of dollars too.
The Estevan Bruins, no matter what their hockey fate becomes this year, need to be recognized for their community involvement and yes, their fundraising clout too. These young men are getting early lessons in quality community participation that probably won't end once they graduate from the Bruin ranks.
Some of this money is exchanged in loud, boisterous manners because it's fun to do a little fundraising that way. On occasion the funds arrive quietly and without any fanfare, simply because the donor or donors prefer it that way.
Our church communities raise thousands more, either for congregational use, international assistance or community needs. They too, deserve applause for their willingness to put it all out there. Sometimes it can't be in cash, but it can be done with generous hearts and willing hands. Work-in-kind is an acknowledged and very welcomed contribution.
We all live in very busy communities here in southeast Saskatchewan, so the fact that a lot of you find time and funds to help a local cause that benefits everyone needs to be recognized once in awhile.
There is that old adage that proclaims that a group of people without a leader is just a mob.
To that we'll add that a community without a heart is doomed.
So look around you ... does your community appear to be doomed?
We think not.
We have heart and generosity working for us here and there are no mobs because we have right-minded leadership on many fronts. That's a winning combination in our books.
