THE WEIRS TIMES & THE COCHECO TIMES, Thursday, June 2, 2011 Formerly & Everywhere! RFD# to the gulf stream waters 3 to the New York Island by Lorrie Baird A Salute To Volunteers by Lorrie Baird “I wanted to be relevant


again, so I got a job,” is what I heard from a retiree on a talk show recently. My jaw dropped. “Relevant” is a buzz word that’s tossed around so much on Ameri- can Idol it’s now running amok on the tongues of regular folks who have bought into the myth that somehow we are not “rel- evant” unless we are going around doing amazingly relevant things. Eventual- ly, if we work hard enough, or are outrageous enough, trendy, popular or talented enough, somebody, some day, somewhere is going to say, “Gee, that person is so…so…’relevant!’” I even heard a comment during a fashion show describing an outfit as relevant which is just plain confusing. I don’t own one single thing that can remotely be considered “relevant.” Here’s the way I look at


it: if we are walking, talk- ing and breathing air we are relevant. In fact, even if we are not talking or walk- ing and only breathing air we are STILL relevant. Ask family members who have a loved one on a ventilator if they consider the per- son not able to breathe on their own “relevant.” Heck, even after we are dead we remain relevant because of the legacy we leave be- hind. We were born relevant.


We have always been rel- evant to somebody. We will always be relevant. Being relevant makes us worthy, but it never makes us en- titled. Ask America’s volunteer


work force that numbers 62.8 million strong if what they do is “relevant.” They’d answer you if they weren’t so busy volunteering. Ac- cording to the Bureau of


Monthly - Long Term On-Site Storage Available


Labor Statistics about a quarter of those volunteers range from age 55 to 65 and over; we may be an aging population but we are doing our part. Young- er volunteers average 52 hours of service in a cal- endar year. Volunteers 65 and over set the bar high at 96 hours maybe because we know we’re running out of time. I have had the privilege of knowing many outstand- ing volunteers in my life. The one thing they all have in common is that they shy away from the spot- light, preferring to give others credit. These are the people you rarely see; the ones mopping the floors, burning the midnight oil, encouraging others to bask in the limelight while they beam encouragement from the sidelines. These are our unsung heroes. People such as this are the back- bone of America. I sat across my kitch-


en table with one such person yesterday. She’s a tiny slip of a lady who has battled cancer three times and emerged victori-


ously unscathed in spirit, if not body. In the course of a year she has gotten all her legal ducks in a row, gathered a support committee around her and has launched a new com- munity outreach program called “Hands Across the


James Episcopal Church at 876 North Main Street in Laconia every Tuesday night from 5:30 to 6:30. (I know this is a blatant plug, I just can’t help my- self.) Notice that I have not used her name here, that’s because this tender lady


Ask America’s volunteer work force that numbers 62.8 million strong if what they do is “relevant.”


Table.” Specifically held at family dinner time Hands Across the Table will serve dinner to “all who are hun- gry in body and spirit… with compassion and un- derstanding” regardless if difficult circumstances are temporary or long term. I volunteered to write a


press release for the orga- nization. By the time our meeting was over I threw myself at her feet as a vol- unteer to help launch and hopefully, grow this ecu- menical outreach program. Hands Across the Table welcomes guests at St.


WINDOWS ON THE LAKE Custom Window Treatments and More!


Custom Window Treatments and More! drapes~shades~bedding~cornices~pillows


drapes~shades~bedding~cornices~pillows 603-630-5469 • karinconn@earthlink.net


wasn’t even comfortable with me using it in the press release preferring to put others before herself. She did agree to have her photo taken, but only with all the others who have worked to help to make


Hands Across the Table a reality. I am humbled when I


think about all the amaz- ing volunteers I know who spend countless hours unselfishly giving of them- selves to worthy organi- zations with no thought of reward. Many have matched deep financial commitments along with their tireless service. We see them every day. Often we don’t recognize them because they are always in the background. Here’s a thought. Let’s


take the time this week to thank all the volunteers we know who day in and day out make a positive differ- ence in our communities. To me, this is the highest form of relevancy.


jim-lorrie@earthlink.net


19


The Paving Pro's of the Lakes Region Industrial • Commercial • Residential


NO JOB TOO SMALL! FREE ESTIMATES!


ORNAMENTAL VEGETABLE GARDENS


*Traditional four-square *Potager or kitchen garden


*Edible additions to foundation and island beds *Container and hanging gardens


A Garden of Veggies, Flowers, Fruits, & Herbs Worthy of Your Front Yard


NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals Since 2004 GARDEN


ARTISANS LLC www.gardenartisans.net 603-524-8607


H e r From California... , T here...


e


From the redwood forest...


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40