The letter below was published in the Clarke County Tribune, Thursday, November 8, 2007. Everyone who is interested in community improvement, maintenance and development is asked to please contact Terry so we can get the ball rolling. Everyone's opinion and thoughts in these regards will be much appreciates, as this is a vital issue. Thank you for your feedback and consideration.
Dear Editor:
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Mayor Bill Clark, the Quitman City Board of Directors and Bryan Dace for taking such prompt action with regard to my proposal of Sept. 17, 2007 to fix up and restore Edd Harris Park on the corner of W. Napp St. and Bailey Avenue. I hope this will mark the beginning of a community volunteer effort to help promote community development and to get concerned citizens more involved in our town, to enhance its beauty, provide a safe environment for children and help provide insight, direction and support for community projects.
For anyone interested in the I Love Quitman project, I've posted additional information on-line at http://www.byteland.org/quitman/ilovequitman.html. My goal is to network with concerned citizens and business men and women and work toward the establishment of a not-for-profit group to help with all aspects of community development.
It is vital to our community and town that people get involved and help. Where will Quitman be in five, ten, fifteen or even twenty years from now? What will be the job opportunity in the future? Will many of the most skilled and talented young people continue to leave the area because there is not enough industry or opportunity? Or can we take action now to build a better community and provide opportunity which will keep skilled and talented people in Quitman and Clarke County?
We each have the power to make our world a better place and especially our town a better place. One way to do this is to promote pride, joy and love in Quitman and Clarke County. That's why I started I Love Quitman and hope others who are interested in this project will contact me and let me know they would like to help. Just send me an email to terry@byteland.org and let me know you are interested in helping. I want to start a not-for-profit group that will focus upon all aspects of community development. Everyone who wants to help and has something to offer is welcome.
As a first effort I need to hear from everyone who is concerned about our town and community. Please write to me and let me know that you are a concerned citizen. Tell me about things you know that need to be done to make Quitman a better place? There are many things which need to be done. Perhaps you know of a building that needs painted, a drainage ditch which needs to be cleaned or have other concerns. I'd like to know what they are. Also, if you want to volunteer to help establish I Love Quitman: Volunteers for Community Development, please let me know. Just send me a letter of introduction so we can get things rolling.
Again, I would like to thank those Quitman City officials who have given their support to this effort. With regard to the Edd Harris Park, city workers did a great job fixing the swings with new chains and seats, and repairing and painting the seasaws. I hope to see the other park equipment, benches and tables painted and repaired and would like to see a community bulletin board erected in the park. This would be a good place for everyone to post notices instead of littering utility polls with yard sale signs.
I believe if we each lend a helping hand we can accomplish much for the future of Quitman. But it is essential that people speak up and get involved. Those who we have elected to represent us in the city need to know what we each want. But they cannot read our minds. So it is important that each private citizen, that business men and women, that community leaders associated with churches, political groups and other civic organization, get together and provide a united effort and voice with respect to community development, maintaining our parks and recreational facilities and such other concerns as beautification of the town.
I Love Quitman is a beginning. There is much that a private group of concerned citizens can do to stimulate development and enhance our town. I invite everyone who is interested in the best for Quitman to please contact me. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Copyright © 2007 by TAL. All rights reserved.