When the people of Sweet Home turn out for the Grand Parade at Sportsman’s Holiday a month from now, we should thank those who will be making it happen.
It’s no secret that our Chamber of Commerce, the institution that in most communities is the leader in organizing and/or promoting events such as this that bring residents together, is in hard times. We’ve written plenty about that in the past and we’re not going to belabor it now.
What we haven’t given a lot of attention to is the people who refuse to let it die.
The chamber property is for sale, which the board has deemed necessary to meet the organization’s $100,000-plus debts. The office is staffed by volunteers and board members.
That’s our point.
From our report on this issue’s front page about Sportsman’s Holiday, it’s pretty clear that Board Member Karla Hogan and others have stepped up to do what it takes to keep this thing moving.
Sportsman’s Holiday and its predecessor, Frontier Days, were born in better times, the years when the natural timber resources on the hills behind us provided much greater economic benefit to Sweet Home. People worked right here in the community and Sweet Home was more self-sufficient – less of a bedroom community than it is now.
There was energy, intelligence, money and innovation in those days, all contributing to events such as Chips ‘n’ Splinters, the parade, the marine activities, athletic events, the rodeo and all the other things that made Sportsman’s Holiday a rip-roarin’ event for so many years.
People still work in Sweet Home. But a lot work elsewhere. There’s still energy, intelligence, innovation – though maybe not the financing that once was made available.
We appreciate the successful efforts to reinstate Chips ‘n’ Splinters, which is in its _____ year now, and to keep the parade going. A number of different people are responsible for that, and we won’t go into the list of names now – primarily because we’d probably leave someone out. But you know who you are.
The fact is, events like Sportsman’s Holiday are good for a community because they bring us together. Same with the Christmas celebrations, last year’s inaugural health fair, the community Awards Banquet, athletic events, etc. etc.
Community events give us a sense of camaraderie and pride. We get up in the morning to take the kids and go watch that parade, or buy a burger and enjoy the Logger Olympics. We renew acquaintances and strengthen relationships that might have declined a bit due to busy schedules. We do community together.
Down the road in Lebanon, our neighbors have just finished their annual Strawberry Festival. A lot of Sweet Home folks were there as well, as participants or visitors, partly because it’s an opportunity for entertainment that isn’t available here.
The Strawberry Festival is a big deal and it isn’t a seat-of-the-pants operation. It’s understandable that there is more investment and planning for a bigger show.
Lebanon is half again the size of Sweet Home and it has more local jobs to give residents a chance to work in town. That certainly helps when the need arises for volunteers, and the Strawberrians who organize things take it pretty seriously. Lebanon also has a chamber of commerce that’s thriving and, even if it isn’t the direct organizer, vigorously supports community activities.
Sweet Home has challenges, as we’ve noted in the past, as a significant portion of our working population leaves early in the morning and returns at night.
But Lebanon has had some of those challenges as well, as longtime residents there will attest. They’ve addressed them with determination and enterprise, finding ways to work together on a community level.
As we said earlier, it’s encouraging to see local people who are determined to turn things around. Frankly, most of the chamber board members have demonstrated significant resolve in addressing the daunting problems that were dropped in their laps – for most of them, problems that were brewing long before they agreed to lead the organization and which they were unaware of until they committed.
They’ve stayed committed. That determination should be an example to the rest of this community.
It’s been a turbulent year and a half in our community. We’ve lost veteran, engaged, quality leadership due to job changes, retirements and other factors.
Many who have been significantly involved in efforts to improve our economic situation, to begin to capitalize on the incredible potential that exists here that has barely been tapped, who have simply tried to make a difference, are no longer here.
But individuals such as these chamber board members, along with the volunteers who keep the chamber open and operating as a resource for visitors, the local leaders who have other jobs but who expend significant energy in trying to make Sweet Home a better place – they are all making a difference.
Not only should we be grateful for their willingness to give of themselves for the good of the community, but we need to consider whether it might not be incumbent for us to step up ourselves.
That’s what’s made that Strawberry Festival what it is.