We have news that we are anxious to share with you. The Seeley Lake Community Foundation wants to do more for our community, more for the people and this valley we all call home.
Over the past 20 plus years we have endeavored to be one of the leaders in our community. To be a centering place. Through our programs, we have worked to enhance the viability of the many organizations that must rely on donations to survive and prosper. For instance, we established the Change Your Pace Challenge. Both full-time and seasonal residents of our community have embraced it, allowing our nonprofits to excel. Through the years, this undertaking has added to the economy, to our well-being and provided much needed assistance to many.
We created I Ride. For a minimal fee we transport folks, without other means, to medical appointments. We, together with our volunteers, want everyone to be able to access and obtain their healthcare needs. Thousands of miles have been driven by our dedicated drivers. Why did we create this program? Because we are a community that cares about each other. As we often say, “It is the people and the place”.
Different, but of equal value, is the Sunday Market, which we sponsor every summer. Not an easy logistical endeavor, but from a community standpoint, a much-appreciated gathering place to buy fresh produce and handmade products from local and regional vendors. Many factors influence the weekly number of guests, but it is a place where the whole community, during hectic summer activities, can meet, reacquaint with others and purchase lovely gifts. We are equally proud of other programs we have created, all in hopes of helping our valley and its folks be the best we can be.
After a great deal of thought and reflection, we feel there is more that we can help our community accomplish. We believe we are uniquely situated to do that. We are a nonpolitical organization and we are not faith-based. By our bylaws we are to: “engage philanthropy, education and leadership to enhance quality of life and economic vitality in our community and to create occasions for citizens to dream, think and work together to make the Seeley Lake region a better community for all of its inhabitants.”
Philanthropy, as noted above, we will always continue. We hope you will allow us to also be a leader in enhancing our quality of life and the economic vitality of our valley. We believe, with your help, we can be a “centering catalyst” to move us forward, a centering pivot among various people and organizations in our community. Providing a place and a means to facilitate cooperation, coordination and collaboration among us, to discuss and discover common values that can become the foundation for building and enhancing our unique community and valley.
By meeting with each other, discussing in respectful dialogue, to discover common values and establish and prioritize community needs, we believe we can, by us all working together, start down the path of a community that is sustainable, preserves our beautiful valley and enhances the lives of us that live here permanently, as well as part-time.
To be successful, it takes the community coming together. We would like to start that process. With the community working together, listening to all points of view, reaching for common values, we can be successful.
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