The other day, Turner Classic Movies ran a 1930’s film titled COME AND GET IT. The film starred Edward Arnold and Joel McCrea. I knew Joel, and had even had him and his beautiful wife, Frances Dee, to dinner once. So, I decided to watch the film. A major fiction writer of the day, Edna Ferber, wrote the story, a well-spun tale of a lumber tycoon stripping the 1880’s Wisconsin forests without replanting. Edward Arnold played the tycoon magnificently, a man interested only in money and power with little or no concern about how the land is ruined. In the end, his son is so appalled at the damage he sees done to the land, he leaves Arnold, alone, without friend or family.

Watching this tale made me think of our city. What does it have in common with a forest, you might ask? Well… both depend upon proper management. With the forest, it is land management; with our city, it is management by means of the city government. It would take another article to discuss land management, but after ninety days as your mayor, I can tell you that the city couldn’t operate without the large number of volunteers who contribute their time, energies and devoted efforts without pay and often little recognition. We are blessed to have them. Do you know how many there are? Their number is impressive.

There are 18 fire department volunteers… 10 on CERT… 5 on the Land/Bldg Committee… 5 on the Utility Committee… 8 on the Movie Committee (or do you know we have a Movie Committee?)… 7 on the Parking Commission… 2 on OSHA… 10 0n Public Safety… 8 on Parks, Recreation, Visitors and Services Committee… 7 on the Cemetery Commission… 8 on HARC…8 on Planning… 7 on Transient Lodging Tax… in addition to the City Council, 7 on the Budget Committee… and 7 with the City Council and the Mayor. Then there are the Boosters, the Garden Club, the Kiwanis, the Chamber volunteers, the Senior Center and other groups. Adding up the numbers of people who contribute their time to our City… it is more than ten percent of the entire population. That is a staggering number, reflective of the deep love and appreciation which you, the residents, hold in your hearts for your town and its quality of life.

You are the true heroes, the real story, of our city. You, the volunteers, are the platform, the catalyst, which enables Jacksonville to function as a community. From every background imaginable and from different circumstances, this diversity brings new ideas and new approaches to the ever-challenging tasks of maintaining our city and its way of life. For all those who would stand on a platform of government action on every level, I would suggest they look at you, our volunteers. This government couldn’t exist without you.