THE END WORD
Posted by Tony Zeglen
on Feb 18, 2014
You gotta be kidding! A twenty minute speech by Mayor Stuart Houston on the State of the City, explaining why Spruce Grove is such a great place to live, at the Spruce Grove and District Chamber of Commerce Annual General Meeting, and not a word about Rotary! And we were the official sponsors of the event! And President Nizar Abouchami and Vocational Service Director Ray Frayne sat and had dinner with him at the same table! What a snub!
Mayor Houston did a great job of mentioning dozens of local individuals, public organizations, and businesses during his speech, but not a word about Rotary or any other service organization.
He was proud to point out that the City opened two new playgrounds last year, but failed to mention the $450,000 École Broxton Park School playground built through the blood, sweat, and tears of many parents and $50,000 from our Club.
He was happy to announce a new $1.2 million beautification project for Highway 16A, but failed to mention the 100 trees our Club planted along Jennifer Heil Way in 2005 and numerous trees along Grove Drive planted in 2013 (for which the City has promised, but yet to actually recognize as gifts of our sweat equity and money).
He was proud to announce that renovations would be made to the "City" Skate Park this year, failing to recognize that it is the Rotary Skate Park, built through funds raised on behalf of our Club by Janice and Joe Scalzo and Boston Pizza, with cement donated by John Moquin's company, Lehigh Cement. And are we, or at least the Scalzos and Lehigh Cement, to be consulted about these renovations? Or are we to watch the renovations to our Rotary Skate Park from the curb?
I don't expect our Club or any other service organization to be at the top of Mayor Houston's list every time he speaks. But certainly in a room full of community leaders at a meeting where we have a prominent role, he could have, at the very least, mentioned that we exist. He certainly remembers who we are when he wants something from us.
"If I weren't Mayor, I'd want to be a Rotarian", said Mayor Houston in 2012. My eye!
This is my opinion and if you'd like to tell me what you think, please do so here.