Community of the Year
PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND
October 18, 2023
COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR
On November 7th at their annual awards ceremony Plymouth will be honored as the Indiana Chamber of Commerce “Community of the Year.” In talking about the award Brock Hesler, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of membership and foundation relations said it was based on having a strong business heritage, but also on looking forward and making the necessary investments, public and private partnerships, government and business working together and a focus on quality of life to attract the people and the workers needed for any community to thrive.
What I found missing in Hesler statement was education. For several years I was a member of the Chamber of Commerce Industrial Task Force in Kendallville, Indiana. Employers all agreed that their most important need was a work force that would show up for work regularly, who could read and do basic math and who could take instructions. Local school corporations go a long way to produce such workers. The Chamber’s emphasis seemed to focus on attracting workers from other places. I think that an equal emphasis can be placed on equipping those already in the community to enter the work force and be successful.
Important for Plymouth receiving the “Community of the Year” award was it’s attention to quality of life. The Indiana Chamber mentioned events at River Park Square, such as the Mayor’s Month of Music and the Plymouth Farmer’s Market. This just scratches the surface of what is taking place in Plymouth and Marshall County to improve the quality of life. Studies show that the quality of life of a community is directly related to it social capital. Social capital is people coming together to network and interact. Plymouth and the surrounding area are blessed with enormous settings, venues, and places where social capital is being created, re-created, and nurtured.
One day Jesus was asked “What is the greatest commandment?” He responded, “Love God with all one’s heart, soul and mind.” Then he stated a second commandment of equal importance: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” When Jesus answered the question, His audience would have limited the neighbor to only someone who was Jewish. In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus expanded this understanding to include everyone, especially those in need.
Another setting that creates social capital is bringing neighbors from very different backgrounds together to interact and to get to know one another. The one big event that creates social capital, improves the quality of life, and brings neighbors from all backgrounds and from different places is the annual Blueberry Festival. I wonder just how many networks are involved to make the weekend a success. Some that come to mind are bands, vendors, sports teams, car clubs, hot air balloonists, musical groups, local organizations, police, government agencies and runners. I am sure that you can add many other examples to this list.
When I was a pastor in Kendallville, I remember the downtown being set up every year for the yearly Apple Festival. On Memorial Day weekend and Labor Day weekend you could hear bluegrass music coming from the fair grounds. Several years Diane and I attended the Auburn Cord Dusenberg Festival. I understand that Angola has a yearly Balloons Aloft. All of these bring old and new neighbors together to help build the social capital of each community.
I have some acquaintance with groups whose mission is to help the neighbor in need. There is the Neighborhood Center, Heminger House, Salvation Army, Red Cross and township trustees to name just a few. The United Way provides a vital role in funding and supporting groups and programs that help our neighbors. Churches also have their part to play in this important mission.
(This article was originally published September 29, 2019. Comments may be sent to davidh15503@embarqmail.com.)