And now the question as to why I would like to serve on this committee. If you noticed in the professional section at the beginning, my first real classroom teaching job was in Junction City, OR, my hometown. A first grade position opened up, I applied and thus began my career. I’m sure your RV knowledge is kicking in and you know that Junction City is where both Monaco and Country Coach started. Junction City is also famous for its yearly Scandinavian festival. The first festival was held in 1960 and it continues to this day. I danced in many dance groups form early childhood all the way into being “old.” Some of my friends still dance in the last group I was in. I learned what it meant to be a volunteer from my parents starting at an early age. They were instrumental in being part of the leadership team that helped get that first festival planned, organized and started. They too danced in an adult group. They worked in the Catholic Church booth selling Danish pastry the local ladies made daily. Yes, my mother too. The were volunteers in Scouting. My father served on the city planning committee for many years. And they sang in the church choir while I usually was playing the organ. In 1981 I became a member of the Scandinavian Festival Board of Directors. The board overseas the operation of the yearly festival. The four day festival has brought in as many 90,000 people enjoying many food and craft booths and vendors and of course a lot of entertainment. The board President that year was very progressive and didn’t want to see the festival just moving from year to year with nothing really new taking place. So, we took on the task of preparing some goals for the festival in the future. She wanted us to work more closely with the city. The city agreed and formed a committee to improve the downtown area to bring a more Scandinavian look to the city. I was the board representative on that committee. Bob Lee also served on that committee as a business member. We took two road trips in two of his coaches to visit the cities of Poulsbo WA, and Solvang, CA. I knew that one day I would have one of those kind of RV’s. Our committee drew up plans and made recommendations to established stores on what they could do to enhance their store front look and then made proposals as to what the front of what new structures might look like. We also made street, parks and parking recommendations. This was my introduction as what it truly means to be a volunteer. To be a part of making a difference in a community. It really is simple, in all the examples I’ve given, the only thing I really want to do is help make the community where I live a better place for all.
Respectfully Submitted,
Michael Curley
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