I'm sure you're right, Wilma. People can be unkind and unfair and cruel
to each other in any volunteer association. Social slights like these
are always saddening. One always hopes one's group can engage in it as
little as possible, but human nature comes with limits.
I want to make the record clear for UC-list's sake, that, after
reflection, nobody on UC-list can recall a single instance in which a
"Friends of..." group was spun off from a community association in
University City, powerful or otherwise, to achieve any aim, nefarious or
otherwise.
Most "Friends of..." groups are created to provide single-interest
community backing to public facilities that could benefit from
additional input and assistance. Thus we have, in UC alone, Friends of
Malcolm X Park and Friends of the Walnut Street West Library. They are,
of course, widespread elsewhere and most public institutions welcome and
foster them.
I don't believe Calvary, the Firehouse Market or University City
District ever had a "Friends of" group attached to them. They are really
different community institutions, for several different reasons, and
often aren't similar to each other either. Community associations are in
a separate class of their own, with special features.
Friends of 40th St. is kind of platypus, with features taken from many
other classes. It too is not without precedents elsewhere, though.
-- Tony West
Still, there are community members who have joined the established UC
community organizations over the years, who have pledged many hours/years
and personal funds, and even slightly neglected their own families and
relationships to support neighborhood issues their very credible community
leaders charged them to do.
The point is now many of those who have served faithfully are now without
the powerful UC Community organizations backed "Friends" to advocate for
them.
The hurting thing is the opposing community members to this hotel project
are desperately trying to uphold the original vision of the established UC
leaders and community organizations they represent.
Now they find themselves at cross purposes.
Any human, even if they do not agree, should understand their sense of
betrayal.
- W.
----
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the
list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see
<http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
