I grew up on stories of Burlington Island and the BOIM,
literally at my father’s knee. I was
taught that the Island was a great resource to be respected and one day it
would be known all over and save Burlington.
I spent time on the Island as an Island manger’s daughter. I have many stories of hidden treasures and
the former dirt mounds caused by former dredging.
I also grew up as a democrat. I was taken to democratic meetings. I worked disturbing flyers (once), and making
phone calls, and watching polls as a challenger.
I went to a private school were there were about 9
girls. They were teenage girls to be
precise. If you want to study cliques
and social mores in tight knit groups this is how you should do it. I tried my best to stay out of it and was
mostly successful. I think that once the
teacher even asked me to intervene.
When I went to my first Island Board meeting, I was invited
on board stationary by the president to a workshop meeting, a new concept at
the time. The BOIM had just release the
RFP. This was only possible after working
with Diane Allen to adjust the charter for a longer lease. The BOIM also had to lease the City owned
half of the island. Without these
things, the island would never be able to be developed.
I had heard from my father about the existing animosity
between certain board members. In my naïveté
I thought my ability from my school days would be helpful and apply to the
BOIM. I thought perhaps the Board
members could get together outside the meetings, have a few drinks, eat a few noshes
and NOT talk BOIM business. You know,
they could get to know each other as people. Most people could resolve issues in such
simple ways.
I was utterly mistaken.
The animosity was such that these differences could never be
resolved. I don’t think the parties
involved even know what originally caused the rift, but the hatred has grown
such, that there is no way back.
It seems such a shame to me that people waste their
time. I have grown up listening to what
Burlington Island COULD BE. I listened
to stories of what it could do for BURLINGTON. The Island sits there. It’s been sitting there for four years since
Dad has been off the board. I think one
of the last things he did was approve (Karen) the Woolman Corporation.
I was on the board for one year. I had one vote. I voted against the guy who is now unable to
fix or access the website. I voted
against the lawyer, since we had a pro bono lawyer that wanted to work for
us. Since I have been off the Board, I
have suggested several fundraising ideas including: t-shirts with advertising
to cover the cost; using paypal on the website (when it’s fixed); starting a
fundrazer or indiego-go page. I have
suggested these thing several times. I
connected the BOIM with girls who sold bracelets for the BOIM and raised over
$600.
These are just a few things from my Island memories. One day I will sit down and write some more.
