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What is this?
New generation ready to lead
Published Friday, November 6, 2009
In the world of sports, it doesn’t hurt to have a veteran superstar on your team. Success is almost guaranteed when you have A-Rod or Andy Pettite sitting on your bench.
But as every coach knows, you have to have talented rookies on your team as well. The youthful exuberance and insatiable hunger to learn that is characteristic of a gifted rookie is what keeps a team vibrant and provides for future success. After all, Michael Jordan eventually retires or Brett Favre’s shoulder goes bad.
The team of community leaders who supported the ‘Yes’ vote for recreation had its share of veteran superstars on its lineup. Leading off were former city attorney and state legislator Walter Brown and former mayor Tony Byrne. These two power players had a dream team bench backing them up — from current supervisors and aldermen to community leaders in recreation.
By explaining to voters the benefits of a new recreation complex, these superstars played the equivalent of a no-hitter shut out election night with a landslide victory.
True, a new recreation complex will benefit the community in many ways both for economic gain and for the benefit of future generations.
But the biggest benefit from the non-binding referendum on recreation may be the crop of rookies that stepped up to the plate in support of the referendum.
Sponsored by the Natchez Chamber of Commerce, a small group of young professionals called Leadership Natchez decided to take the recreation issue head-on. With Tate Hobdy as their spokesman, the group of 14 passed out stickers, signs, posters and developed a marketing plan to get the word out about their support for the referendum. The recreation issue was the project they adopted for this year’s class. Hobdy, who has a background in recreation management, went from one service organization to the next preaching the good news about the issue.
Interestingly, a majority of this year’s class once left their hometown Natchez for other playing fields. The lives they lived in these other places led them to two realizations: One, that they wanted to return to Natchez and two, that they could work to make the quality of life better in Natchez.
Specifically, they recognized that the recreational opportunities in Natchez were lacking and then decided to do something about it.
Every once in a while, a new generation steps up to take responsibility for their community, no longer relying on the generation before them to provide.
It may be that this is such a time for Natchez. It may be that this group of community minded rookies has decided to lead rather than follow.
Of course, the issue of recreation is far from resolved. Tuesday’s election was a non-binding referendum, after all. It does not force any one to do anything.
The challenge for this group and all who voted for recreation is not to allow the issue to die or get mired in the muddy playing field of politics.
There is a long way to go before the first pitch is thrown at a future Natchez-Adams County complex.
Nevertheless, my hope is that the recreation issue spurred a new generation of leaders into a political exercise habit that will last a lifetime.
If so, we may stand to gain more than just a recreation complex from this year’s referendum.
Ben Hillyer is the Web editor of The Natchez Democrat. He can be reached at 601-445-3540.
Comments
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it'd have been nice to have at least one superstar/powerplayer/leader who actually prepared a proper budget.
anyone ever research how much it actually costs to build and maintain a swimming pool?
Posted by xenon314 (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:35 a.m. (Suggest removal)
aaaaaaaannd at 6:05 am, the negativity begins...
If you have a better plan, other than doing nothing, please lay it out for us.
Posted by niderbip (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
it's not negative; it's called prudent fiscal practices.
many put more effort and research into buying a $20k car, but maybe that just doesn't bother you.
let me lay this out for you: a good start would be to REQUIRE the use of Excel when discussing budgets/costs.
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 7:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Most of Leadership Natchez couldn't make it elsewhere and came home to work in the family business.
Guess we are lucky to have even them.
Posted by Crakalakin (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seeing people call realists "negative" is like watching a 2-year-old call his Momma "mean" because she won't buy him every toy in Wal-Mart.
You see, I'm not opposed to a recreation complex at all. It would be awesome to have one. It would also be awesome if I had a new BMW. I don't because I can't afford one right now. Oh, I could probably get a loan that would stretch me out too far but responsibility dictates that I refrain. I hate being "negative" but I just can't afford a new Beemer right now. It would be cool but ultimately it would hurt my family.
This is about being grown up, responsible and asking tough questions. So far, nobody has answered them in any meaningful way. Just rosy, feel-good platitudes, pie-in-the-sky guesses and zero data.
When an cogent adult comes along and makes a comment or asks a serious question, the kids cry "negative meanie" instead of addressing the question or comment.
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 12:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one has risen to the bait. I must be losing my touch. I was certain by now at least one outraged citizen would have denounced my snipe at Leadership Natchez and defended the group while naming each of its fine upstanding members. Better than Goggle, I expected to obtain information and at the same time amuse myself reading the firestorm of vitriol I had ignited. Now I must take a more conventional and far less entertaining route.
You people are just no fun anymore.
I am reminded of the Natchez Young Professionals crawfish boil earlier this year. Rather than a bevy of over rouged, under dressed peroxide babes parading there wares and wherewithal, I find instead a bunch of neatly dressed young sports, flashing smiles, shaking hands, slapping backs and stuffing business cards into every shirt pocket within reach.
Young hustlers, to be sure, but not at all what I had envisioned.
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 3:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
grungebob, the problem is...... You have been rude enough and outrageous enough that people (like myself) tend to start marginalizing you and paying no attention to your statements. That is sort of the old "consider the source" thing. Improve the source and you'll get better discourse.
:)
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 3:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Point well taken, OGD. May require a personality transplant, however. Are they painful?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 5:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Concerning --> "May require a personality transplant"
I doubt it. Probably only a change in your "posting personality". Some folks climb into the driver's seat and their personality changes dramatically. Same with posting - Some folks get on a keyboard and transform into beasts. I tend to keep mine under control most of the time, but words like GOLF and SKATEBOARD can bring out the worst in me. But I'm fine with theft, terrorism and simple mayhem.
:)
Posted by grungebob (anonymous) on November 6, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Thanks
I am going decalf because I become intolerant on lactose. Happens to a lot of us. Its a negative reaction to milk - or whatever our excuse - that triggers a negative reaction to each other.
But bad excuses don't justify bad behavior.
Like golfing on a skateboard, you can drive yourself over the edge and into a sand trap of your own making.
Time well spent is never stolen. Vincent Price is the greatest terrorist of all time. Simple mayhem is just playing rough without malice.
Always a pleasure talking to you.
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