Mia Cooledge of Kirkland’s Highlands neighborhood got her Gold Award from the Girl Scouts. She was able to reach her goal, and then some, to… Continue reading
Mia Cooledge of Kirkland’s Highlands neighborhood got her Gold Award from the Girl Scouts. She was able to reach her goal, and then some, to… Continue reading
Highlands resident and Girl Scout Mia Cooledge, is on a mission to earn “the Gold,” the Girl Scouts highest award for service. The award is… Continue reading
“Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Satchel Paige“To me, old age is always 15 years older… Continue reading
I never thought I’d have time to volunteer for much of anything. I’ve always been a workaholic, working 24/7 in real estate, but three years ago one of my past clients approached me to join The Kirkland Senior Council, a group I’d never heard of. Having been actively involved on the front lines with my own senior parents, joining the council was appealing. It had been difficult to navigate “the system” on behalf of my elderly parents and I wanted to do something to help improve what so many of us boomers are going through. It felt as if we boomers were all hacking our way through the same medicare/seniors forest, but having to create our own paths. The Council seemed like a good fit for me to start my volunteer “career,” and, hopefully, to make a difference.
Checking out what the other guy does or what the other city does, reminds me a bit like childhood sibling rivalry. Thinking back to my youth, when one of my siblings did something better than me, I wanted to do as well. I wanted to be just like them. I wanted to have what they had.
I’ve covered a variety of issues since I started writing this column for the Reporter. Looking back at what I’ve written, the underlying theme becomes obvious: community and community involvement. It takes a neighborhood or a village or a city to solve many of the issues a community faces.
(Editor’s note: This column is in response to one in this space last week -- “Examining Advocacy” -- that criticized NIMBY-ism.)
