Rotary Meeting of June 7, 2012 “Every Day Heroes
Note: The Kings won the Stanley Cup last night and last weeks picture quiz was the Lord Stanley himself. First place was Dr. Rogers. There were lot's of heroe's in the Kings Victory as there are in all of sports when someone or some team wins the big prize. Congratulations to the Kings and those heroes for the day, but these are not your every day heroes. We met them at last weeks Rotary meeting.
Every Day Heroes
Local Dignitaries turned out for this annual Rotary Event and it is very neat from my perspective. Sometimes these things become “routine” to us -- because over the years we have seen this scene many times. But when you stop and really think about the meeting, it is so very special. We forget that it is about Real People doing Real things…every day.
Sure there is an award in there somewhere; a handshake from a local politician; a picture in the paper perhaps; but that’s not why they do what they do. They do it because they are special people with a built in (or burned in) value system and ethics that separates them from others. These are the people that their peers, bosses, and/or department heads recognize as being exceptional. They are everyday people like all of us. They are way better than many or most of the athletes or actors we admire. They are real people doing real things that help others.
I haven’t received too many of these awards over time, but I have a few. And while you shrug it off when it occurs when people say “Congratulations”…you are indeed proud. There is more of a bounce to your step and the world looks a little better to you. You don't do it for recognition, but you are grateful when you get some. You’ve worked hard and someone says “nice job”, and they say it in front of others. You smile and do indeed feel special for a few hours anyway, if not longer. You glow a little brighter, try even harder, and sleep a little better.
The Mayor was there, the Mayor Pro Tem, and a few other council members, the Chief’s of Fire and Police, the Superintendent of Schools, and the local Postmaster. All are “Big Deals” Big Heroes in a yet bigger pond, but no more important than those being recognized. Being a Manager, a Chief, a Superintendent is a function, not a hierarchy. I think Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech about "The Man in the Arena" that says it all.
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat"
Look at these folks below. There names are Jose Reza, US Postal Employee of the Year; Tony Tarango, Firefighter of the Year; Nicholas Budge, Police Officer of the Year, and Kim Jones, Teacher of the Year. They are our real heroes.
