All Ages Needed To Shape Community's Future

Blog Post

Ronda Graff • Nov 16, 2023

KEARNEY - Last week, more than three dozen McCook residents traveled to Kearney to learn, to connect, and to dream as part of the Nebraska Community Foundation’s annual training. Some might remember when NCF was in McCook in 2021 and included the “Night on the Bricks” that toured downtown locations with artwork and food.

At this year’s training, McCook participants included students, city officials, hospital representatives, school administrators, and nursing home board members to name just a few. They gave of their time to learn more about what each and everyone of them can do to make an impact in their organization and in their community.

But perhaps my biggest takeaway is that everyone of every age has something to contribute to making our communities the best that they can be.

McCook participants ranged in age from 14 to 89 and that is not a typo. Literally, every generation was represented at the NCF training with each person gleaning something different based upon their own personal experiences and their own personal dreams for their future.

Just because someone is young or old does not mean that they don’t have something to contribute. Age on either end does not make you obsolete.

Instead, both younger and older people bring their own unique perspective to the situation. The older generations bring years of experience, while younger people bring a fresh set of eyes.

They also help shed light on the challenges faced by younger and older people in our community.

We tell our young people that we want to hear their voices, but do we actually listen? Do we help them achieve what they want to see happen? Nothing shuts down a person, but especially our young people, more than not following through on a promise to help them. Studies have shown that young people will eventually not share their ideas because they tried in the past yet no one listened so they shut down.

When our young people speak up, we need to pay attention, we need to listen, we need to recognize the value of what they are saying. And perhaps most importantly, we need to work hand-in-hand with our young people to help them develop into our future leaders.

Shaping our future leaders is why the McCook Community Foundation Fund specifically invited its youth group, Youth Change Reaction, to the NCF training. Just being around other people who are excited about working to make their communities better is inspiring. Hopefully, some of that enthusiasm just naturally rubs off and influences the next generation.

Immersing young people in positive, uplifting thinking will change their thought process as they move forward. They learn that they can make a difference, that they can be involved, that adults want to hear their ideas and opinions and will work with them side-by-side to make those dreams a reality.

During NCF’s training, McCook’s youngest participants were regularly asked questions by the adults in attendance. The adults genuinely want to know what the young people think about their communities, how they get involved, how they make things happen. The adults were intrigued about YCR’s drive-in movie project, Cars Under the Stars, which will hopefully open next spring at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds. They wanted to know how our young people made it happen, how they raised the funds, as well as the ups and the downs - all of which our McCook young people were a part of and were able to share their own personal experiences.

And our older - or experienced - McCook participants are just as valuable. I cite specifically Don Harpst, who doesn’t say as much as he closes in on his ninth decade. But when he does speak, the room goes quiet and not just because he is soft-spoken. Instead, we know he will be sharing words of wisdom earned over years of involvement and gleaned from a love of his community.

Some might dismiss our older generation because they have “had their moment” and let’s be honest, because they won’t likely be around to see all of the fruits of their labor. But they still have the passion, the desire and the knowledge to make their communities better for their children and their children’s children.

The McCook participants returned from the NCF training in Kearney with new ideas and new relationships. But perhaps most importantly, they returned inspired to bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to work together to make McCook and Southwest Nebraska an even better place to call home.

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Polling Stations Offer Much More Than Just Voting

By Ronda Graff • 16 May, 2024

Sitting at a polling station for 12 straight hours provides a lot of insight into our community. The experience proved that we are social animals who need to be around others. The experience demonstrated that regardless of everyone’s difference of opinions, we are all still neighbors, friends and family who want what is best for our hometowns. And the experience showed that even a situation as dry and sometimes contentious as voting warrants a hug or two. Earlier this week, I had the privilege of working a polling station in McCook during Nebraska’s primary election. And while officially it was the opportunity to cast your vote to determine the future of the community and the country, let’s be honest that it was a social event. For transparency, it was not a social event based upon the voter turnout. The next day, several people commented that they didn’t know the primary was Tuesday. And several people noted that they were voting because they noticed someone else with an “I Voted” sticker earlier in the day. Otherwise, they had either forgotten it was the day of the primary election or they didn’t know in the first place. Granted, very few races in our area had either enough candidates to have a contested race (a sad fact) or had serious candidates to give the incumbents serious competition in which to hold them accountable (yet another sad fact). But I digress. Being at the polling station for so many hours can seem daunting, but instead it was fascinating. Yes, there were proclamations about how many hours were left until the polls closed, but that was followed by another trip to the food buffet provided by everyone working the precinct. I was fortunate to be at McCook Christian Church, which is home to two polling stations so we had twice the number of poll workers I am assuming. Not that my personal station’s worker were not entertaining on their own but “competing” against the opposing tables to see who had more voters kept us entertained. But I also watched as each voter entered the building, with at least one worker knowing them. With such slim pickings on the ballot, the voter could easily be in and out of the voting station in less than two minutes. This was even after showing their ID, a new requirement for voting in Nebraska. On a side note, no one took me up on the idea of taking a drink every time someone was turned away for not having their ID on them but kudos to those who went home to get their license and retuned to make sure they voted. Let’s not dwell on them driving to the station without their license in the first place. But I digress. Very few voters spent less than five minutes at the election site because inevitably a conversation began with a poll worker or another voter. There were questions about how work was going that week, whether the college-age kids were returning for the summer, if there were any big vacations planned in the upcoming months. And just as many conversations ended with a hug between friends, because they hadn’t seen each other in a while or they knew one of them had faced an illness or tragedy. None of this involved voting. Instead, it was another opportunity to interact with our neighbors and friends and remember that we have more in common than we have different. Before the November general election rolls around (mark your calendars for Tuesday, Nov. 5 and while you are at it, Thursday, Nov. 7 for Southwest Nebraska Big Give), there are many things to prepare for: Register to vote. Make sure you are signed up to vote and know which voting precinct you are assigned to. Many voters entered and then had to leave without voting because they had moved since the last election or their precinct had been reassigned. Learn about the issues on the ballot. Yes, you can have your phone with you in the booth to help you make last-minute decisions but it is your civic duty to have done a bit of research before voting. Educate yourself about the candidates. There will likely be gatherings where you can meet the local candidates, perhaps even a “debate.” But one of the pluses of living in a small community is the opportunity to meet the candidates in person. Reach out to them if you have a question or just to get to know them better. These are the people who will be making decisions that directly affect you, your family and your hometown. You have every right to know who you are voting for. In fact, it is your responsibility to enter that voting booth educated about the issues and people you are voting on. And finally, show up to vote. Even though there will be more choices on the November ballot and more people are expected to vote, it will still take less time to cast your ballot than you will spend in the drive-thru line for your morning coffee. Ultimately, you will likely leave the polling station with more than you arrived with: You will get a sticker. You will have the pride of knowing you did your civic responsibility. And perhaps most importantly, you will have the opportunity of interacting with the poll workers, who have given their day to make sure your voice is heard. Hugs are optional.