The Case For Volunteerism

In Newtown

To the Editor:

Thank you for your recent article regarding my father, Robert Geckle, Sr, and his nine-year volunteer stint on the Fairfield Hills Authority. I think his retirement from FHA merits reflection on the general subject of volunteerism in Newtown. Communities like Newtown owe their high quality of life at least in part to the fact that certain folks are willing to donate their time and effort purely for a sense of pride and enjoyment. This sense of community explains why I loved growing up in Newtown, why my sister raises her family there, and, probably, why my grandparents chose to build their lives in Newtown. I suppose this connection to Newtown that has been built up over several generations explains why my folks have dedicated so much time to the town over the years.

But this spirit of volunteerism is by no means inevitable to endure. The personalities of towns and cities change over time, and I can assure you that only the faintest remnant of community spirit exists in Paris where I currently live (and where most residents now look entirely to the national government, in vain, for needs previously addressed by local communities). Sadly, a person reading letters to The Bee these past years could be forgiven for asking why any sane person would dedicate years to committees like the FHA. Is busting one’s chops after work really worth the aggravation of reading near-deranged criticisms of one’s motivations? I recall one letter even hinting that the FHA and its volunteers were engaged in some nefarious sting operation. I wonder if this guy considered how many tax dollars it will cost to pay employees in lieu of volunteers.

Certainly being a volunteer should not render anyone immune to criticism nor should it short-circuit vigorous debate. Indeed, I suppose at least some of these letters merely reflect the “argybargy” of American town politics and some odd eggs watching too many Oliver Stone movies. However, should a line not be drawn somewhere. For instance, shouldn’t Newtown voters hold elected town officials (or those aspiring to be) to a higher standard of public discourse? Unfortunately, the sad display of preening and posturing of certain wannabe populists in Newtown these past years raises the question of whether normal folks will continue to view volunteering as worth the hassle. The rhetoric we’ve come to see from some politicians, with seemingly no issue too insignificant as to warrant personal attacks, bares more resemblance to amateurish Huey Long impersonations than to dialogue likely to encourage civic involvement.

While continued willingness to volunteer under such circumstances is nothing short of heroic, it cannot be assumed to continue. To maintain this culture, I suspect Newtown voters would need to show the door to any politician pathetic enough to denigrate the efforts of unpaid volunteers for political gain. In the meantime, let’s give all town volunteers the solid pat on the back they truly deserve.

Very truly yours,

Robert A. Geckle, Jr

Paris, France                                                                        May 24, 2010