As part of my Navy Reserve activities in December I had the opportunity to more carefully organize my approach for achieving the vision I have for La Porte while attending the NATO School in Oberammergau, Germany. A particular concept discussed that I found to be the most fundamental to shaping my thoughts of our mission in La Porte, was a very academic or Pentagon-like sounding term of “Strategic Communication.” Defined as making a difference in knowledge, attitude and/or behavior, the idea of strategic communication embodied to me what I believe to be the foundation for achieving our mission in La Porte. For strategic communication to be effective, two criteria must be met. First, individuals have to have the freedom and security to make the decision independently for a true difference to be achieved. Second, a desired goal must exist; a point where a change in knowledge, attitude and/or behavior achieves the goal.
My vision or goal for La Porte is to be a community that believes, takes action and achieves goals.
For us to grow and compete as a community we must first believe that La Porte is an innovative, progressive community that is committed to each individual and corporate citizen and our collective success. Some days that belief must be born of faith; the assurance of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. La Porte, like so many other communities has seen tough times over the years and our challenges were compounded by unique property tax disagreements, but by working as a team, setting aside differences to focus on common goals, and believing that we have not only what it takes to maintain a community but to grow to be an outstanding community we have already seen great successes.
2012 alone offered us reasons to believe in the greatness of La Porte so that even those of us who are in the process of growing and perfecting our faith are aided and blessed by the proof of a worthwhile return on an investment in faith. The planned addition of at least 84 new jobs already, with hundreds more as the expansion of Thomas Rose Industrial Park fills, the joy of sharing a Friday afternoon walk or run at Fitness Friday, the decrease in drug overdoses, and the miracles of Jaidyn and Neilah Maule as a community’s prayers for the healing of two little girls were answered even when modern medicine said it wasn’t possible are just a few examples from one year of what believing in the greatness of our community can bring! I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what’s in store as that momentum, as our faith, builds and La Porte is not only restored but surpasses any previous greatness!
Belief and faith in our community is fundamental to our success, but we cannot simply wish it to be so, we have to be willing to take action upon and in support of our belief. La Porte must take action to solve problems and advance our goals by getting involved in community organizations, programs and events.
Legendary columnist Erma Bombeck once said, “Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.” While our challenges may seem daunting at times, and even our individual volunteer efforts don’t appear as though they will be enough to reach lofty goals, the great news is that we are not alone in our efforts.
Just like in the cartoon Captain Planet, when any of the individual “Planeteers” was faced with a challenge too great for their sole power they would come together and with their powers combined form Captain Planet who could handily resolve the issue. While that was a seemingly silly cartoon, and I don’t think our collective efforts will result in a magical appearance of Captain Planet (though I think that’d be pretty exciting) the message rings true for our combined efforts, the same as anyone has argued the merits of teamwork.
One has to work hard to miss the results of our amazing community volunteers: Arts in the Parks’ summer concert series, Tri Kappa’s Sock Hop, Kiwanis, the Red Cross or the Parks Department’s 5k runs, United Way’s Dodgeball tournament, the Jaycee’s 4th of July parade and fireworks are just the tip of the iceberg of all of the community events provided by numerous community organizations making life in La Porte second to none. When you combine these characteristics of our citizens with government and business professionals equally dedicated, the results are outstanding!
If each of us believes in this community, then takes action to do our small part we will achieve not only the goals that we set for ourselves and our community but those we couldn’t have dreamed to hope for. We will make La Porte an awesome place to live, work and do business and enjoy the fruits of what faithfulness can provide. By communicating the vision, focusing these efforts and walking the walk, not just talking the talk, we can prepare to see an outpouring of blessings. We will see a lasting change not only in knowledge, attitude and/or behavior, but in opportunity, happiness and unity in our community.
As Captain Planet used to part with “The power is yours!” to help make La Porte the greatest city possible.