ROTHENBURGER – Instead of giving the finger, how about giving our time?
Henry Pejril at awards ceremony. (Image: courtesy Peter Olsen)
THERE’S GENERAL AGREEMENT that people are angry. It’s relative, of course, but they’re undeniably angrier right now than they’ve been for a long time.
It was surprising, though, to hear the issue brought up this week during what is strictly a feel-good event.
Once a year, 80 or so people attend what are known as “Exemplary Service Awards” to honour a half dozen community volunteers. The mayor reads out a description of what they’ve done to deserve recognition, then presents them with a book, a bouquet and a glass trophy.
Each recipient is invited to say a few words at the microphone. Usually, they thank the City, their families and the people they work with as volunteers. Then everybody adjourns for snacks and some pleasant chitchat before calling it a night.
Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and a retired newspaper editor. He is a regular contributor to CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
Recipe for joy midst the madness of our world
1 dog, rescued as a stray when he/she was a puppy
Add copious hours of love and care
Blend gently until love, devotion and loyalty become the character of your dog
Mix together with emotional kids and adults at several vaccination clinics
If there are real tears in the kids’ eyes, allow the kids to become friends with the dog
Make sure each person is given a photo card of your dog
Offer “selfies” of your therapy dog with the kids before they leave the clinic
Cherish the memories of each smile and every thank you given naturally with sincerity
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I always thought that our rescued dog had something special about him. He has ‘stolen the show’ every time we have gone to a long term care home and more recently, 7 sessions of the vaccination clinics at Northills Mall. Hundreds of kids and adults have been given a “Buddy card” to take home. Special thanks to Subaru for printing them.
There was no time to be angry about wrongs that are too big for any one person to make right. It’s truly better to give than receive when time is volunteered with a SJA therapy dog!