From the President’s desk

          By Peter MacMurray

Successes spawn question

As I write this message our organization is flush with several recent successes.  The second annual Eagle Scout project, conducted by Greg Dube of Holliston Troop 14, has transformed the barn kitchen with a much-needed new floor, improved wiring, and freshly painted walls. Soon after that the Society received a generous grant from Holliston Newcomers Club. This, the second grant in as many years, has enabled further improvements to be made to the barn kitchen, including new appliances.

During the month of April, Laura Dellicker organized and led intense and energetic grounds clean-up carried out by members of Holliston High School’s National Honor Society.  HHS has also been fortunate enough to have an intern from the high school, to assist our curators with cataloging the Society’s collection.  Ariana Abelo diligently and competently conducted this important work daily during the winter and spring months.

Most recently, the Holliston Community Preservation commission recommended, and Holliston town meeting voters approved, a substantial grant to help fund much needed structural repairs to the barn.

What all of this clearly shows is that concerned people can and do make a huge difference.  Specifically, it demonstrates that we live in a community that cares deeply about HHS and the benefits, tangible and intangible, that it provides to the town.  This begs a question: Who should care more about the Society’s welfare than the members themselves, whose interests and concerns motivated them to join in the first place?

The generosity of the community also underscores the obligation of HHS to offer reciprocal support to our friends in the community, who help us do things we consider important, but are unable to do by ourselves. It is completely appropriate, and yet totally inadequate, for us to simply offer our thanks to those who assist us in our times of need. We must be as prepared to offer assistance to others as they are.

A caring and nurturing community is not unlike a caring and nurturing family; each member has a role to play and a responsibility to contribute. Just as we enjoy the benefits of membership we also share a measure of the Society’s obligations. Will your involvement be limited to just reading this column, or will you act?