20050312 Reaching Beyond Our Walls

Reaching Beyond Our Walls

March 12th, 2005 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff

Much has been discussed about the sharp differences we currently find in our county, state and nation. I believe that the answer to any challenge we face as a community is in being able to reach beyond our walls and bring a higher more positive spiritual energy to whatever it is we confront.

We were all voted into office to lead by example. We are given a profound trust by the voters to make a difference and contribution. We all face tremendous challenges and we can begin facing up too these challenges by working together.

I understand that as a community leader, I am exposed to points of view, value systems, allegiances, and individual beliefs, which may or may not agree with my own perspectives.

It is important that I conduct myself in an environment of mutual respect and tolerance of others and their viewpoints.

In one of my opportunities to talk with some young school-aged children about being the mayor and a community leader, one of the children asked if politicians do anything else besides “call each other names and be mean to each other”. Now I ask you, just what is it that we are teaching our children?

I’m not sure what we can do about the acrimony and incivility in Annapolis, but I think that all behavior modification in our great state starts at the grass roots level. It starts with how we treat each other right here in our own communities.

Unfortunately, physical and psychological violence is on the rise in our society; where it is frequently portrayed and emphasized by the media as an acceptable way for people to deal with problems. How often do we see featured in the media, the one person in the community meeting that attempted to promote their agenda by being impolite, loud, bizarre and disagreeable.

Although contextually trite, and compositionally gravely wounded by a preachy and overly simplistic plot, the 1939 Frank Capra – Capra-corn Classic, "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" is one of America's best-remembered political films of the 1930s, if not for all time. I have never liked this gooey movie.

Inspired by the contemporary media and schlock like this out of Hollywood, today's Americans are more cynical than ever about government and politics. If you will recall, in “Mr. Smith”, Jefferson Smith saves the day in the climax of the movie by acting like a crazed lunatic.

Such unfortunate motivators as "Mr. Smith" has encouraged subsequent generations that they can make a difference and promote their agenda by being rude, loud, impolite, bizarre and disagreeable.

Participatory grass roots democracy, open and transparent dialogue is not for the weak of heart. However, if we have learned anything from history, hopefully we have learned that name-calling, pointing fingers, rumor mongering and being impolite, loud, bizarre and disagreeable is not the best way of solving problems.

It is extremely important that we explore alternative ways of peace, positive conflict resolution and nonviolence. It is not necessarily the challenge that counts nearly as much as the thoughtful and well considered response to the challenge.

Dr. King set an example for all of us that is just as valid today as it was many years ago. He showed us that leadership is often promoting change by leading the community to a place that it may not understand it needs to go; in an era when petty politics is all about figuring out whom to co-opt, malign and blame.

A leader like King used his power to forge a solution that involved mutual respect, love and understanding.

We can all work together to reduce the incidences of physical and psychological violence in our community by using non-violent conflict resolution skills and leading by example by demonstrating behavior that express feelings without harming, learning to accept the feelings of others, finding compromise, and building consensus.

If we are looking for answers to address the incivility in our state, one place to start is by looking at our own behavior. Consider the example you set for your child, your friends, neighbors and fellow citizens.

I think that the answer lies in the ability to listen with respect to those with whom we deeply disagree, in an attempt to catch in their remarks some truth we may have missed, in order to find a meaningful compromise.

I worry that there is not much that we can do about our state and national leaders not being civil, but our families and community cannot prosper if society fails and we do not rediscover some sense of civility and practice daily acts of kindness to one another. We can do it now, by starting right here at home.

I believe that the answer to any challenge we face as a community is in being able to reach beyond our walls and bring a higher more positive spiritual energy to whatever it is we confront. When we do, slowly, inch-by-inch, we will become a better society, a better people, and a better world. By working together we can all do better.

And I think that is happening. I work for you. Let the progress continue.

As always, your thoughtful consideration is appreciated regardless of the outcome on any particular issue. Whether we agree or disagree, always find my door open for friendly civil and constructive dialogue.

Kevin Dayhoff, Mayor of Westminster
Home Office: P. O. Box 1245
Westminster, MD 21158
kdayhoff@carr.org

20050309 Heading WEST to help those in need we

Heading WEST to help those in need

03/09/05 Alex Gayhart

In 1983, long before he became mayor of Westminster and just after purchasing a farm and establishing his own business, Kevin Dayhoff was rear-ended in his vehicle by a drunken driver.

The incident left Dayhoff unable to work and, therefore, unable to pay the bills. He says today that he was fortunate enough to be able to borrow the money he needed to maintain self-sufficiency.

But the experience left him with a life-long concern that others may not be so lucky.

More than 20 years later, Dayhoff was recently approached by someone with a somewhat similar situation , a local senior citizen who found herself without a basic need and with no way to fix it.

The water pipe leading into her home had failed and she had gone without water for two months. Otherwise self-sufficient, this senior just had no money and no recourse to take care of the problem.

"After I discovered her plight, I saw to it that water was reestablished at the house, because I deemed the situation a basic health, safety and welfare issue," Dayhoff said.

It was not through the city of Westminster or through the mayor's position that this woman found help. It was also not through any local nonprofit or through any government welfare program that she was able to take care of a problem that threatened her well-being.

There was actually no recourse for her.

This was not the first time Dayhoff, his wife or a somewhat large network of people in the community have been faced with a situation in which someone had an emergency need.

Dayhoff says he and this group of people have, over the years, provided a bag of groceries, found a working hot water heater to donate or gave some firewood to warm the house of a person in an emergency situation.

"For many years there's been an informal group of us (to help)," Dayhoff said. It's these instances that have inspired Dayhoff and a group of others to create the Westminster Emergency Safety Trust.

"All too often, in community leadership, we see folks who are unable to qualify for well-deserved assistance," Dayhoff said. "It is when unexpected costs arise that this self-sufficiency becomes endangered."

Dayhoff and the community focus group involved in establishing this trust have been working to raise funds so that emergency needs can be met when no other service can be provided.

“This fund is intended to be a 'when all else fails' (alternative)," said Dayhoff.

"The WEST Fund is a fund that's ... a stop gap measure for those folks who fall between the cracks," said Charles Harrison, president of the county chapter of the NAACP and a member of WEST's focus group.

"There is the Carroll Community Foundation, there's public health, but oft times, people's situations don't meet the criteria for any of those types of funds," he said.

WEST is set up through the Community Foundation of Carroll County - an organization that receives, invests and distributes funds for charitable, cultural and educational purposes for the benefit of Carroll citizens.

Dayhoff said he and the Community Focus Group - though many of them have helped by picking their own pockets - are looking for a way to have a formal pool of funds to help.

“We want to put something in place that's sustaining," he said.

Harrison was reminiscent of the "old days" when there might not have been much in the way of government assistance, and so the community rallied around those in emergency situations.

"The community solved problems," Harrison said. "So that's what this fund does." He added that he'd like to see this fund expand throughout Carroll County.

Those who would like to donate to the WEST fund may do so by sending a check payable to the Westminster Emergency Safety Trust to: Executive Director Audrey Cimino, Westminster Emergency Safety Trust, Carroll Community Foundation, P.O. Box 170, Westminster, MD 21158.

For more information, call Cimino at 410-876-5505.

E-mail Alex Gayhart at agayhart@patuxent.com.

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20050302 Bob Jones and CC Ag Center History

Bob Jones and CC Ag Center History

Westminster Advocate

March 2^nd, 2005 by Westminster Mayor Kevin Dayhoff (528 words)

Carroll County is always changing and change can be challenging. Fortunately, we have a whole new generation of folks who are willing to build on the positive work of leaders who have gone before us and are willing to stay positive, roll up their sleeves and say let’s do it. To paraphrase President Truman, "[Community leadership] is like riding a [bull]. [You have] to keep riding or be [trampled]."

Recently, I had the honor of attending The Carroll County Agriculture Center Annual Dinner Meeting. At that meeting Bob Jones was given the “Pioneer Award” for his past contributions to the Agriculture Center and to the business of agriculture in Carroll County. The list of the past recipients of the Pioneer Award Pioneers include: Violet Coshun, 1993; Lester Stem, 1994; Charles Brehm, 1995, Stewart Young, 1996; Kathryn Frock, 1997; Edwin Rash, 1998; Herbert Wessel; George White, 2000; John Bixler and John Maus, 2001; Michael Preston, 2002; Joe Cooney and Bob Nelson, 2003; Zadie Brehm, 2004.

Bob Jones began working with the Extension Service in 1957. He retired in 1984, but has maintained his love for the Ag Center ever since, most recently helping with fund raising for the Danele Shipley Memorial Arena.

To better understand the contributions of Bob Jones to agriculture in Carroll County, it is important to know the history of the Ag Center. David Greene, Walter Bay, Bonnie Graham, Helen Hosfeld and Bob Jones all helped me put together this important history. The names (of the bull riders) in this brief history read like a who’s who in the history of Carroll County leadership, especially when it comes to having a passion and vision for the community and overcoming huge obstacles.

The Carroll County Agriculture Center was incorporated on March 20, 1954. In April 1954, 13 ½ acres was conveyed to the Ag Center for $100 per acre. On May 17, 1954, Lester Stem reported that the Building Committee recommended two pole type cattle sheds and a 80’ x 30’ main hall (Burn’s Hall) be built. Could they have ever imagined the Shipley Arena, with indoor bull riding or over 1,000 animal exhibits at the 4-H and FFA Fair?

Landon Burns called a group of interested citizens to meet with him at the County Agent’s office. He explained the organization of the Ag Center and its need for funds. He then took $100.00 out of his pocket, placed it on the table, and asked everyone in attendance to match it. He got 100% response from leaders such as: Earl Beard, Joseph Coshun, Edward Derr, Margaret Englar, David Hoff, Walter Hook, Joseph Horn, G. Bucher John, J. Henry Koller, R. H. Richardson, Wilbur Shreeve, Herbert Snyder, Randall Spoerlein, A. W. Steiner, Lester Stem, Henry Turner, Carroll Wilhide, and Grove Zimmerman.

Today the Agriculture Center and the new Shipley Arena is a hub of activity with everything from bull riding, dog shows, a home show, therapeutic riding, a tractor pull and of course the 4-H and FFA Fair. Come on out, bring the family and join the fun. Riding a bull is optional but all help is appreciated. Check out their web site at carrollcountyagcenter.com for coming events.