Community spirit alive and well in Caribou

    This last week, the 150th Core Committee had dinner together at the CICC. The putenesca was excellent, and so were the breadsticks and the cheesecake  … again I digress.
    As we finished eating, Kathy suggested we all go around the room and say one memorable thing, or something we enjoyed the most. The prevalent sentiment among the group was a sense of greater community, and goodwill. Several folks were very eloquent, much more so than my ramblings each week in the paper, but the gist was largely the same: Caribou Cares!
    Often the last few years we’ve heard comments about Fort Kent, and how well their small community pulls together to do tremendous events. The grass is greener syndrome: everyone else is doing really cool stuff, your church bulletin is more interesting than mine, your food looks better than what I ordered etc.
    One of the ladies spoke of what a sense of community everyone seems to have remembered/rekindled. There were general chuckles about the commitment of Mr. Swanberg to this project, which seems to me is a perfect example of “obsession” being a virtue!
    Kathy laughed about the overall worrying volunteers can do, and how that’s been demonstrated the last several culminating months. We agree: one good thing about dedicated volunteers is they will shoulder the worrying. If it’s their project, they’ll do the bulk of the worrying for you! Really too funny: who knew there could be such angst related to Queens and Parade Gaps!
    Well, many city staffers have known it for quite some time, but there is a new crop of volunteers who’ve been up close and personal on the front lines, who now have a whole new appreciation for “Logistical Coordination.” Many cited Mr. Mockler as the reason they’d become involved, and it’s true. Between Mr. Mockler and Mr. Swanberg, the cajoling, wheedling, bartering and salesmanship were intense in 2008. Mr. Mockler first wheedled John into joining us, and then the race was on … And then Mr. Norm Collins: not a noisy gentleman, but a seriously persistent, fund-raising, coordinating, get it done “outsider” (only 44 years)! We don’t just have a crowd of do-ers; we have a crowd of seriously funny people. We could do a comedy show!
    Mrs. Wakem began her comments with the firm statement: “I want you to know, I have to live next to Bob Mockler.” And continued with, meeting John Swanberg: some man at her doorstep – early in the morning – insisting she had to sell Irish Stew tickets. Along the way, I never realized some of our folks didn’t already know each other. I was surprised those who didn’t know Joe Bouchard, or hadn’t worked on something with him over the years. Or Kathy! Or Mrs. McElwee! Or the ladies who’d been a part of the Council for the Arts, etc. How is that possible?
    Well, this year’s birthday party has fixed that! We had such a good time this past year: we really enjoy the phone calls, the visitors, the company in the office, and everyone’s ideas, personal pet interests, and the occasional crisis, so don’t forget to continue visiting us! The newest photo banners should be out shortly, and our Oct. 1st newsletter is all birthday pictures from the last year’s party!
    Thank you everyone who participated, we hope you had as much fun as we did! We all feel sincerely lucky to have been a part of this, and we’ll see you soon!