 |
November 2008 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Newly-formed group hopes to unite young adults |
|
|
|
Tuesday, November 13 2007 |
By JENNIFER
ZARTMAN ROMANO
for The Post & Mail
Some say they just don’t care -- that they’re self-absorbed, cynical slackers.
To describe the generation that is now between the ages of 20-40 in such terms may be narrow-minded -- particularly considering that this younger generation has developed a reputation for being both highly entrepreneurial and techno savvy. At the business table and among the boards of our non-profits today, unfortunately, that younger voice is not being as well represented as it should be. But, it might not be that way for long in our community thanks to the efforts of Pat Hatcher, the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and a growing group of young adults eager to lead change in our community. The goal at hand is making Whitley County a better place for generations to come.
Young Adults in Action (YAIA) is bringing together those between the ages of 20 to 40 for the purpose of networking, education, socializing and volunteerism.
Initially conceived as an idea for bringing together young professionals, the group is seeking to bring together all members of its generation — from biomedical engineers to stay-a-home mothers.
What began as an initial meeting of nearly a dozen local professionals in September has quickly expanded to a growing organization with a steering committee, a spark of excitement and significant enthusiasm toward changing the face of the future.
Steering committee member and South Whitley resident Jorell Tucker is excited about this new group and its goals, saying he feels the group’s purpose is “to keep the young adults in Whitley County active in the community so that they have a choice on what happens.”
“I believe that we are forming YAIA to develop the future leaders of our communities,” said fellow steering committee member Erik Fearnow of Columbia City, “so that we may take a more active role in business development and community service to prepare ourselves to become the leaders that our towns will need and respect.”
The organization also hopes to eventually offer networking opportunities, seek ways to meet various needs in the community, encourage philanthropy and volunteerism and, perhaps encourage non-partisan participation in elections, representation on business and non-profit boards of directors and other opportunities not yet apparent in the community.
Similar organizations have formed in neighboring communities in recent years with great success, including Young Adult Professionals (YAP) in Warsaw and Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana (YLNI) in Fort Wayne. Such groups have taken leadership roles in revitalizing their communities and are not only acting as a mobilized voice, but a body of representation that is being asked for input and involved in many important initiatives.
Still in in earliest stages of growth locally, the group hopes to gather interested members of the community for an event entitled “YAIA…It’s Time” from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Whitley County Historical Museum. A cover charge of $5 per person includes hors d’ oeuvres and a drink.
“Our hope for the social event is to identify young adults who want to be actively involved in this group, and also to get ideas as to what can be done in the community to make Whitley County a prosperous place for young individuals and families,” said steering committee member and South Whitley native Ingrid McClain.
Steering committee member Eddie Beagles is eager to see a variety of people represented at the event – particularly, he said, “young professionals that are willing to get involved in the community to at least a small extent.”
“This should be an organization that is ran by the membership, not a few individuals,” Beagles added.
“We are looking for business owners, community members, moms and dads, college grads or anyone wanting to form a social network of young adults and also be actively involved in designing or volunteering in local projects that would improve Whitley County,” McClain added.
Tucker said he hopes the event draws a very diverse turnout of attendees from ages 20-40. “I would also would like to see different occupations represented like (those working in) factories, teachers, administrative assistants, retail, food services, etc.,” Tucker added.
Why ages 20 to 40?
“This is the demographic that will soon be leading our businesses, our industries and our towns,” Fearnow said. “We need to prepare ourselves for that responsibility and the time is now.”
At the event, the group will be not only hoping to gather more members, but collect ideas about what people want to see happen in our community in the future.
Beagles said he hopes to learn several things from the event, including, he said, “What direction we are going to take the organization in, ideas for future programming, and volunteers that are willing to donate their talent to get this organization off the ground.”
The group hopes to bolster membership in the organization, which is free of charge, with representatives from all corners of Whitley County.
To RSVP for the event, contact Jorell Tucker at 609-1818, Erik Fearnow at 248-2677, Ingrid McClain at 720-252-6212, Eddie Beagles at 609-8642 or Jennifer Zartman Romano at 610-1873 or send an e-mail to
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
You may also RSVP during business hours by contacting the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce at 248-8131. |
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, November 14 2007 )
|
 |  |  |  |  | | My Mom (Elly Crawford) would always make this Cranberry
Salad, to die for. The year she passed away I had tried my mother-in-laws and others
but never the same as my Mom's. A year had went by and I had Looked and Looked for
her recipe in her old fashion Tin recipe box. Could not find it. I thought, wow was
this like her Famous Potato Salad, In her head and never wrote down. Silly I know
But as I searched thru her tin recipe box again, I made sure I put each hand wrote
card back where she had kept it. I wanted to make sure it was Just like my mom had
always had it and left it. I kept look one at a time, And low and behold stuck
between two cards was the recipe, I sat and held it as the tears ran down my face. I
had found it and was finally going to have Mom's Cranberry Salad. I called My Dad,
Cecil and said over 20 times, " Dad I found it Dad I found it!" I then prayed and
ask Mom, OK come on help me make this just like you did. And I guess Mom heard
me cause the 2nd and 3rd Thanksgiving without my Mom I had "Mom's Cranberry
Salad" and I will again this year and years to come. Thanks Mom I love you- Sheryl
xoxo P.S. You ask? Well share this recipe.... Umm, I
think NOT, Took me to long to find it. - Sheryl Hackett (Churubusco, IN) My late grandmother, Margarette Ruthsatz always made
scalloped oysters for the holidays. The recipe would be similar to scalloped corn
but instead of corn,oysters.We always hoped for left-overs and often would sneak it
cold from the fridge! Someone brings this dish every year. - Pam Sorg (Columbia City, IN) I love Thanksgiving. All my family get together at my mom and
dad's. My daughters and I usually go early to help Mom get the dinner ready, but she
does most of it. We eat about one and are all stuffed. After clean up we wait for
the paper so my sister and I can scope out all the sales for the next day which we
call Jackie and Laura's Big Adventure. It is the one day that we just spend time
together and are amused with all the shoppers going crazy for that perfect Christmas
gift. - Jackie White (Columbia City, IN) My mother-in-law, the late Mildred Weeks, gave me this recipe
and it is the only salad I fix for Thanksgiving and I am willing to share.
CRANBERRY SALAD1 lb package cranberry's (I freeze them and
then grind them)2 medium size oranges1 cup sugar1 package red
jello2 red apples diced small1 cup chopped nuts1 cup celery diced
smallGrind cranberry's and oranges;add sugar (let set overnight) okay if not.
Add apples, celery, jello and nuts.
- Rowena Weeks (Ridgecrest, California)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
