Think globally

I

am one of the folks who showed up at the farmers market each week this past summer to register people to vote because I feel it is a valuable right that should not be wasted. I personally feel a responsibility as a citizen to be informed and participate in the democratic process, and I urge others to also practice this right.

Every time I turn around, whether at the gym, the coffee shop, the bar or in the lift line, I hear people grousing about something that is going on in town. Often times, the complaints are inaccurate and misleading.

I am asking the people of Whitefish to stop the negative banter. Positive things happen when people show up and participate in the public process. In my 19 years in Whitefish, I have seen little or no results from the negative rhetoric; however, I have seen this community achieve great things by rolling up our sleeves and working together, utilizing and respecting our resources, and taking part in a system that allows us to have a voice that counts. The world is run by people who show up.

One of the current issues facing Whitefish is the high school bond election planned for March 6-27. The proposed modernization and new construction addresses the critical needs of our students and provides for the technological needs of the future.

A mail ballot will be sent to all registered voters in the school district (note, not just city residents). Several public tours of the high school are planned providing an opportunity for citizens to see first hand the degradation of the academic and cultural environment that currently exists. This is your chance to show up.

Please register to vote (and/or check that your current address is correct with the county election office) by Feb. 27, participate in a public tour of the high school and make an informed decision about the future of our students. You can be part of the solution or you can be part of the problem, the choice is yours.

Lisa Jones lives in Whitefish and is a member of Friends of Whitefish Schools.