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Guest Column

Help us, Citrus 20/20, in steering the county

By PATIENCE NAVE
Published January 15, 2007

Sometimes leaders dream and talk. Occasionally, they turn their dreams into action. That's what happened to the 1994 Leadership Citrus project, a dream to have an effect on anticipated growth in Citrus County.

The class enlisted many who began serious work in 1995 to determine how nature and man could live in harmony as inevitable growth happened. We were a diverse group, and we certainly did not agree on everything. One thing we knew for sure: We did not want to become another Tampa Bay.

At an event at the Crystal River Mall, we asked citizens to review areas we thought were important and choose the 10 they considered most significant. I was not surprised to see them name education as one of 10 areas of concern.

At that time, there was no real entity overseeing our activity. We were just a group of interested citizens willing to work. Leadership always rises, and Bill Welch encouraged us to incorporate and become Citrus 20/20 Inc.

Our purpose was to support projects that would enhance the 10 areas the community named. My primary role was to support programs of education, in the public schools, in the community college and in continuing education for adults.

Our goals were high, and all have not been attained, but we have had successes.

We held two forums, at which interested middle and high school-age youth in the community were encouraged to express their concerns and get involved public affairs. These forums encouraged students in two high schools to work to bring about a tobacco-free environment in Florida in all public buildings.

We sought and elected to our board high school and Central Florida Community College students, listening to their ideas and modeling for them the leadership skills that we had learned.

We have awarded annual scholarships for graduates from local high schools, based on successful scholarship and an essay on the importance of protecting environment. We had contests for elementary schools, asking children to depict in essays and art what they thought important about our environment.

Through a grant, we made equipment available to schools, allowing them to test water quality and to learn about the importance of good water. We supported a local entrepreneur who was beginning a program of training and employment for physically challenged adults in the community.

We received many requests from individuals and groups in the county for support of worthwhile ventures, and we somehow found the funds to support almost all that fell within our vision of educating the public on the importance of our protecting the environment of Citrus County.

On Jan. 27 at Lecanto Middle School, we encourage interested citizens to speak. Tell us how we are doing so we can go on with more worthwhile projects. We welcome your ideas on how to protect Citrus County's many assets.

Patience Nave is a former chairman of Citrus 20/20 Inc. and a former Citrus County School Board member.

Fast Facts:

Registering for Vision Check 2007

Anyone wishing to participate in Vision Check 2007 should register with Citrus 20/20 by Jan. 20. Please include your name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail address and answer these questions: How long have you lived in Citrus County? Why did you move here? Why do you wish to participate in Vision Check 2007? Mail your application to: Vision Check 2007, c/o Citrus 20/20, P.O. Box 114, Lecanto, FL 34460-1141.

[Last modified January 15, 2007, 07:10:29]