Lessons

Genesis III: Lesson 1

Newspaper article; First draft:

In the course of the past week I had the distinct pleasure of an audience with the mayor of our lovely town of Junemeadow. Our discussion revolved around a situation I have found to be very frustrating as have many of the persons to whom I have spoken to about this issue in the past few weeks. I believe some understanding has ensued from the time we spent together.

The issue we discussed was the announcement of the proposed move of our kick ball team to Mayfield, three miles from Junemeadow. If this happens as it seems likely, our small town may be in a poor state. There are many businesses as well as individuals who will be adversely affected by the move of our team. I expressed my dismay at the news to the mayor.

He seemed understanding and expressed his sadness at the announcement, but was of the opinion that he was not in a position to change the plan. I asked if he had made any attempts to contact the ball league and to try to persuade them to remain in Junemeadow. He had not. Upon further questioning, I found that he did not even know of the planned migration until it was in the newspaper last week.

I explained to him that the results of such a move would be most damaging to the economic and social dynamic of Junemeadow. He at first was unsure how large an impact the loss of our kickball league would be.

The most important issue at hand for most of the townspeople is the need to transport the children to another town to play kickball. I, as a mother of three children who each play on a different team, will be affected profoundly. Other parents in town have expressed similar concerns. Having to transport each of my children to their respective nightly practices in another town would be a hardship for me and their father, whereas now the boys can go to their practices on their own and I have only to attend their games.


I assured him that without the regular Wednesday night games, the town would also suffer grievously. Shops and restaurants along Main Street will lose a significant custom if the kickball league moves away from Junemeadow. As each team has at least ten players, that is twenty players per age division, six age divisions make one-hundred twenty, at least one parent for each player brings us to over two-hundred forty people who may patronize our humble town’s businesses. Since the town only has four hundred residents in all, it is likely that some of the players and residents do not live in Junemeadow, but in the surrounding areas. Were Junemeadow to lose the kickball league, there would be a significant dropoff in local business.

Mr. Hill's ice cream parlor would have many fewer customers on game night which is Wednesday night, as the ball field is directly across the street from his shop, and Mr. Hill has intimated to me that Wednesday is his busiest night, and without it he may be unable to keep his business on Main Street open. The general store is also likely to be adversely affected by the loss of the league. When else do they have that many potential customers?



These losses will be a major blow to the town’s economy. Even politically, the town may suffer as the council is known to meet in the ice cream parlor to discuss issues if import on a regular basis. Without this casual meeting place, the leaders of our town will be forced to meet in more formal quarters, which may in turn lead to boredom and a lack of initiative for the members to remain in their positions.

Mrs. Layten and Mrs. Kulida may be inconvenienced as well. They may not have a chance to do their usual quilting session as they do during every game, so the crafts table at the next summer's fair may be lacking in the usual quality of wares. As the proceeds from the fair go to the fire hall, it may cause the fire department to suffer in its inability to get new equipment. If the fire hall is unable to do its important and vital job, the town will be in immense danger of losing its residents to places where they feel safe and not where the local government is unwilling to provide needed services to maintain their safety and security.

Seeing more of the full impact of the unfortunate departure of our beloved team has ignited a desire in our mayor to make an attempt at interceding on the behalf of the town to impress upon the coaches of the kickball league to remain in Junemeadow. He wishes to express his sincere apology to the citizens of Junemeadow for not being completely informed about this most important development and wishes to assure everyone that he intends to do anything in his power to maintain the kickball facility and to even improve it and possibly entice other teams to Junemeadow to play, increasing the custom for our illustrious shopkeepers and various businesses.

Mayor Hopkins agrees that this is a most distressing development and is planning a strategy session with the council and the kickball league’s organizers for next week. He would like to keep this preliminary meeting private to the town council and the organizers, but requested I attend as well so I may report on the proceedings and to ensure the interests of the townspeople are being adequately addressed.

As this year is an election year, the mayor also requests his kind constituents to cast their ballot with their conscience and wants us to know how proud he is to be a part of our wonderful town. He is certain things can be worked out to a satisfactory outcome with the kickball field and the matters it affects.

I believe the mayor when he expresses his desire to do all in his power to change this situation to the good of all Junemeadow’s citizens. Whether he will be able to accomplish this is uncertain, but the will to do so is evident. I think he can muster a valiant charge to defend his people and his town.

words: 1044

Newspaper article; final

In the course of the past week I had the distinct pleasure of an audience with the mayor of our lovely town of Junemeadow. Mayor Hopkins and I discussed a situation I have found to be very frustrating as have many of the people I have spoken to about this issue in the past few weeks. I believe some understanding has ensued from the time we spent together.

The issue we discussed was the announcement of the proposed move of our kickball team to Mayfield, which is fourteen miles from Junemeadow. If this happens, as it seems likely at this time, our small town may be in a poor state. There are many businesses as well as individuals who will be adversely affected by the move of our team. I expressed my dismay at the news to the mayor.

He seemed understanding and expressed his sadness at the announcement, but was of the opinion that he was not in a position to change the plan. I asked if he had made any attempts to contact the kickball league and to try to persuade them to remain in Junemeadow. He had not. Upon further questioning, I found that he did not even know of the planned migration until it was in the newspaper last week.

I explained to him that the results of such a move would be most damaging to the economic and social dynamic of Junemeadow. He at first was unsure how large an impact the loss of our kickball league would be.

The most important issue at hand for most of the townspeople is the need to transport the children to another town to play kickball. I, as a mother of three children who each play on a different team, will be affected profoundly. Other parents in town have expressed similar concerns. Having to transport each of my children to their respective nightly practices in another town would be a hardship for me and their father, whereas now the boys can go to their practices on their own and I have only to attend their games.

I assured him that without the regular Wednesday night games, the town would also suffer grievously. Shops and restaurants along Main Street will lose a significant custom if the kickball league moves away from Junemeadow. As each team has at least ten players, that is twenty players per age division, six age divisions make one-hundred twenty, at least one parent for each player brings us to over two-hundred forty distinct people who may patronize our humble town’s businesses on any given Wednesday in the summer months. Since the town only has four hundred residents in all, it is likely that some of the players and residents do not live in Junemeadow, but in the surrounding areas. Were Junemeadow to lose the kickball league, there would be a significant dropoff in local business.

Mr. Hill's ice cream parlor would have many fewer customers on game night, which is Wednesday night, as the ball field is directly across the street from his shop, and Mr. Hill has intimated to me that Wednesday is his busiest night, and without it he may be unable to keep his business on Main Street open. The general store is also likely to be adversely affected by the loss of the league. When else do they have that many potential customers? These losses will be a major blow to the town’s economy. Where would the town be without its key businesses, most of which are near the kickball field?

Mrs. Layten and Mrs. Kulida may be inconvenienced as well. They may not have a chance to do their usual quilting session as they do during every game, so the crafts table at next summer's fair may lack the usual quality of wares. As the proceeds from the fair go to the fire hall, it may cause the fire department to be unable get new equipment. If the fire hall is unable to do its important and vital job, the townspeople will be in greater danger from fires unattended adequately and the town itself will be in danger of losing its residents to places where they feel safe, and not where the local government fails to maintain their safety and security.

Seeing more of the full impact of the unfortunate departure of our beloved team has ignited a desire in our mayor to intercede on the town's behalf with the kickball league's organizers. He is now committed to persuade them to remain in Junemeadow. He wishes to express his sincere apology to the citizens of Junemeadow for not being completely informed about this most important development and wishes to assure everyone that he intends to do anything in his power to maintain the kickball facility. He also hopes to even improve it and possibly entice other teams to Junemeadow to play, to increase the custom for our various businesses.

Mayor Hopkins agrees that this is a most distressing development and is planning a strategy session with the council and the kickball league’s organizers for next week. He would like to keep this preliminary meeting private between the town council and the organizers, but requested I attend as well so I may report on the proceedings and so ensure the interests of the townspeople are being adequately addressed.

As this year is an election year, the mayor also requests his kind constituents to cast their ballot with their conscience and wants us to know how proud he is to be a part of our wonderful town. He is certain things can be worked out to a satisfactory outcome with the kickball field and the matters it affects.

I believe the mayor when he expresses his desire to do all in his power to change this situation to the good of all Junemeadow’s citizens. Whether he will be able to accomplish this is uncertain, but the will to do so is evident. I think he can muster a valiant charge to defend his people and his town.

words: 1005