HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005 06 27 Reports Item 605- Memorial Garden Lori Taylor
Date: June 27, 2005
The following document was referenced under
Commissioner Krebs' "Report" at the June 27,
2005 Regular City Commission Meeting.
Ode to Volunteers
Many will be shocked to find
When the Day of Judgment nears,
That there's a special place in heaven
Set aside for volunteers.
Furnished with big recliners,
Satin couches and footstools
Where there's no committee chair,
No group leaders or carpools.
No eager team that needs a coach,
No bazaar and no bake sale;
There will be nothing to staple
And not one thing to fold or mail.
Telephone lists will be outlawed,
But a finger snap will bring
Cool drinks and gourmet dinners
And rare treats fit for queen or king.
You ask, who'll serve those privileged few
And work for all they're worth?
Why, all those who reaped the benefits
And not once volunteered on earth.
~Author unknown
Today we are here to dedicate this memorial garden to Lorie Taylor. The idea and plan
for the memorial garden came from Steve Richart and the Oak Forest Wall &
Beaut~fication Board.
I met Dick and Lorie when I move here 17 years ago. We all worked together in the
Homeowners Association. Dick and Lorie took over the OFHA newsletter tremendously
improving it. Not only did the Newsletter need to have ads to pay for itself, there was
book keeping and billing to do - that was Lories job. BUT, things did not stop there. At
that time the newsletter was hand delivered. We all had our routes to cover and we all
got them out within a certain time frame insuring the neighborhood received their
newsletters at the same time. It didn't stop there either. We new we needed a wall to
replace the natural buffer that was to be removed during widening of the road. Lorie
along with others walked the neighborhood gathering names for a petition to present to
the city requesting help with a new wall. It didn't stop there. We had group plantings of
flowers for the entrances and those same people who created the newsletter, delivered the
newsletters, and walked Oak Forest for petition signatures were also planting flowers.
Did I mention monthly meetings for the Oak Forest Board? Yes, she attended those
meetings also. We eventually went to direct mailing of the newsletter which save us
some time. New volunteers picked up on some of the tedious chores and Lorie quickly
replaced those duties with involvement in the final stages of bringing the Oak Forest Wall
to fruition. Lorie was then appointed to the OFW &B board where she remained until she
needed to resign due to health reasons. Her volunteer efforts and devotion to community
service making our community a better place is one of the many things that made Lorie
special. She will be missed and I am pleased that a memorial garden has been planted in
her honor.