City of Casselberry (FL) Commission Meeting
11 April 2016
Jocelyn Williamson (347 words)
Thank you Mayor, Commissioners, Staff, and community members for the opportunity to offer opening words for the meeting on behalf of your residents and for the benefit of each of us here.
This evening as we pause for before we begin the meeting, let us remember to leave our personal conflicts at the door. The purpose of the meeting tonight is for the good of the people and the City of Casselberry. It is for all of us to work together and to help make Casselberry“a great place to live.”
I know this is a room in which there there can be challenging debates, moments of tension, and of ideological divisions. But let us also be mindful that this room contains members of our wonderfully diverse human family with common values, needs, hopes, and dreams—many of which we share. Let us cherish and celebrate our shared capacity for reason and compassion. Because it is our similarities that move us forward and our ability to recognize the value and worth of our entire community as well as the dignity of each individual that makes us great.
As American Hall of Famer and former Senator Bill Bradley once said - “Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it.”
As decisions are reached this evening, keep in mind the common goal of improving the lives of everyone in the City and even those who will be affected by this evening’s decisions for generations to come. Wisdom is something that is often called for as these meetings begin – REMEMBER - all the knowledge needed is already right here in this chamber. Your fellow commissioners, the hard-working city staff, as well as citizens and business owners come to serve along with you and to be a resource to call upon.
I will close with a quote from Helen Keller – ‘Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much. ‘
Thank you.