By: Steve Trubilla
Success in all things begins with someone caring about those things. The value of self-reliance becomes revealed as people wait for others to act. Things simply do not get done. There comes a time in every person's life when they realize if they want something done they must do it.
Too often, self-interest is the driving force for those seeking political office. What's in it for me?
Every now and then someone comes on the stage that is not looking to see what he or she can get.
They are not looking to turn a buck, or enrich their family or friends with a sweetheart deal.
They quietly go about working to improve the quality of life for their neighbors. Seeing what needs to be done, they do it.
Franklin County, do you know who John Parrish is? He is a man that started a movement, and it is a movement to bring economic development to Northeastern Franklin County.
Growing up in Centerville and currently living in White Level, John for many years worked in state government and pursued business with Advantage Marketing.
There are many others now involved, but John Parish was the first to stand up. He and Dr. Jimmy Foster are the founders of the Franklin County North Carolina Revitalization Committee. Dr. Foster pursued and excelled at a career in education.
These forward thinking men have established strategic planning and tasked organizations with goals to produce results. What will be done, who will do it, and when will it be done is the focus.
The Committee meets every month at the Red Bud Baptist Church in Castalia, NC. The address is 832 NC Highway 58. The next meeting will be held at 6:15 p.m. on June 25. This will be much more than a meeting, it will be an event, a Business Showcase with as many as (25) local businesses presenting with displays. For more information on this, contact Melissa Hodges at (919) 497-6299.
The public is invited, and to quote Parrish, "Bring someone with you to the next meeting."
This is a committee in action. One of the many goals is to bring people to Northeastern Franklin County to share in and enjoy the plentiful agriculture and natural resources. Another is to bring broadband Internet to their/your community.
Children should not have to go to the McDonald's parking lot to gain access to the internet to do their homework.
It is outrageous that our elected officials, to include our local school board, allow this. I have talked with many of them. What I hear is, it is a matter of resources, we are working on it, it is not something I can do anything about, etc. Excuses! Plain and simple if your elected officials cannot resolve this who can? Better question yet, if they cannot solve the problems just what do they do?
I will credit those that are working on this for their efforts. Effort has its merit, but results are what counts.
I have even been told rural broadband is a problem a lot of places have. This was offered in an attempt to justify the problem. To me it was just another excuse, and a weak one at that. If your children or your business is at a disadvantage do you really care that other places cannot access the internet?
The information highway is not coming, it is here. Without it you are left behind.
In terms of limited resources, of course they are limited. What I want to hear is how we are going to obtain those resources. Not that it is too hard for you to do. If your job is really too hard, go get one you can do. Lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I was recently told around $12 million for rural North Carolina Broadband may be identified in the budget. It was a great answer to the question of resources, leaving me feeling help is on the way. Upon looking into it further, I found even if it is, it will be disbursed based on county economic tier. The chances of Franklin County ever seeing any of it are slim to none.
The amount of work that has been done on this by private citizens like John Parrish, Dr. Jimmy Foster, and others is noteworthy and an example of what can be done when people truly care.
Attending a recent Franklin County North Carolina Revitalization Committee meeting I asked Steve and Elke Mccalla from Bunn what they thought of how the meeting and effort was going. Steve said, "Seems to be extremely progressive, no non-sense brain secession for economic development." Elke said, "Very structured and organized, inspired."
Inspired is the word I would also use to describe what is going on in Northeastern Franklin County as well.
I have never left a county commissioners' meeting feeling inspired. Maybe next time.
When you see John Parish tell him thank you. Thank you so very much for caring. Well done sir!