Moving on and serving the public

My sister is a nurse and her occupation is in great demand these days. She has worked in a variety of positions in her nursing career, from pediatric wards to internal medicine, wound care, cardiac clinics, urgent care, to complex case management.
In every position, her work ethic of expertise and compassion has helped not only her patients, but her colleagues as well. I think of her as an agent of change and progress, of respectfully challenging people’s comfort zones as well as her own.
In the world of institutional medicine, she has been an educated voice for choice and responsibility, all in the service of healing.
Now she is moving on to a position in a gastro-enterology clinic, and leaves another set of colleagues with her standards of respect, trust, responsibility and team work. She teaches so much by example and offers such vision in her constant, compassionate pursuit of excellence.
Her story reminds me of that recent internet saying: Some friends are there for a reason; some friends are for a season; and some friends are for life.
While we may not be acknowledged for the efforts and vision we provide for a cause, or a job, it’s important not just to the person whose work deserves recognition, but to the person making the acknowledgment — to our own sense of the possibility of repeating and building upon good work — to take note of the good otherst have done while they held certain positions.
In that vein, I’d like to salute Alan Lichter, retiring Council Member from Orcas West. Alan led the charge on the county’s vote against the Iraq War. He also proposed a comprehensive environmental rehabilitation program. He served as liaison to the Ferry Advisory Committee when it was being challenged by WSF administration, and resigned in protest when its chair, Alex MacLeod, was axed. Alan Lichter came forward to help form the Veterans Advisory Committee, in support of those who serve in the U.S. military. He reminded the council of the continuing costs in implementing the Rosario Resort Master Plan as he continued his opposition to it.
And something that may have escaped notice in this season of budget shortfalls and economic decline: while knowing that the “part-time” council position often involves more than full-time hours, Alan voluntarily accepted a 50 percent cut in pay when he offered himself as a candidate for re-election to the County Council. While he was elected in 2004 to a $65,000 Commmissioner position, he was willing to continue to serve on the Council at a $34,000 salary, dictated by the 2006 County Charter.
It’s something to consider as we look at belt-tightening in both our household and public agencies’ budgets.