By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
The Tucker County Commission passed a resolution on May 22nd proclaiming May as Community Action Month. The proclamation also recognized the 60th Anniversary of Community Action. Representatives for Community Action were on hand and included Barbara Simmons, Amy Owens and Willetta Bolinger.
Tucker County Commission President Mike Rosenau commented on the combined 70 years of experience the representatives from Community Action had. “I’ve worked with Barbara (Simmons),” Rosenau said. “I went to school with her and you have 45 years with the agency and Amy, you have…25 years.”
Rosenau also said he felt the staff’s extensive experience in the field contributed to the wisdom they shared not only with the board, but the community as well. A trait, Rosenau said, he had witnessed himself over the years. “So what knowledge is in these two ladies for our community,” Rosenau said. “The things that you have shared with us and helped people throughout, I’ve seen it.”
Rosenau said he remembered advice his father gave him over 30 years ago. According to Rosenau, his father had told him to work with Simmons and Community Action in any way he could. Rosenau said his father said the organization did a lot of good in Tucker County. “Dad worked with you and one of the advice he gave me was, I can still remember that when I got on council years and years ago, is he said,” Rosenau said. “’Now you know Barbara Simmons, now you help her anyway you can.’ My dad was pretty straight forward, he didn’t pull any punches. He said, ‘She helps the people in this community.’ I can still hear him telling me that.”
Rosenau thanked the staff of Community Action before he read the proclamation into the record. “I want to thank you on a personal level because I have seen it first hand,” Rosenau said. “We want to thank you all for all you do for our community.”
Tucker County Commissioner Fred Davis shared a personal experience he had with the organization at a time when he was in need. “I walked into her office and said, ‘I hear you might be able to help me to get a house,” Davis said. “Less than a year later, she put me in a brand new home and did that for me and my family. I appreciate it very much. I just want you to know that.”
Rosenau said that organizations and government within the County work in cooperation. “We help each other in this community,” Rosenau said.
