November 22, 2011Dear Sir,As the Summer season slowly fades, and Autumn ushers in awaited cooling comfort, we are offered an opportunity to indulge in the essence of Fall. An invitation perhaps to observe green leaves becoming golden, detaching and falling, expired, from once fraternal limbs, floating in silent descent toward an embracing place of renewal upon timeless soil above life sustaining roots, Matter devoid of moisture, transitioning into substance of fertility, nurturing and reciprocating inherited energy upward to their birthplace. Life’s Regeneration. What lessons offered in such an inspiring, awesome, powerful and beautiful cycle-of-renewal. Our world of Nature.Cup-Match 2011 was a thriller! Congratulations to both St. Georges and Somerset teams respectively for providing an exhilarating entertaining match. Many thanks to St George’s Cricket Club president Neil Paynter, and all who contributed including sponsors, for making this historical celebration most memorable. St George’s recaptured the cup in a game that could have gone either way. the ultimate winner however; our community and history.On July 28th and 29th, thousands of Bermudians, residents and visitors drove, rode, bused, and cruised on public and private crafts to St George’s in celebration of the Emancipation of Bermudas slaves in 1834. The only two day cricket match of its kind universally, grown out of the memory of the freeing of slaves. A unique cultural expression of family, friendship, entrepreneurship, sport and reconciliation. Two days of peace, characterising and celebrating above all, the “human spirit” and the role of sports in its evolution.A relative highlight in Bermudas largest cultural event is camping. Hundreds if not thousands of locals literally set-up house in our parks and on our beaches at this time, enjoying the liberating and rejuvenating outdoor experience our open spaces provide. In a small subtropical island community as ours, this is the major out-of-home experience during the hot season. Our Causeway campers create a “visual stream of multicolour”, with scores of tents, illuminating the naturally scenic landscape that serves as a gateway to the carnival atmosphere at Wellington Oval. What an awesome prelude! For so many of us, this two day celebration serves as an extended four day retreat from the challenging pace of everyday life. A great opportunity for relaxation, reflection and celebration! As part of the global community, Bermuda will continue to absorb external recessionary pressures and be continually challenged economically and socially, perhaps a further four to five years, states Bermuda College lecturer Craig Simmons.Challenges with internal fiscal management will always be; thus integrity, efficiency, accountability and transparency, must remain our guiding lights in achieving and sustaining sterling government function. This responsibility rests with our elected officials. However, government success in delivering quality service to our community; ultimately lies with all of us employed in government. Premier Paula Cox has often spoken to the legacy of “entitlement”, its demerits and the need to change the processes perpetuating this culture. changes in behaviour can be both complex and slow. One key component in affecting behavioural changes in an institution or society in general, is “demonstration”. People generally model he “actions of leadership, not what it speaks”. Leadership entitlement and privilege must clearly be seen as being addressed. “Do as I say and not as I do”, is null and void.I, as a government worker for example, was asked by my foreman to perform a job related task. His words were and I quote, “would you do me a favour?”. In turn I respectfully responded that doing my job was not a favour, and that I am contracted to perform this service. A commitment in servicing the Public, especially our children and seniors. Additionally, I do it with purpose and pride, even when doing so in less than desirable conditions. No matter the job profile, whether it’s a Member of Parliament, permanent secretary, superintendent or landscaper, our roles in functional government are not predicated on doing favours, but guided by the mission, policies and protocols we commit to, when acquiring the opportunity to serve Bermuda. We are servants of the people!Our primary motive for working in government should be to serve our community, preferably with a desire and love of giving service. Enjoyment of work is certainly paramount in the job experience. We work for the need of money, however, work performed without a sense of connection to the work, its purpose and the public we serve can be unfulfilling. Secondly, the “spirit of giving” in the job experience, is relative to the quality and quantity of work performance. In recognising work as the major force that builds and sustains our lives and community, optimum motivation must come from within. “Money in and of itself will not achieve the required mind-frame in giving quality service”.“The only power greater than productivity, is the absence of it”Bermuda Public Services Union general secretary Ed Ball has called for an “economic summit”, wherein all Bermuda stakeholders can collectively plan a “national economic strategy” as we move through economic uncertainty. Our conditions are certainly ripe for a national analysis, vision, strategy and cooperation.The invitation to pool ideas addresses the need to strengthen and balance all sectors of our community in an economy that continues to change and challenge our way of life. This opportunity beckons Government (including all political entities), businesses, unions and NGO’s etc, “to sit at one table”. Each entity and ultimately the country will be better served in a collaborative conversation that seeks to develop collective ideas agreed upon and implemented. “This discussion is not about political ideology, narrow or personal interests.”Imagine Bermuda hosted at least two forums many months ago, in an attempt to ignite such dialogue within our community. The challenges we face as a community and as a global partner, are the most critical in many decades. This economic downturn is being called the “Great Recession”. No one sector can cross the “Red Sea” alone. We must build bridges, if we are to weather troubled waters as a healthy community. Surely this is the conversation of Intervention!Physicist Albert Einstein declared the thinking that gets the world into trouble, can in no way be the thinking that will get us out! Quote: “Some think it’s holding on that makes one strong; sometimes it is letting go” author Sylvia Robinson. What is your conversation?FRIEND OF PARKSHamilton Parish