Pocahontas 2020

POCAHONTAS 2020 Holds Its First Meeting

Pocahontas 2020 held its first meeting on Saturday, June 2 at the City National Bank. The mission statement for this group of community-minded citizens is to foster communication between the many elements within our community, to ascertain values and goals which are commonly held, and to articulate a plan for the future which will foster these values and goals and improve the quality of life for all our citizens.

Attending the first meeting were: Luther Crouthamel, Lynn Grimes, Mark Wylie, Cathy Mosesso, Buster Varner, Pam Pritt, Charles Wilfong, Alice Irvine, Allen Johnson, Doshia Webb, Bill Rock, Rondi Fisher and Martin Saffer.

The group discussed many important issues that presently confront our county: the need for reconciliation in the county between communities and residents, the impact of growth upon land values and the impact of those rising values on present and future generations, the preservation of farm land and the environment, the growth of small businesses, the state of our school system and how to encourage young people to regain interest in education, the loss of an active middle class and how to express sharp disagreement with civility so as to be able to reasonably discuss colliding issues.

The meeting was likened to the First Continental Congress of 1774 in which its most notable accomplishment was the fact of the meeting itself. Said one member, "This is an opportunity for seemingly different points of view to find common ground." All members agreed without reservation that Pocahontas County is a unique and wonderful community in which we can have great expectations.

The group is in its formative stages and will meet again on June 21st. The mechanism to have greater public participation will be addressed at future meetings as many views are welcomed and needed.