From Bill Lough: Well by now I suspect everyone has received the good news—we did it! On Friday, September 19, 2014, the families of Michener were given a clear and unequivocal statement from the premier that Michener will not close! Pat yourself on the back—this success only came about from our collective determination to say no! We stood our ground when few gave us a chance! As much as we are thankful to Mr. Prentice, we must not forget to thank those who stood with us from the beginning. I extend a warm and heartfelt thanks to the Wildrose, NDP and Liberals, who put political differences aside and came together to bring our fight to the legislature. We thank the AUPE, who walked hand in hand with the families of Michener. We thank the City of Red Deer, the Red Deer Public School Board, numerous union locals, and towns that wrote letters of support. We thank 30,000 Albertans who signed our petition and posted signs on their lawns. We thank the Red Deer Advocate, whose consistent coverage kept our struggle in the public eye. We thank the various columnists who challenged the government with a logic and reasoning that was difficult for any government to dismiss. We need to thank as well, Ms. Jablonski. Like many of you, I was disappointed with the initial stand Mary Anne took when the announcement of closure was made, but we must remind ourselves, that it was Mary Anne that took a courageous step and presented our petition on the floor of the legislature. At that point, Mary Anne stood alone within her caucus and she began the process of speaking on our behalf. Her efforts contributed greatly to our success. As you can see, our success was the result of many hands and many minds. Each of us should be proud of the part we each played—truly a memory to be cherished for years to come. The question now becomes, where do we go from here? Today, we have only a promise from Mr. Prentice that Michener will remain open. I am willing to take Mr. Prentice as a man of his word, but words are not enough. Remember, the same bureaucrats are in the same position of authority as they were prior to the announcement. I doubt very much that their ideological preferences have changed. We must therefore remain alert until we see that Mr. Prentice’s words are put into action. Now, more than ever, is the need to have a strong body in place to speak for the concerns of the families of Michener. Now, more then ever, is the need for the Society of Parents and Friends of Michener Centre. I ask each and everyone of you to consider taking a position on the board of this society. As you are aware, I will be stepping aside as president. As much as I hold dearly the families of Michener, it is time for a new president. To ease in the transition, I am willing to remain with the new board until such time as things are brought up to speed. Should you wish your name to come forward, please contact me prior to the AGM. Many people have asked if the AGM is to be a meeting or a celebration? As much as I would like Saturday’s meeting to be only a celebration, there is a need to address the bylaws of the Society. As such, we are required to hear from the auditor as to where we stand financially, and there is a need to elect a new board. As well, a representative of PDD has been asked to attend, to provide an outline as to how the forthcoming changes will proceed. We are still waiting for confirmation that a PDD representative will attend. Once this bit of housekeeping has been addressed, we can all relax and reflect on our success. Although early in the planning stages, there is talk of a celebration to mark the occasion of our victory. Because so many people were part of this campaign, it is only appropriate that a something is held to acknowledge and thank those who contributed. Information on this will be shortly forthcoming and hopefully details will be announced at the AGM. In conclusion, I wish to thank everyone for their support and strength. No longer will I have to encourage everyone to “stay strong”—it is evident that we are! Take care and I look forward to seeing everyone on 27th. B.
Posted on: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 22:18:41 +0000
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