President's Message - Reflection and a Prospective
by Dan Wilhelm, MCCF President
I trust everyone has enjoyed the holiday season. This is a time when we look forward to spending time with loved ones and reflecting on what is truly important in life. And, of course, the New Year often brings resolutions about our priorities and about improvements and changes we would like to make in ourselves and in the world around us.
"The world around us" starts in our own backyard, and I hope some of you will consider making an effort to contribute to the betterment of our community. This can take many forms - PTA, service clubs or citizens associations, to name a few.
As a coalition of citizen associations, the Montgomery County Civic Federation's objective is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all current and future residents of the county. A large part of our effort is to monitor and evaluate activities of government to assure open, accountable, responsive and effective performance. Our major focus is on local government but we also at times focus on state government and occasionally on the federal government.
MCCF does not replace local neighborhood citizens, civic, or homeowners associations but complements them on issues that affect the broader community. Local associations handle issues such as specific development plans, sidewalks, neighborhood parks, minor changes to roads and transit and issues affecting local schools. Issues of a regional or county-wide nature are generally not effectively handled by local associations and that is where MCCF plays a role.
MCCF is composed of representatives from many local associations and other
groups who have come together to focus on
regional or county-wide issues. We may not all agree on all issues but we
develop a consensus and then present our position to and work with the government
to affect them. In many cases, our citizens view is different than that presented
by business/development interests, or other interests. All views have some
degree of validity and the government should strive for a blend of ideas.
Although MCCF may not achieve all it wants on a given issue, we make a difference.
The final result is certainly better than it would have been if our views
and perspectives had not been presented. MCCF has recently been involved in
issues such as better balancing the influence of all parties on the Council,
MPDU and affordable housing, transportation projects, and the "surplussing"
of school properties.
I thank all of you for supporting MCCF over the last year and urge you to continue your support during 2005. Get involved and help make a difference in your part of the world.
This Page Last Edited: January 1, 2005 .