[Winona Online Democracy]
My husband and I moved here in 1971. Someone mentioned there was an active
'Newcomers Club' during the 70's, and that perhaps it should be started
again. I hate to disillusion you . . . but, we never heard of it/from it!
We have lived here nearly 30 years . . . and feel we are still 'newcomers'
in the eyes of many. As Mr. Clayton said, > People joke that after 20 years
they're almost accepted as a "townie." THat would be us after nearly 30
years!
I have tried to find the reason for this . . . Once I was told that anyone
who "graduated from that University in Minneapolis" would always be an
outsider. But, maybe that isn't the problem. Perhaps it is our hyphenated
name. Or, perhaps it is because I am one of those dreaded public school
teachers. Or, maybe it is the prehistoric spores and fauna of the river
valley that some how create the old-new residental gap! Whatever it is . .
. I will probably look for a warmer community when I retire (not
necessarily a warmer climate)!
joanie heydt-nelson
Mime-Version: 1.0
>Date: Mon, 9 Oct 2000 09:11:25 -0600
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>From: Scott Lowery <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [Winona] newcomer-friendliness
>Sender: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Precedence: bulk
>
>[Winona Online Democracy]
>
>I have some experience with this one and want to share it with you. My wife
>(Connie Blackburn) and I moved to Rollingstone 7 years ago, with two kids
>in school, and both of us are involved in work that includes many community
>connections.
>
>Despite the unfortunate tone of self-pity in Ms. McKenzie's letter, I found
>that I had to agree with her general observations. Winona still feels to me
>like a tough place to make new friends, at least in these middle years of
>life. We've lived in two other small-to-middle-sized communities (Ellsworth
>WI and Barre MA) for shorter periods of time and felt notably more welcomed
>and appreciated as newcomers in both places.
>
>Not that we haven't found plenty of activities and organizations in which
>to become involved, or that either of us is moping around, waiting for the
>phone to ring. But I've heard it from MANY other "transplants"
>here--longtime Winonans (with many notable exceptions) seem pretty content
>with the social connections they already have.
>
>I can think of a couple of possible partial explanations. One would be the
>community associated with WSU and St. Mary's. My experience has been that
>people in "higher education" expect and accept a high degree of transience
>and in general may not be looking for new connections with people who don't
>tie in with their academic work and interests. Another factor could be the
>high value placed on self-reliance and family in our regional Bluff Country
>subculture.
>
>This seems to me to be a general sentiment or perception that is abundant
>enough to be of concern to those thinking about how to strengthen a healthy
>sense of community in the area. I've heard many of the same people who have
>shared this perception say that they will probably be looking at moving
>away from Winona some time in the middle future, let's say when the kids
>complete high school, or when they retire. That's a potential big loss for
>the whole community.
>
>Scott Lowery
>461 Sunnyview Drive, Rollingstone MN 55969
>home phone: (507)689-4532
>school phone: (507)453-3888
>home email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>school email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
>"You can fool too many of the people too much of the time." James Thurber
>
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