[Winona Online Democracy]
I first came to know Winona when I attended Winona State in the 80's. After
I graduated, my wife and were married and moved to the "big city". Several
years later we decided that we weren't happy with that lifestyle and set out
on a quest to find the best place for us to live. After visiting several
areas and compiling endless lists of what we wanted in a community, we
finally decided on Winona (after a year and a half of looking).
That was about two and half years ago and I have to say that we couldn't be
happier with the decision. I do detect a bit of the "outsider" mentality
from a very few people, but by and large everyone we've met has been very
friendly. We know all our neighbors, we've developed close friendships and
we're both very involved in the community.
Perhaps we've been lucky in the people we've met, but our experience has
been nothing but positive in getting to know the people of Winona and
becoming a part of the community.
-Steve Kranz
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 8:53 AM
Subject: [Winona] newcomer-friendliness
> [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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>
>
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