[Winona Online Democracy]
We have lived here for a little over 3 years. Maybe because of my job or
perhaps because of my association with other sports officials( I referee 4
high school sports) I have had no trouble with relationships. We previously
lived in the town I grew up in(pop. 800) and I probably have more good
friends here than I did at home.
One thing that I really like to do is play golf at Westfield without a
partner and play with whoever is out there. I have met more neat people
doing that.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Kranz [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2000 9:39 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: [Winona] newcomer-friendliness
>
> [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
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >----------------
> > >This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
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> >
> >
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> >
>
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