[Winona Online Democracy]
What is it exactly that people are looking for when they complain that
Winona is not a friendly town? Do we expect to move into a new town and
instantly have a dozen people ask us to lunch and become our new best
friend? Relationships in any town take time, years perhaps, but if after a
few years you have no friends, then perhaps it is time to look within?
We've lived in the Twin Cities, Rochester and Winona- I like Winona best
(except for the lack of variety in restaurants, that really bums me out)
I've found clerks, shopkeepers, and waitstaff all very friendly. We've
lived in town and in Pickwick and found both sets of neighbors to be very
nice. I don't know what people are looking for to be accepted as a
"townie"- is there a secret club I don't know about? Almost all of our
friends are transplants, and we all seem happy with each other. Maybe
having always been a transplant I don't know what I'm missing- can someone
explain?
Cherisa Templeton
By the way, I know part of the reason I've acclimated well, is that I am a
white, Minnesota native. I would believe that a person of color would have
a more difficult time "fitting in" in any smaller Minnesota town.
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Subject: [Winona] newcomer-friendliness
>Date: Tue, 10 Oct 2000 08:53:20 -0500
>
>[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.
> >Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or
>unsubscribe.
> >Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
> >Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
> >Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
>
>
>----------------
>This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
>Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe.
>Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
>Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
>Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.
Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at
http://profiles.msn.com.
----------------
This message was posted to the Winona Online Democracy Project.
Please visit http://onlinedemocracy.winona.org to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Please sign all messages posted to this list with your actual name.
Posting of commercial solicitations is not allowed on this list.
Report problems to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
