-Isms

Martin Luther King, Jr., said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

I was reminded of the quote during Sunday’s town hall meeting in Orchard.

The quote isn’t specific to our local communities. No, it’s a question worth asking no matter where you call home. But, the premise of King’s words - the notion that volunteering and making an impact in another person’s life - is what sticks out.

Sunday’s meeting reinforced the meaning. It’s one of the great things about living in rural America.

We volunteer. We show up. We help our neighbors when they need assistance.

It’s a trait I hope our society does not lose sight of.

If Orchard’s village board determines the town’s school building should be leased (or purchased) and converted into a multi-use facility, including a community center and home for village offices, it will take volunteers to fundraise, oversee event planning and implement the idea.

And, it will require residents utilize the structure and what it has to offer. Not a one-time use. No, we’ll need to invest for the long haul.

In the long run, it’s an investment worth taking. It’s an investment in community. It sends a strong message about rural life and rural work ethic.

For the past year, I’ve been reading ways other communities across the United States have converted former school buildings into workable spaces. In Pennsylvania, a school landed on the National Register of Historic Places and a local organization - volunteers - revamped the space into a museum.

In Holbrook, Nebraska, a local telephone company purchased the former school building. Eventually, a non-profit corporation was formed. Under the group’s guidance, the structure was renovated and turned into a business development center. In six years, Grow Nebraska was launched from the former Furnas County school building. It’s remains in existence.

In a small Iowa town, residents have an option to purchase a membership in the school-turned-fitness-center. Inside, residents use weight equipment, exercise bikes, a batting cage and pitching machine, video games or ping pong tables.

I’m sure most of us have witnessed a former school turned into housing. One of the neatest examples I’ve seen is in Stromsburg, where the town owns the main level and runs a community center. The second floor was remodeled and leased as housing.

I realize not every school-turned-house/apartment follows the Stromsburg example. I’ve also seen several communities whose old schools have fallen into disrepair. That’s unfortunate for everyone involved.

Some have been used for senior living facilities. Others have been gutted and house manufacturing firms.

A Massachusetts school serves as a location for a monthly flea market, drawing vendors and buyers from a multi-state region. What community wouldn’t want to see an influx of cash injected into its economy?

While several of the above-mentioned options require a commercial or non-profit investment, others can be profitable with help from a cadre of volunteers of all ages.

I’ll ask again. What are you doing for others and your community? Its future depends on you.