Defining character of Greene County
It is nearly impossible to identify exactly what defines the character of Greene County.
It is a county rich in natural resources, a county where the coal and gas industries contribute to a declining jobless rate. Its farms keep 4-H programs alive and healthy, and now we are seeing a renewed effort to spur more economic development and a commitment to finding solutions to a vital need – housing.
So many other factors go into defining this character. But there is one factor that, if it is absent, would allow no community to thrive. Of course, we are speaking of the people who want to do what is best in their community.
We saw evidence of this last week when Greene County Community Foundation, the central philanthropic vehicle in the county for donations of various types and sizes, recognized 14 graduates from its Community Builders program.
Community Builders provides training for people interested in volunteering time and talents to support Greene County nonprofit organizations. The nonprofit leadership program explores leadership, nonprofit governance, financial management and other areas. This series is geared to helping citizens become better volunteers with nonprofit organizations in the community, whether through activities such as serving on boards, volunteering on fundraising committees, or providing volunteer services.
Community Builders developed a low-cost training program to introduce potential leaders to basic leadership skills and community organizations.
Bettie Stammerjohn, executive director of the Community Foundation, put it this way: “Greene County has a network of community, civic and nonprofit organizations to provide social services, recreation, cultural and civic opportunities. Yet, there are a limited number of community leaders to serve these organizations, and many current leaders will retire in the next 10 years. In order to keep our community strong and growing, there is a need to build a new generation of community leaders, and provide opportunities for citizens to become engaged in their community.”
In addition to what we earlier identified as character-defining factors, we cannot ignore this nonprofit leadership program ranks very high on that list. As we said, a community, and in this case, a county, becomes as strong as the individuals who live and work in it.
The 14 graduates participating in the 11th leadership program represented a board spectrum of employment and service. Several organizations sponsored employees or board members to participate in the Community Builders series, including Community Action Southwest, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Greene Arc, Inc., Greene County Historical Society, Greene County Human Services, Monon Center, Prompt Quality Painting, SOAR of Greene County, Inc., and Southwestern Pennsylvania Area Agency on Aging.
We applaud the Community Foundation for operating such a program. And we salute the graduates who enrolled and finished the course.
These graduates and those who preceded them in past years will become better volunteers with nonprofit organizations in the community, whether it be through activities such as serving on nonprofit boards, volunteering on fundraising committees or providing volunteer services.
And by doing so, this program and its graduates have helped define the character of Greene County.