A new theme for YMCA Annual Dinner: Southington, an exceptionally caring community!
(Featured in the photo from left to right, Sean Erwin, Rachael Fabian, Joe Rogus, Beth Smedick, and John Myers)
“If you ask for help in Southington, help is what you get,” Kelly Leppard said to the crowd at the YMCA’s 83rd Annual Meeting, held on February 4th, 2012 at the Aqua Turf in Southington. Kelly, STEPS Youth Prevention Coordinator, accepted the Reaching Out Award on behalf of the community coalition. This was a great honor for STEPS as well as for the town of Southington in that nothing can be achieved alone or without the support of the people in town.
Though the theme of the night was “Every Picture Tells a Story: The Sequel” the real theme became “Southington: A community that works together.”
The night was filled with individuals who, every day, make Southington a better place to live. STEPS congratulates the Unsung Hero Award winner Rachel Wache and the Person of the Year, Tony Sheffy. All three award winners of the night mentioned that their work could not have been possible without the help of the people in Southington for “you all are the real unsung heroes,” Rachel Wache said. “You guys are the ones who turn the wheel,” Tony Sheffy said, thanking his committee members.
The positive energy of the night, felt by everyone who attended the annual meeting began though, from two surprising speakers, two of the three Youth Leadership award winners Rachael Fabien and Sean Erwin, both leaders of the STEPS Youth Council.
Rachael, Vice-President of STEPS Youth Council, opened the night relating her experiences with STEPS as an opportunity to become a leader and be a positive influence in her community. “STEPS is a community effort that allows students like me to influence my peers to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, and I am so proud to be a part of it,” she expressed, quoting John Quincy Adams.
Sean Erwin spoke next, and asked everyone in the audience to stand and face the person to their right. Soon, everyone at their round tables was looking at the back of their neighbor. Sean explained that STEPS has taught him that a leader is also a follower, and a follower, must in turn, also be a leader. A leader, as he said, cannot be a leader unless he is listened to. And to be a follower, you must also accept the responsibility of leading by example for others around you. Leadership and following are ultimately one in the same, and the two work together to achieve a common goal.
After a night like the YMCA’s 83rd Annual Meeting, people walked to their cars reaffirmed that Southington is an exceptionally caring community filled with opportunity, insight, vision & action, with leaders and followers, and most importantly, people who care.
Joe Rogus, the third of the Youth Leadership Award winners and President of the STEPS Youth Council closed the night by quoting his father. He said that making a difference in the community, he knows he is just one person. But being a part of STEPS has shown him that he should never underestimate the huge impact a small action can have. “Just think, have you ever slept with a mosquito?”
*Photo Credit to The Record Journal