To The Editor:
To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose…
I have enjoyed several seasons as Chair of the Board of Directors for Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. I came to the organization many seasons ago, in fact, in the organization’s ‘spring’ when the seeds of our work had just been planted. It was May 2009, and the City of Westfield had just completed its Re-Thinking Downtown Westfield visioning and strategic planning sessions. Out of those conversations, the idea of a Friends group took root. The project had long been talked about; it simply needed a dedicated group of volunteers to nurture and cultivate it.
Summer arrived rather quickly. Before any of us knew it, there were many folks who had warmed to the idea of Westfield’s multi-modal path. We toiled at public meetings and tabling events throughout the community, speaking with anyone who would listen. We faced a few “summer storms,” dispelling myths from dissenters – some of whom eventually joined our cause and jumped in with both feet. Sometimes the most tumultuous storms reveal the brightest rainbows. Things really started heating up, and the pace of progress quickened, including successfully advocating for the installation of bicycle racks on southern Tier routes of PVTA, and the installation of Share the Road signs throughout Westfield. We even incorporated as an official 501©3, and held our first ever Tee It Up For the Rail Trail Golf Tournament, and Trail Mixer.
Fall in New England is perhaps the most beautiful time of year when our world becomes painted with a palate of vibrant colors and we see our surroundings with crisp clarity. So it has been for Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. For each of the nearly past three falls, we have dedicated one successive new section of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail (Phase I in October 2012; Phase II in October 2014, and, most recently, Phase III in October 2015). The completion of each of these phases has been thanks to the many countless hours of not just the Friends group, but of many of our friends at the local and state government levels – including elected and appointed officials. We have finally begun to see the harvest of fruit from seeds planted by many who came before us, and those who worked to bring us to this place and time.
All told, I have attended a total of 60 monthly board meetings; countless committee meetings; more than two dozen community tabling events (Westfield River Watershed Association, Noble 5K, Chamber of Commerce, Health Fairs, etc.); various public forums, hearings and information sessions; meetings of the City Council, Planning Board, Traffic Commission, and Legislative and Ordinance Committee to name a few; Chamber of Commerce breakfasts, After 5 networking sessions, and annual dinners; events sponsored by affiliate organizations, including Westfield on Weekends, the Greater Westfield YMCA, Stanley Park, Westfield State University, and others; numerous Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and MassDOT hearings and listening sessions; multiple training sessions, conferences, workshops and webinars on a variety of related subjects; and, most importantly, I have spent countless hours talking with individuals (families, friends and colleagues) about a subject that has become my passion.
After all of this – six years of excitement, progress, hard work, collaboration, and, yes, even a few disappointments – it is now winter, literally and figuratively. It is time to prepare for a new spring. With that in mind, I have been working with our Board of Directors over the past several months to plan for the organization’s future. I am pleased to share Joe Giffune, who has ably served as Vice Chair for the past four years has agreed to assume the role of Chair following my departure. Joe has been a tremendous asset to the organization, having served concurrently as Treasurer for the past two years.
Joe’s business acumen and his ability to think intuitively, analyze critically combined with his big picture view will serve the organization well in the coming years.
I will be stepping into a new role within the organization – that of Immediate Past Chair – in this new role I will serve as an advisor to both Joe, and to the Board. In short order you also will receive news of other changes, as well as some new additions to our Board of Directors. A new spring is not that far off.
As I move on from the role of Board Chair – a position I have loved, and have been both honored and humbled to steward, I would like to take a moment to acknowledge a few individuals who have shared my journey. First, a huge Thank You to Don Podolski who not only served as the organization’s inaugural Chair, but who truly embodies the spirit of our mission. Don has always been a trail blazer when it comes to advocating for the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians – on a local, state and national level, and from him, I have learned a great deal. So prolific is his dedication to the rights of bicyclists and pedestrians that, earlier this year, we recognized him for all of his years of educating, advocating, and leading with our inaugural Trail Blazer Award. In the future, the aware will be renamed The Don Podolski Trail Blazer Award.
Also deserving of my Thanks is Dr. Marijoan Bull. Dr. Bull has served for the past several years as our Director of Planning & Development. When I started this journey I knew nothing about design and/or accommodation standards, regional planning concepts, economic impacts and/or benefits, transportation issues, or theories related to place making. MJ’s patience and passion for her work, her students (she is a professor of Geography & Regional Planning at Westfield State University), and her fellow Board members, is a great strength. This, combined with her generosity of spirit serve the organization well. I am pleased to call her both colleague, and friend.
I must also say Thank You to Mark Cressotti, City Engineer. Mark has often described the work of the Friends group as the wind behind the sails for the Columbia Greenway. While this may be true, Mark has been in many ways, the captain of the ship, steering us along the path. Trust me when I tell you I have spent many an hour in meetings with Mark – some where we disagreed passionately but respectfully. At the end of the day, much of what has been accomplished in the City of Westfield over the past several years in terms of infrastructure building/rebuilding has been due to his vision – including the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail.
Thank You to the many other Board Members, Committee Members, Golf Tournament volunteers, Trail Adoptees for helping us throughout the many seasons of paving a path toward a bicycle and pedestrian friendly Westfield.
Finally, Thank You to all of you, our Friends and donors! The miles we have traveled and the seasons we have weathered have been all the more worthwhile because of your support and encouragement. I will always cherish our times together. It has been wonderful interacting with and knowing each of you.
Though my work with the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail will continue, albeit in a limited capacity, I know our paths will cross again. Keep blazing new trails!
Best regards,
Jeffrey J. LaValley
Chair, Board of Directors
