| Live, learn, fulfill the Dream Dear Editor, July 9, 2007 will celebrate the one-year anniversary of the passing of my beloved son, Mike McKinney. I have met many of you who have shared with me your fond memories of Mike and his contributions to this community he loved and called home. You have shared with me issues Mike was passionate about, his desire to be a positive role model, his impact on the lives of so many people in this community and how much he was loved. You have shared how he used his position as a news media personality to raise community consciousness on critical social issues; inspiring people to act. I am so grateful to you for sharing these fond memories of my son. As we approach this one-year anniversary, I ask that you please join me in "Celebrating Mike's Dream" with a contribution to the Michael Harrington McKinney Scholarship Fund through the Madison Community Foundation. I pray that on this July 9, and succeeding anniversaries, you will be moved to keep his memory alive and "Celebrate Mike" with an annual contribution to the MHM scholarship fund. Through your continued contributions, you help ensure that Mike's memory, his energy, charisma, compassion, eloquence and passion will live on in many of our hearts forever. We ensure that his voice will never be silenced; that the ripple effect of his presence will flow through this community from generation to generation. As Mike would say, "Thank you, and until we meet again ... Take care of yourself." Barbara H. McKinney Mike's Mom (Contributions should be made to the Madison Community Foundation MHM Fund, 2 Science Court, PO Box 5010, Madison) Thanks to Johnny Winston Dear Editor, I thank Johnny Winston, Jr. for acting as a responsible member of the School Board regarding the naming/re-naming process of the new Elementary School. It is quite evident that fiscal responsibility, facilitating goodwill throughout the entire community, and maintaining the integrity of the School Board and your own, means more to you than giving the impression of not being able to make a decision and stand by it. All of the contentions of the rest of the School Board Members -- that the correct procedure was followed -- in light of their inability to stand their ground truly raises TRUST issues, which were not evident in the past. Hopefully, as a senior member of the Board and its former President, you can help restore the community's sense of trust in the School Board, and its integrity. I realize that this is a tall request for one person; however you have shown yourself to be a true leader, so I beg you to try and rectify this Board generated situation so that the real issues associated with the education of our children that you have proven to be known for can be accomplished. Thanks again to Johnny Winston, Jr., a real example of a public servant. Deborah Ann Speckmann Madison |
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