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Bainbridge Islanders,
For government to be successful, a healthy relationship must exist between the community and the government. This is the communal bond—a sense of collective identity and belonging. I like to think of the communal bond as a perpetual, never-ending barn raising: the City and the community working together to build something lasting. It’s a continuous process, always evolving.
An important subgroup of the community plays a key role in cultivating this bond: our volunteers. These are the individuals who serve on various City boards and commissions or generously give their time through direct volunteer work.
This week, the City Council hosted a reception at the Rowing Center in Waterfront Park to recognize and thank our volunteers. It was a small gesture of appreciation.
At the event, Councilmember Moriwaki shared a striking statistic: according to the U.S. Census Bureau, while 32 percent of Americans volunteer in some way, only 2 percent do so to help governments. We are fortunate to have such an engaged community.
Our largest group of volunteers—770 strong—are affiliated with Bainbridge Prepares and will be honored at a separate reception. This week’s event celebrated roughly 100 individuals who serve on City boards, commissions, or assist with volunteer tasks. Their roles range from standing and ad hoc committees to environmental monitoring, such as checking the condition of surface waterways.
Their work is deeply appreciated. The reception was a small thank-you—but sometimes, words just aren’t enough.
Best,
Blair King
City Manager
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