Offseason Presents Social Justice Challenge to SLI Community

For those who plan the programs and special events for the July-August Season each year, there is little time for anything else besides the details of their responsibility. For other members of the SLI community, September through February becomes more of a time of introspection because the program advertising has ceased and the local Blog emphasis in the September through February time slot also turns more toward year-round life at the SLI. During this time period, and with weather forecasts and seasonal photos of the SLI grounds, there have been such articles as the location of school bus stops in the Institute, the two different speed limits that used to be on Perry Ave., children playing unrestricted in the streets, and informal talk of enjoying the community without the regular presence of "the Board" and its monthly decisions.

As for me and a few others, we miss the friends who have returned to their winter homes and miss the busy-ness of the Institute when it's on its July-August mission, along with the Charcoal Corral for a delicious meal, or even just for ice cream. The extra hours of darkness doesn't help with the sense of emptiness that accompanies this 8-month lack of exuberance. This year, the mid-winter "Survivors' Lunch" at least gives us something for which to look forward in the not-too-distant future. The new Bible or Faith Study may also help in extending the feelings from emptiness to fulfillment.

Not a Demand / Not a Recommendation;
Just an Old-Fashioned Observation

Since this is the time of year when the local SLI community is more tuned in to the slow time of the year--a time long before the new onset of the advertising of 2018 summer programs--it seemed logical for those of us remaining on the grounds to give ear to those rarely heard from during the busy times of the year. Many of these folks are not leadership-type people, but folks more inclined to ask questions than to make recommendations. Their questions are not usually well received by those in charge of an agenda, and trying to keep things moving along, because they are heard more as criticisms and challenges than as the questions they were intended to be. Consequently the responses they receive to their questions are more designed to cut them off or to shut down what are heard as criticism-for-the-sake-of-criticism. Most of it is a lack of communication, inability to perceive intentions  or understand one another, and a possible lack of patience in not really wanting to try.

The Silver Lake Institute used to be held together by a strong religious dynamic where most things were judged by religious or Biblical standards. The dynamic, however, began to change around the turn of the century--not this past one, but the one before--1900. That was the time of the foreclosures brought about by the so-called "Cleveland Depression" which spread far and wide. The Institute was profoundly effected and nearly lost its properties until rescued by people like John Stoody. Rescue, however, enabled a significant number of persons to become "members" of the community without any commitment to its ideals or religious beliefs. This began a basic split in the community which continues to this day, though some continue to ignore or even deny it exists. Those on the receiving end of power and influence do not need to be reminded.

The years of 2017-2019 should be the years that goes down in Silver Lake Institute history as the years of the Social Justice emphasis beginning with the filling of the boat for children in need of hygienic care products. The collection was a grand success! It was more than just that wonderful emphasis on giving, it was also a theme of the summer and was picked up by the Worship Committee and could be heard referenced through many of the talks and sermons given by the guest speakers this year including Dr. William Russell on Silver Lake Experience Sunday, August 13th.

The Institute is fully a social entity. This social enclave is based on a system of government known as a Board of Trustees elected from within the community of property owners which are referred to as "members" in the charter. The system of government is one described in detail by NYS law. Part of that law states that once elected, Trustees are then on their own to elect officers, appoint committees, and enact rules that are beneficial to the welfare of the community. Although an elected Board of Trustees is responsible for leadership of this social entity, it should be noted that officers of the non-profit corporation are selected not by the electorate, but by the newly elected Board of Trustees. That puts the leadership one full step away from direct accountability to the electorate. That brings to mind, for some, our national Electoral College.

Just as some national voters have abandoned the political exercise of their vote because of the Electoral College Affect, some have abandoned the political exercise of their vote on an Institute level because of the inability to directly elect the leaders for their community. For some persons, the selection process of leaders needs more transparency; they say it often appears as though it has been previously determined before any of the voting Trustees arrive at the meeting. One only hears this if one is listening. 

Another thing I learned from listening was that of the basic election of the Trustees. Folks are accustomed to casting an individual ballot on a regular political election day, for the candidates of their choice. No one ever walks into the polling place and calls out, "It appears that everyone here is in favor of the Republican candidates, so let's ask the voting examiners to cast one ballot for the entire slate of Republican candidates so we can wrap this up right away." One wouldn't dream of it happening there, yet it happens all the time in Trustee elections. Without a ballot, there are some folks who feel they haven't voted at all. Although it is tempting to call this a trivial matter, to those with strong feelings it is no trivial matter indeed. One only hears this if one is listening.

Last example. Even I wasn't listening for this one. I was in favor of the "Orientation/Welcome Meeting" based on the fact it would provide more assurance that prospective home buyers within the Institute grounds would have maximum opportunity to understand what the Institute is and what the expectations are (such as taxes, involvement, etc.) before they purchase. It might be irrelevant now, but I didn't listen to hear that there were those who felt as though it was an action which would take away their right to sell to the first interested customer who came along with the right amount of cash. Not only that, but it would interrupt and delay a normal sale while this "meeting" was set up and accomplished, or might even invalidate the sale altogether. I only began to listen after the fact; but now I at least know because I was willing to give a voice to those wishing to be heard.

There are many different forms of social justice issues and our little social enclave is filled with social dynamics whether or not we elect to listen.