With so much bad news being reported on the national news, the report today that the Great Bend Rotary Club has revived the Fishing and Wishing program was an especially nice lift. Not only does it signal that the efforts of the city to control the blue-green-algae problem of the past several years is working, it also provides a certain symbolism that the people of our city have positive feelings about sporting, our youth, and a lifestyle that makes Great Bend a great place to live.
We’ve all heard the saying that if you give a fish to a person, they will be hungry again tomorrow, but if you teach them to fish, they will never be hungry again. Providing stock, poles and tackle to allow our kids to have that opportunity shows faith in community and humanity, both ideals that Rotarians embrace.
It’s exciting to see Vets begin to recover from its ills and once return to a vital and vibrant part of our city’s recreational infrastructure. It’s taken a lot of time, money, and diligent work on the behalf of those who dedicate themselves to the maintenance of our public lands. We need to let them know how much we appreciate all they’ve done to make our home a nice place to live.