Published: April 18, 2009 08:28 pm      

Public Forum

Time to honor volunteers

National Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 19-25. 

Whatever your organization offers to the community and you have volunteers this is a special time to take a minute to thank your volunteers. A word of thanks, a hug, a handshake or a written note of thanks means so much to someone who gives of their time and effort no matter what their age. 

Pulaski County Human Services Inc. is pleased to have so many volunteers in our community. Each and every one of you makes a difference in the life of someone in our county.

Maurine Wilder, volunteer co-organizer of the Visually Impaired Persons Support Group, offers this: “One hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of house we lived in, how much money we had, nor what our clothes were like. But the world will be a little better because we were important in the lives of others.”



Jacki Frain, director

Pulaski County Human Services

Winamac

Familes deserve more information

The article about Superintendent Brock being escorted from the state hospital and replaced (Pharos-Tribune, April 11) was particularly upsetting to me as I’m sure it was to others. Those of us who have loved ones placed there for psychiatric care have reason to be concerned. Does the hospital think they can keep family members in the dark?

I think the families of these patients have a right to know exactly what’s going on. Would they rather we let our imaginations run wild with all kinds of thoughts? If he’s done wrong, let him face the music. It doesn’t mean we blame all those who are there caring for our loved ones, it just means they want to be open with us and the public with the truth. So, let Paul Brock take his lumps and be upfront and honest with your patients’ families. The silence will only cause more problems.



Leslie Ann Phillips

St. Paul, Va.

It’s important to have a will

As a Christian, I understand that my life is not my own to do with as I please, but rather is a precious gift from God to use for His glory. Therefore, I may see this issue a little different theologically, but practically it is the same for all of us. What is the purpose of a will? It is an avenue to be sure our assets are used as we feel they should be, after we are dead and gone for this world. A will is an excellent avenue to be sure your assets will accomplish good to those to whom you graciously leave them.

I think it is necessary to point out that no one is entitled to your assets. I have told my children, “If you are not in the will of God, then you are not in my will either.” If I leave assets to my children, church, city or university, it will be a gracious act of kindness and generosity. It would be extremely arrogant and self-centered for someone to think they were entitled to that which was entrusted to me.

A will is a wonderful way for me to continue good, whether through children, church, city, university or other means. It also allows me the freedom to exercise parameters, for which, I would like for my assets to function. It is comforting to know that the law will enforce those parameters and my wishes followed, ensuring that the good I seek to accomplish, can be. It would be extremely greedy and selfish for someone to accept a gracious gift from a will and use the gift contrary to the donor's wishers.

Without a will, one’s assets are left to the state to divide according to state guidelines and are subject to large fees. I believe this is not only a wasted opportunity to do good, but it is also irresponsible. If God has entrusted it to me, then I believe I am responsible as to how it should be used.

Down through the years, millions of dollars have produced much good long after an individual has died, just because someone was responsible enough to a have proper will. A will is our last act of stewardship on this earth! 



Tim Berlin, pastor

Hillcrest Baptist Church

Logansport

Gay couples have rights

I am personally in favor of gay marriages. I am offended that any straight couple can get married just because they are straight. They don’t have to know each other, just have to be straight. Meanwhile, I know several gay couples that have been together for years, yet their union is not recognized by the government which “serves” them. As a gay man, I am offended that straight couples have more rights than gay couples. It is very difficult to contribute to a society which treats me as a second-class citizen. If this issue was based upon race instead of orientation, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.



John Tucker

Logansport