By, Abe Baily

The upcoming annual dinner for "Friends of Work Training Center" got me to thinking about who our "friends" are. Given a definition of "friend" that has at least the "respect," "trust," "affection for," and "desire to spend time with" elements aren't there a very goodly number of folks in this area who are friends? Of any of our groups? Of the North Valley Community Foundation? The beauty of the English language coupled with the openness of mind you hope for in a friend enables the inclusion as friends many who are perhaps labeled differently. Colleague, fellow worker, client, supplier, neighbor, family member, employee, manager, agency head, donor, caterer, journalist, physician, attorney, are just a few of the terms which, in the North Valley, could easily also be friends. For many, even most, who I’ve met in almost four decades in this beautiful part of the world, just about anyone they meet is a potential friend and treated as such.

Often, we may believe that because we are very busy, and we perceive that others are very busy, that the outreach to a friend would not be appreciated, maybe would even be annoying. Of course that is possible, but if my experience is any guide, the odds are that your overture will be appreciated and be felt as confirming that we are in this “community” together, trying to maintain and honor its history and blessings and work to make it even better for all our existing and future friends.

Abe Baily, Vice President, Board of Directors, Work Training Center