Citizen Involvement: A Dublin Hallmark

One of the characteristics that makes Dublin unique and desirable for living and doing business in is residents’ commitment to being involved in all aspects of our community.

Civic engagement is one of the strategic areas of focus for Dublin City Council. The goal is to create an environment for the active engagement of residents and community stakeholders by:

·       promoting proactive and ongoing communication

·       providing opportunities for citizens to use their talents and skills to benefit the community

·       encouraging citizen education and interactions with the City and other organizations to foster pride and ownership in the community.

“Our community involvement program is geared toward building relationships with our citizens. It’s about citizen engagement and celebrating the Dublin residents, not just about being task-doers or how many widgets we produce at the end of a day. Our goal is to help people connect with the community by participating in personal and meaningful ways,” said Christine Nardecchia, volunteer administrator for the City.

Dublin encourages citizen involvement for all ages from toddlers to seniors, Nardecchia said, adding that the City currently has several active volunteers in their 90s.

Facilitating the involvement of the youth of the community has been a longtime focus of the volunteer program. In the late 1990s, the City introduced the Dublin Teen Corps. The program provides Dublin high school sophomores, juniors and seniors the opportunity to participate in a unique summer experience combining local government learning with service to others. 

Dublin Teen Corps participants benefit from hands-on learning about Dublin’s form of government as well as government careers and processes. Each member serves as a volunteer in offices, agencies or summer children’s camps. The students choose group service projects and meet throughout the year to discuss community ideas and initiatives as they relate to youth and youth engagement with government. 

Dublin has a growing population of senior citizens who are active, have been in the community for many years and, as they retire, have more time for civic engagement. The City offers a variety of programs designed to involve this important population in the community.

Another focus of citizen involvement has been building diversity, engaging our international residents and addressing the needs and interests of demographic populations in various aspects of the community.

“Our youth program has great diversity and reflects the population of our schools and the community,” Nardecchia said. “If you take a demographic slice of our community, you can see who is serving. It’s very exciting to see the involvement of our Indian, Chinese, Russian, Japanese and other populations in so many community programs and groups.”

She added that working with diverse populations means being sensitive, respectful and understanding of many cultural nuances and differences.

“We celebrate the Dublin citizens and seek feedback from the community to keep our fingers on the pulse of what we need to do to provide the community involvement experiences our residents want,” Nardecchia said.

For information and opportunities for community involvement, visit www.dublin.oh.us/volunteer or contact Volunteer Resources at (614) 410-4400.

Serving others motivates Finns to be involved in Dublin

Jim and Leslie Finn are longtime community volunteers and familiar faces at the Dublin Irish Festival’s Emerald Club, where they have coordinated hospitality for the past five years. 

This year, the Finns have a different role in the Irish Festival: They are serving as the 2011 Honorary Chairs, an opportunity that came as a surprise to them.

“We were shocked and very delighted all at the same time,” Leslie explained about the couple’s reaction when they were told about the honor. “It is humbling to be chosen as Honorary Chairs. We love the work we have done for the Irish Festival. We didn’t do it to be recognized – it’s fun and it’s gratifying to see the Festival grow every year.”

For Jim and Leslie, community involvement is a regular part of life, dating back to when their sons were in the Dublin City Schools and sports with Dublin Youth Athletics. Jim got involved in coaching in DYA, and Leslie was a teacher at Riverside Elementary School.

“We met so many people through DYA and the schools, and that was the beginning of our community involvement. It’s really important for residents to get involved, whether it’s through schools, government or civic organizations and clubs like Kiwanis and Rotary to help their community grow,” Jim said.

In addition to serving on the Dublin Irish Festival Advisory Board and volunteering on a regular basis at the City of Dublin St. Patrick’s Day and Independence Day parades, the Finns are active with the Arthritis Foundation-Central Ohio Chapter. Jim was the 2010 recipient of the Foundation’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership on the Foundation board and his passionate volunteerism on behalf of the organization. Leslie received the 2006 Office Volunteer of the Year Award from the Foundation.

The Finns were selected as Honorary Chairs based on their involvement in the City of Dublin and the central Ohio community, as well as their leadership in the Dublin Irish Festival, by former Dublin Irish Festival Honorary Chairs, Dublin Mayor Tim Lecklider and City Manager Marsha Grigsby.

As Honorary Chairs, the Finns will preside over the 24th annual Dublin Irish Festival, Aug. 5-7, serving as official spokespersons for the Festival and officials hosts of the Emerald Club.

2011 Dublin Irish Festival

            Friday, August 5           4 p.m. to Midnight

            Saturday, August 6        11 a.m. to Midnight

            Sunday, August 7          11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For information, volunteer opportunities and tickets, visit www.dublinirishfestival.org .

Sherman gives back through City boards, commissions

Ask Bill Sherman why he has served on a variety of Dublin boards, commissions and civic groups over the past 20 years, and he’ll give you a simple answer.

“It’s the best way I know to give back to a community that has done so much for my family,” he said.

Sherman’s community involvement began on the Tree and Landscape Advisory Commission in the late 1980s. The groundwork laid by Sherman and others in the early days of the commission is evident today in the large number of “landmark trees” that have been preserved in Dublin.

A retired registered landscape architect for District 6 of the Ohio Department of Transportation, Bill got involved in the commission through business dealings with Dublin City Council Member John Reiner.

“I was asked to attend a brainstorm session with City Council because I had concerns about the many significant trees we had in Dublin based on my experience with ODOT having to move trees during road construction,” he explained.

The group established criteria for the size of the trunk and other characteristics to save trees.

“When we started out, we used older Boy Scouts and other groups to help us locate the trees. I recently participated in Leadership Dublin and learned that now the (landmark tree) program uses a GPS system to identify the trees. I’m very proud of that program and how it has been maintained and expanded by the City,” Sherman said.

Sherman credits the City staff for taking the ideas that come from community boards and commissions, developing plans and implementing them.

“We have a great quality of life here in Dublin because our leaders were and continue to be visionary. They were thinking ahead at the beginning of our community development, and it’s always been surprising to me how many ideas and concepts we discuss at commission meetings are taken and implemented by staff,” he said.

“Council is proud and appreciative of the excellent work and service performed by our boards and commissions. The residents who serve in this capacity provide invaluable insight, creativity and advice,” said Amy Salay, vice mayor and Administrative Committee chair. “Council truly relies on their ideas to provide us with guidance and the citizen perspective that often lead to the development of new community policies and programs.”

Sherman currently serves on the Dublin Community Services Advisory Commission. He also served on the City’s Board of Zoning Appeals and is a past president of Dublin Kiwanis and a 2006 graduate of Leadership Dublin.

Sherman encourages residents to look at their careers and their interests to find a good fit for community involvement activities.

“You can go to the City website for an official list of boards and commissions, but don’t forget our churches, civic clubs and other community groups. There are always opportunities at service clubs to get involved, and that’s what makes Dublin a great place to live,” he said.

 

Dublin Opens Hearts to Japanese Community

Dublin has many connections to Japanese business and culture.  In the aftermath of the earthquake and devastation in Japan, the community has responded in overwhelming ways to the needs of the Japanese people.

The City is partnering with the Institute for Japanese Studies at The Ohio State University along with Dublin City Schools, Dublin Baptist Church and other groups to plan and implement activities geared toward helping the relief effort and supporting members of our community with family and business connections to Japan.  For additional information, visit http://japan.osu.edu.

Field of Honor 9.11.11

A solemn tribute to the 3,000 victims who died on this tragic and historic day, Dublin’s Field of Honor will display 3,000 full-size flags standing 8 feet tall in perfect rows from Saturday, Sept. 10 through Monday, Sept. 12 at the Dublin Coffman High School practice field across from Cardinal Health on Emerald Parkway.

Join us to be part of this collaborative community tribute. Be a sponsor. Volunteer. Buy a Flag. www.DublinFieldofHonor.org