FUND RAISING AND RIVER WATCHING

Arena Park in Cape Girardeau was alive with activity this weekend. More than 250 people helped raise money to fight multiple sclerosis by participating in the 2001 MS Walk, which took place on the hiking and biking trail that snakes through the park. Meanwhile, at the A.C. Brase Arena Building, a fund raiser for the Community Counseling Center attracted about 500 people to a Family Fun Fair.

The weather could not have been more pleasant, and the air pulsated with band music and laughter and the squeak of stroller wheels. After I stopped at both events, I wandered down to the river, where towboats and trains seemed to be playing in the sun. Maybe there just seemed to be more than usual because I sat there longer than usual, but three trains, with horns echoing across the river, and four towboats passed during the time. Watching the boats churn muddy water into grand wakes remains a favorite pastime of mine.

There's something humbling and healing and exhilarating about looking upon the river. Its vast permanency and unceasing pace make problems seem small in comparison. There, too, it's easy for joy to rise with the flight of a hawk or by deciphering the shape of a cloud. Or just by listening to the echoes. God's creations have such power.

Spirit Awards

Last week at a dinner at Drury Lodge, the Areawide United Way honored a person, a business and an organization with Spirit Awards. It's the first time the group has bestowed such honors, and all three recipients earned them for impressive and inspiring service.

Harry Rediger received the Spirit of Giving Award, and as he rose to accept it, the crowd stood with him. The respect -- and affection -- felt by all those in the room toward Rediger for the thousands of hours he has given to not-for-profit organizations, civic clubs, hospital and school boards, city and county planning groups, university committees and the United Way was palpable. Twenty-five years ago Rediger moved to Cape Girardeau planning to stay for three years. How blessed the city and area have been that he made this his home.

The Spirit of Community Award was presented to Procter & Gamble for its and its employees' generous support of United Way and the well-being of the community. The company's employees raised more than $162,000 in 2000, while corporate giving topped $85,650. The more than $240,000 to the United Way represents only a fraction of what the company gave overall to worthy causes in the area.

The first-ever Spirit of Caring Award was bestowed to Mary Burton and the American Red Cross in recognition of that group's service to the community as a United Way agency. In introducing the winner, KFVS's Dave Courvoisier, who served as able host for the event, said: "At the head of any successful effort you will find a great leader. This year's recipient agency is no different. You will not find anyone who works harder, has more passion for her work or watches the bottom line more carefully." A standing ovation greeted Burton as she accepted the award on behalf of the Red Cross.

The guest speaker for the event was Quentin Wilson, cabinet director for Gov. Bob Holden. Wilson talked about the governor's plan to create "one bright future" for all the citizens of the state by everyone working together on health, education, economic and public sector issues.

But the main attention of the evening was toward the award recipients and the annual report of the United Way. Director Nancy Jernigan closed the evening with thanks to her staff, current board president Narvol Randol Jr., fund-raising chairman for 2000 Kevin Govero, and all those in the community who help the organization secure resources for those in need.

Governor's poor decision

I had the honor of picking up the United Way dinner speaker Quentin Wilson at the airport. Wilson is a personable man with an impressive resume of accomplishment and awards within and outside government. As a former state director of revenue, he has visited this area on more than one occasion and still charts economic development here. In the drive to the meeting, Wilson said he tries to avoid the political limelight as director of the governor's cabinet so he can focus on policy and operations.

It's a shame that someone who speaks so eloquently about teamwork, as Wilson did at the United Way dinner, didn't have a say in Holden's decision to play political games with the appointment of the state's redistricting committee. Instead of seeking a fair representation to enhance teamwork, Holden selected a Republican state legislator who had already expressed his intention not to serve in the redistricting capacity. The governor's action potentially gives his party a numerical advantage on the committee, which by state constitution must be equally bipartisan.

There were several alternatives available to the governor, but he chose the one most disrespectful of those he seeks to work with, all for a tactical gain that is (because of the voting super-majorities required in the redistricting committee) meaningless in the end. That's a shame, because his short-sighted decision wastes time, tears down bridges and draws into question the motives of the governor's actions and words in other areas.

Every now and then the government officials who care passionately about policy and operations should tell the political strategists of both parties to shelve their games and grow up. It's too bad Holden didn't say that himself.

Jon K. Rust is co-president of Rust Communications.