Don't let negatism discourage volunteering

July 02, 2007
Dave Uphoff You have probably noticed that there are quite a few comments made on recent news articles and city council meetings published on this website. This new feature allows those who are reluctant to back their comments with their name in the email section to submit anonymous comments instead. This feature has been added to newspaper websites in the area such as the Pantagraph and the Peoria Journal Star.

The news article about the Fourth of July events elicited many comments, some negative and some positive. I stopped printing comments on the Fourth of July events because some of my viewers told me that the negative comments discourages the members of the Fourth of July committee and may discourage future participation on the committee.

While my intentions for allowing anonymous comments were to provide feedback both good and bad on any given subject, I certainly do not want to be blamed for discouraging volunteering in our community. Volunteering is the life blood of any small community and helps make the community a better place to live.

One thing that volunteers should realize is that every community has its negative people. Their are two types of people in this world - givers and takers. The more givers we have the better community we have. Those who complain are usually the ones who will never volunteer to do anything and act as if the rest of the community exist to serve them - sort of like an entitlement. I think most people understand that and take the complainers with a grain of salt. Nevertheless, negative feedback on a topic is sometimes helpful and informative. For example, the negative feedback about Minonk not having a carnival for the Fourth was probably a legitimate complaint. But there also is a legitimate reply as to why Minonk does not have a carnival. Carnivals are in big demand during the Fourth of July and only the larger communities can afford to pay what carnivals demand during that time period. The City of Lexington, Illinois canceled the carnival for their annual celebration for the first time in 85 years because they could not guarantee the carnival the minimum revenue required.

The comment about the teen dance scheduled for the Fourth being unnecessary was totally without merit and the commentator sounds like a habitual complainer. Volunteers on any committee should not let these negative comments discourage them.

Years ago Minonk's Fourth of July celebration consisted of a one day event with a parade in the morning, games and food at the Westside Park during the afternoon, and fireworks at night at the old High School athletic field. Naysayers probably forget that the Fourth of July festivities has since been expanded to a several days event with the addition of many more events too numerous to mention here.

All communities have their complainers as well as their doers. That is a fact of life and should not discourage volunteers. The vast majority of the people in this community appreciate the hard work put forth by those who plan and run our Fourth of July celebration.

I hope everyone gets out and enjoys the Fourth of July festivities organized by this years Fourth of July committee. If you see a member of the Fourth of July committee, tell them how much you appreciate the effort they put forth each year to keep the Minonk Fourth of July celebration a tradition.

Finally, I noticed that the Pantagraph again snubbed Minonk when it listed the July 4th activities for all the area communities except Minonk. Nothing new there.

To reply to this editorial please send your comments to

Your letter will be published in the email section. Viewers are welcome to submit a guest editorial.

                                                             Viewer comments on this editorial

dunk tank, pig or pie wrote on 7/3/2007 at 17:15:30

great ideas! sell raffle tickets to see who gets to throw the pie! do this 2 hours before fireworks during the "family entertainment" at suttons park. should draw a big crowd. personally i would spend a fortune on raffle tickets for the honor of smashing a pie in the face of some in town! i'm sure there are others like me who would love that too.

Just Wondering wrote on 7/3/2007 at 13:20:01

I do appreciate all the work every volunteer puts in to our Fourth of July celebration. To all of you "Thank You". I believe for our small town we have a great celebration. I was just wondering, what about going back to just one day of activities and not having several days. Would that help a bit for the volunteers?

Retired 4th Volunteer wrote on 7/3/2007 at 08:12:44

If people only knew the hard work & dedication these people put into the events. They pretty much sacrifice their own time from family & friends to make sure everyone in the community enjoys the 4th celebration. And they do it because they want too and to see all the families, kids & Minonk visitors enjoying the events and the community. And believe me when the night of the fireworks come and you see everyone out at Suttons Park and miles around enjoying what I would call the best fireworks in Central Illinois. It makes you feel good to be a volunteer.

Chris J. wrote on 7/2/2007 at 23:30:48

After reading the comment by "MeMyselfandI" I think the dunk tank is a GREAT idea! I'm sure quite a bit of money (and fun) would be made there! While I don't have time to serve on a committee, I do have an idea for next year. Maybe have a pig kissing contest, or a pie-in-the-face event like in old-time fairs! People could nominate others via the internet (here) or through the newspaper. Then, place voting cans at Pops or Filger Library and charge .50 or 1.00 per vote, with the highest number of $ being the "lucky" winner..... hahahaha, now that would be great now wouldn't it?

Pantagraph wrote on 7/3/2007 at 05:07:27

Bloomington/ Normal are just jealous of our fireworks.

MeMyselfandI wrote on 7/2/2007 at 20:12:45

We have been in Minonk for 5 years now, and for 5 years we have LOVED the 4th of July celebrations. I think the 4th of July Committee does one heck of a job. For a fact, we have had family from out of town come and join us for the past 3 years, and are comming again this year. To those who complain about it, and do not like it, go somewhere else. As for me and my family, we are staying and will contine to support the Fourth of July Committee. (Any chance on getting a dunk tank to put the complainers in :D) Keep up the good work.

Submit your comments

 All comments are reviewed for inappropriate language before being published. Your name is optional. Click here to review the guidelines for submitting comments.

Name or Identifier:  
Comments: