Letters to the Editor 11/21/2012

To the Editor:

I work every Thursday at the Kiwanis Food Bank along with a number of fellow Kiwanians and also a number of volunteers from the community. There is a lot of satisfaction doing service for others. I am sure anyone who works at the food bank in any capacity will tell you it is worth every minute we spend there. This community is amazing, and we have the best food bank anywhere.

Now the reason behind the letter: The Christmas season is almost upon us.

With the season comes a number of food drives for the Kiwanis Food Bank. All the food that comes in has to be weighed and sorted before it can actually be given away. When we sort we have to make sure the food isn't outdated. Since our food bank also receives food from the FDA, we are not allowed to give away any food in the food bank that is more than a year old. For example, anything dated before November 2011, always changing to a year back from whatever month it is. We can give food that is older than a year, but less than two years old, to the Bethlehem Inn.

Anything dated before this month two years ago, example November 2010, we have to throw away. I know that is such a waste, because I use food out of my own food storage dated before that, but we at the food bank are held in check by strict rules. So in donating to a food drive, check the date. Most products will have a "Best by" whatever year. If it doesn't have a date, we can't use it. If it has been opened, even if it is taped shut and in a plastic bag, we have to trash it. I sorted a grocery bag of canned goods last week that all but four cans went into the trash. I almost cried.

I want everyone who has supported the food bank in any way over the years to know what a difference you have made in so many lives. Without your support we could not do what we do. I know this Christmas Season will be as wonderful as all the ones in the past, because we live in the best community on earth.

An early Merry Christmas to everyone.

Shirley Lalli, Sisters Kiwanis Volunteer

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To the Editor:

In order to nurture an appreciation for reading and book ownership, SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) is currently reading with every kindergarten child enrolled at Sisters Elementary School.

I encourage anyone who has volunteer time available to volunteer for this program. It is rewarding to watch these youngsters write their names in the two books they receive each month, and enjoyable to interact with the children. This program takes place each Tuesday and Thursday, volunteers reading for one hour on one of these days.

An after-school program is offered for children grades 1-3 from 3 to 4 p.m., also Tuesday and Thursday.

Volunteer, and give these young students a memorable hour per week. Contact Deborah J. Olsen at 541-350-3857.

Steve Madsen

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To the Editor:

During the recent election, we were surfeited with cures for America's problems - more billions for the military so we can prove our strength to the world, cease the partisan bickering in our government and get back to governing, overhaul our electoral system to remove bigotry and corruption.

To me, it is much simpler and more basic: Overhaul our part-time education system!

First, eliminate tenure; install a system of merit raises based upon length of service and performance. Second, eliminate or reduce summer vacations. Instead of allowing 2-1/2 months for students to forget what they have learned (?) in the past 8-1/2, have full-time education. You expect to work full-time; why would you expect to learn part-time?

Third, and most important, since you are competing with labor for the "best and brightest," offer starting salary equal to (or improving upon) that offered by industry. Count upon higher salaries to attract and keep our county's best.

Merit raises should be in line with time and performance, as it would be in industry.

For those "sticks in the mud" who want no changes, let them move on and out. America is falling behind! Today, every country in the world is working full-time to surpass our country. We are encouraging a nation of young people who expect to live at home until they are "ready" to go to work.

Saving America is going to be a full-time job; it can't start with part-time education. Our new-era educators should be given the opportunity to solve the problems the politicians have failed to solve.

Russell B. Williams