Surprise Community Pride Day
June 25, 2008
I recieved a phone call yesterday from a resident who wished to express her appreciation for the city’s implementation of the Surprise Community Pride Day. Connie Brisson was the leader for Team 20 and without her this day would not have been a success. In fact without Annette McCraw who had the vision, without Jeanne Stockard and Wayne Tuttle who showed the initiative in Mountain Vista Ranch, without Christina Ramirez and her organization of the days activities, without Stephanie Wilson, Brenda Hearty, Lou Provenzano, Deb Kotila, Chic Sullivan, Joe and the CRS staff, Marla Babb, Nancy Collins, Ken and Sally Chapman, Brent Bernier, Jack Rasor and Westcor, Jeanne Blackman and APS, David Lewis, Mayor Truitt (who’s got the battle scars to prove his contribution), Councilman Alton (who realized just how hot it got in Arizona), Councilman Villaneuva, Carescape landscapers, Agave landscapers, DLC landscapers, Parkway Christian Church, David McGrew and Chick-fil-a, Dan and Denny’s, Chief White, Julie Moore and the Surprise Firefighters Association, Chief Hughes(who was at the stadium before the sun came up!) and PD, Tony Lombardo and the Republic, Matt Loeschman and the Independant, Ken Lynch and the Communications department, Charles Ramer and Public Works, Community Initiatives, Marley Park, Vince and EmbroideMe, Kirk and Al at Over Coffee, and without the hundreds of other residents this would not have been the success it turned out to be.
Connie told me she would be driving by those homes frequently to keep an eye out. She said it was because she has a small sense of ownership towards those properties. That’s what it was all about; Community Pride, Hometown Pride, and breaking out of our comfort zone on our street or in our HOA, and calling the City of Surprise our home!
There were some detractors to the days events. However, it is like I tell my kids when they argue with me in regards to cleaning up around the house, “But Dad, it’s not my mess,” my reply is always, “Yeah, but you live here.”
Hundreds agreed, job well done.
Connie told me she would be driving by those homes frequently to keep an eye out. She said it was because she has a small sense of ownership towards those properties. That’s what it was all about; Community Pride, Hometown Pride, and breaking out of our comfort zone on our street or in our HOA, and calling the City of Surprise our home!
There were some detractors to the days events. However, it is like I tell my kids when they argue with me in regards to cleaning up around the house, “But Dad, it’s not my mess,” my reply is always, “Yeah, but you live here.”
Hundreds agreed, job well done.
