In Their Own Words: Here's Why You Should Vote for Park Board Candidate Sherry O'Berry

Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning. – Ben Franklin

I would be honored to be part of the team that helps to make the Geneva Park District in the top 5 percent of the nation. It is not an individual effort. On the contrary, it is a cooperative, collaborative, team effort that makes a park district a success.  

I am confident that with my teaching, coaching, PTO committee chairman and PTO vice president experience, along with a new perspective, that I will be able help the Park District grow and progress, improve and achieve even greater success.

I have been fortunate enough to call Geneva my home for almost 20 years. I am eager to use my teaching background, parenting experience and community service to serve as a new Park Board commissioner.

Some new visions I have include providing more programs for the middle-school-aged children. Such Park District programs would target this group of children and provide them with the opportunity to make new friends, which is crucial for this particular age group.  

Another way to engage this age group would be to develop a relationship with the Geneva Middle Schools and provide school-related programs. Something that could be investigated is the possibility of using Peck Farm to develop a Middle School garden for science classes or even a weather class.

In addition to inter-governmental relationships, I want to develop new relationships with private and public funding sources in an effort to generate additional financial support for any future endeavors.

By continuing to work with other governmental agencies and by sharing resources, the Geneva Park District can continue to deliver services to the community proficiently and in a fiscally responsible manner. As a Park Board commissioner, I would work hard to maintain program and facility quality while exercising fiscal responsibility.

Change is inevitable; change is growth, and I am confident that with my fresh perspective I would be an asset to the Geneva Park District. I am committed to respond to the needs and requests of the community while exploring resourceful and responsible ways to fund and implement such requests.  

I am confident my leadership roles along with my community involvement, provides me with a well-rounded background to serve as  your new Park Board commissioner.

Editor's note: Geneva Patch invited candidates in contested races for Park Board, City Council and School Board to write their own autobiographical introductions and final essays. You can read them all in the Elections 2011 tab at the top of the home page.