I am a master at dedication. Over the years I have dedicated myself to performing major feats. Raising three children on my own. Coordinating a summer culture camp. Planning a secret anniversary party for my parents with my sisters, where practically the whole town was invited, and it remained a secret. Many, many feats. So this morning, when I still have over 100 chocolates to dip, why am I sitting here procrastinating? I will be mad at myself later when I am running around trying to get them packaged up. I will really be pissed when I’m trying to squeeze in time to make that homemade ginger ale. Why is it that I am a master at dedication and procrastination? And look at that fingerprint on the peppermint…guess I’ll just have to eat that one.
A community is nothing without the help of its community of citizens. In our small community of 4000, we have hundreds of volunteers who help make Unalaska a great place to live. We probably host about a dozen non-profit organizations who provide services ranging from art and culture to education and protection for victims of sexual assault and family violence. These organizations provide much needed services, at a cost much less than a governmental agency can provide. So when you are out and about, no matter where you live, think about volunteering for a non-profit. If you don’t think you have the time to serve as a director on a board, or don’t think you have the expertise to help provide actual services, think about donating something at the next non-profit fund raising event. Be involved. And if you are involved with a non-profit, remember to thank your volunteers and the community for the support. That’s what I’m busy doing this week. I sit on the Board of Directors for the Museum of the Aleutians. We are hosting our 6th Annual Chocolate Extravaganza. It is just a fun event we like to host for the community every year. It gets people out of the house in the dead of winter to mingle, taste a whole lot of chocolate, and, this year, to view a one night showing of the Museum’s acquisitions for the past year. So if you are ever in Unalaska in February, come join us for chocolate.
We have been enjoying our beautiful February weather over the past week or so. Mom and Dad say that they have always done a lot of boating in February because the weather always offers up a couple of weeks of beautiful, flat calm days with brilliant sunshine.
This past week has also shown another finest of Unalaska, besides its February weather. It has been an action-packed showcase of the generousity of Unalaskans, from the Channel 8 auction (with their awesome and hilarious soap opera, Dutch Harbor 99692 ), to the Ballyhoo Lions bowling, spilling over to the Museum of the Aleutian’s Chocolate Extravaganza, and ending up on Sunday with the Preschool Ice Cream Social. Where else but Unalaska, could you wear yourself out donating money to great public ideas in action? And having fun doing it?
A couple of my indispensable chocolate making tools.
I also wrapped up my segment for the Unangan Program at the elementary school. My last week with the cutest little first graders you will ever see, was a breeze after my previous week with almost 30 second graders! Not that the second graders weren’t cute…..there were just soooooooooooo many of them. Keeps you on your toes when you are working with hot oil.
Awesome journal-ing.
Suzi Golodoff now has five weeks with the students, teaching about our Aleutian feathered friends, and, last but not least – in fact, most importantly – Laresa Syverson will give 5 weeks of her afternoons in the pursuit of passing on Unangam tunuu (the Aleut language) to a generation younger than her!
Unalaska From My Point of View 
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