Nomination News

Moving On

2009-06-17T19:01:00.000-07:00

The election was over on May 12th - I didn't win...this time. Learned a lot, though. Hope I can remember and apply the learning when I need it. Have been working at sorting files and cleaning out papers, campaign brochures, post cards, etc. Trying to figure out what to keep and what to shred. Would it be good to keep 100 buttons? The party says the lawn signs are biodegradable so will figure out how to take them to the dump. I think it will be sad to see them there. Will try to find someone else to do it for me. Should we keep the small lawn signs for 2013 - there's no picture on them. Decisions, decisions. Everyone I meet says they voted for me - unlikely but better than hearing that they didn't. The first time I meet each of the people I know, they feel they have to mention the election - I understand that - but it means living the evening of May 12th all over again. Will be glad when that part is over. You know, that night, when the reporter from The Powell River Peak called me for my reaction, I didn't know I had lost - no one told me and I hadn't seen the tv report calling it. As I answered the phone I thought I was still in the race. What a shock when I realized it - I hope it didn't come across the phone line. We had a wonderful team and a great party on election night. This week, June 19th, will be the post-mortem - what worked, what didn't. Hope we can keep it constructive. Then, June 20th, a bbq celebrating the team and on June 29th a luncheon in Powell River for the team up there. Then the 2009 campaign will be truly finished. As long as the Financial Agent gets all the reports in on time.

Have spent the last 4 weeks asking myself the question, "What now?" Begin building towards the 2013 campaign and creating a presence up and down the Sunshine Coast. Have some ideas? Would love to hear them!

Operating in a Fog

2009-01-19T16:07:00.000-08:00

It's been interesting this past week adapting to operating in the fog - driving very, very slowly on some streets where you could only see 3 or 4 feet of pavement in front of the car and all the familiar landmarks were lost in the mist.

On the two days we took the ferry to Powell River, there was a crew member standing in the bow watching for small craft and big logs, with the ship's whistle sounding repeatedly to warn everyone. What became very apparent is that knowing the route was essential to getting to our destination safely, whether by car or ferry. This was not a time for risking getting off track.

I wondered if there were a parallel to our current economic situation. We are in an economic downturn. We don't know where it will end and many of our usual measures and milestones seem obscured. It means that more than ever we need to stay on course and keep moving in the right direction, sometimes just a few feet at a time, until we can see clearly again.

100+ Things to be Thankful For in 2008

2009-01-03T10:04:00.000-08:00

At the end of each year, my husband, Bob, and I sit down and make a list of at least 100 things we are thankful for in the past year.

The first time we did it together was about five years ago on New Year's Eve while we were out for dinner at Haus Europa in Gibsons.

We agreed that the items could be any size from tiny to monumental - there were no "right" answers. We started off slowly as we got used to the idea but by the time we finished dessert, we were able to come up with just over 100. We have done it every year since, either on New Year's Eve or, like this year, on New Year's Day over breakfast. Now we can always come up with more than 100 and really enjoy the time to reflect.

What we find is truly wonderful is the chance to relive so many special times - visits from friends and family, tasks that finally got completed, trips to other places, and more.

At a time when it seems there is so much to worry about in our communities and in the world, I believe it is very important to focus on what went well and take the time to remember the good things as we move into the next year.

Wishing you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2009!

Snowed Under - on the Sunshine Coast and in Ottawa

2008-12-23T17:07:00.000-08:00

We have received a lot of snow here on the Sunshine Coast and, depending upon the type of vehicle you have, you may have been snowed in for awhile - an important reminder to keep a few extra supplies on hand just in case.

It's been a tough time for retailers, too, as shoppers were already contemplating cutting back on buying presents this year and then the snow kept them from shopping at all.

But throughout it all we have been snowed under with rhetoric from Ottawa, each of the parties claiming they represent "real" democracy and claiming to be the ones that earned the bona fide confidence of the voters.

And what do we, the voters, want - we want them to stop posturing and claiming precedence and practice real leadership in dealing with the economic situation - now!

One party accuses the others of making a "power grab" and then, itself, appoints 18 senators and a supreme court justice without any opportunity for consultation or confirmation citing the need for speed. Looks like consolidating power to me.

The area in which we needed speed was the economy, not the appointments to the enate. Seems priorities have gotten reversed - from my perspective.

Messy Democracy

2008-12-07T20:54:00.000-08:00

Stephen Harper went to see the Governor General and I followed the story avidly while driving up to Powell River. It was odd because when I went onto the ferry and lost the CBC radio signal, he had not emerged yet and by the time the ferry docked and I picked up the signal again, it was all over and they were talking about the impact of her decision - but they didn't say what decision so for 20 minutes I wasn't sure what had happened - that parliament had been prorogued.

There were several possible options and for awhile we didn't know which one would be chosen. For a lot of people, it has been an important lesson in how our parliamentary system works.

I was surprised at how many thought that in Canada we vote for the Prime Minister. And surprised by how many thought that the opposition wanting to form a government was undemocratic.

It's hard to imagine that there is value in the parliamentary chaos we are experiencing but if citizens have a better understanding of how their government works, perhaps they will take a greater interest and participate more and when the time comes for an election, perhaps they'll come out and vote. And that would be a good thing.

Municipal Elections - Powered by Fear or Hope?

2008-11-19T15:56:00.000-08:00

What do you think drove the voters in your area to mark their Xs where they did? Was it fear or hope?

During the last week before the municipal elections on Nov. 15, I attended two candidates' forums. In one, attendees had the opportunity to speak with each candidate in a small group setting for five minutes and explore questions of importance to them before moving on to speak to the next candidate. Tough questions were posed and people spoke with passion, but there was respect.

In the other one, a panel of candidates faced an audience of 50 or 60 where 5 or 6 people dominated the questions, often haranguing the candidates with harsh words referring to their answers in a previous forum and loudly calling into question the candidate's integrity and veracity. The moderator did not ensure that everyone who wanted to speak had a chance before others were allowed to ask a second or third question. And he treated at least one of the candidates with a condescending manner when it was his turn to answer a question. It was clear that a group of people who didn't live in that area and weren't eligible to vote in that area were there to create conflict and discredit the candidate.

As a voter, I think you know which forum gave me the best information on which to base my opinion - after all, that had been my reason for attending.

While I believe it is important to ask candidates tough questions, to elicit their views on important issues and to hold them accountable for their actions, I believe we must do that with civility and respect and allow them to answer the questions without cutting them off and calling them names.

Everyone who stands for office believes that they have something important to offer as a member of council, school board or regional district. They are willing to stand out in front and declare what they believe in and to defend it.

When people can do that without fear of being attacked, we will entice our best candidates to put their names forward.

When we attack those who are brave enough to come forward, we discourage many others from taking that important step and we significantly reduce the number of capable candidates we have to choose from - and diminish our chances of having the best people for the job elected to create a future full of hope for our communities and our world.

Just ask most people why they don't run and you'll hear them say, "It's too negative. Why would I want to put myself and my family through that?"

It's a sad commentary on the way we have allowed a few to divert a process meant to ensure good governance.

If you agree, then you know what to do for the next election - demand a respectful process and don't settle for anything less.

On Leadership, Trust and Hope

2008-11-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

It was amazing watching Barack Obama's acceptance speech on Nov. 4th. He was so sincere, so humble, urging voters and supporters to put aside their differences and work together to tackle the difficult problems facing their nation and the world.

He was a spellbinding speaker, but not because of flashy rhetoric, but because he spoke from his heart sincerely and authentically, and without downplaying the difficulties ahead gave everyone hope.

It was amazing to watch as people of all ages, many of whom who had never voted before, lines up for hours to cast their ballots because they believed it would make a difference - believed that they could make a difference - that their one vote counted.

We had a low voter turnout for our Canadian federal election - the lowest in 50 years. It seems that our candidates didn't hold us spellbound with their sincerity - and it must have been that few people believed that their vote would make a difference. Or perhaps we are happy with the status quo.

We have an opportunity on May 12, 2009 to vote to make sure that our province stays strong. Let's not be complacent. Let's be active and engaged. If we are leaders, let's show our sincerity and authenticity. Let's talk about the difficult decisions we will have to make. And let's inspire confidence and hope in all British Columbians that the BC Liberal party is the one to entrust our future to, the one that will honour that trust, and the one that will lead us into the next decade, keeping BC strong.

Affirmed as the Candidate!

2008-11-05T23:31:00.000-08:00

Two Candidate Selection Meetings - October 28 in Sechelt and October 29 in Powell river - two speeches, meeting members who have come out to see "Who is Dawn Miller, anyway?", "Why does she want to run?", "What's her strategy?". Lots of discussion, lots of answers, lots of issues. The biennial convention in Whistler on the weekend - a heady opportunity to meet cabinet ministers and MLAs...and the Premier. Lots of support - media training - Halloween party - celebrations....time to jump-start the team - and the campaign really begins.

Celebration at VIU in Powell River - Sept. 22, 2008

2008-09-25T18:11:00.000-07:00

Some events touch your heart and you know you will remember them for a long time. The ceremony in Powell River to celebrate Malaspina University College's transformation to a full university was that kind of event. What I remember most vividly was Chief Shawn Atleo speaking about why he accepted the opportunity to serve as the new university's first Chancellor. While he acknowledged the troubled past of the residential school system, he focussed on the way that his appointment heralded a new partnership in education for aboriginal people. Chief Atleo talked of his culture and of the role his parents played in encouraging him to continue his education and of the role the elders play in encouraging all young people to continue their education. Then, he made eye contact with one young woman in the audience who was studying to become a welder, and time seemed to stop as he spoke directly to her as if they were the only two in the room, as he encouraged her to continue on with determination and pride. Chief Atleo's eloquent speech inspired me that day - I think it inspired all of us.

Preserving Memories

2008-09-15T20:24:00.000-07:00

As fall approaches, it brings back memories of cooking and preserving food with my grandmother. She vividly remembered the depression, so every year she made sure that she “put up” lots of food for the winter.

Pitting cherries, plums and peaches was messy, sticky work. By the end of each canning session, we would all look like multi-coloured modern art masterpieces. Apples were sorted, with the best ones stored to be tucked into school lunches and the gnarled ones peeled, cored, and turned into pies, each carefully wrapped in aluminum foil, covered with plastic then labeled with masking tape recording the date.

Produce from the garden turned into crinkly beet pickles cut with a zigzag blade, dilled beans crunchy and green, and circles of bread and butter pickles to put on sandwiches. And then there were my favourites - sweet mustard pickles with onions and green tomato relish.

One of the best parts of the fall was when “the aunties” came to visit from Winnipeg, because then we would cook big batches of perogies to put in the freezer. We made them with different fillings - potato and cottage cheese, sauerkraut and pork, and fruit perogies with plums and cherries inside. We had to pinch the edges very tightly so they wouldn’t split when they were boiled. Afterwards, we would fry the savoury ones with bacon and onions and serve them with sour cream. While we worked, the aunties filled Grandma in on all the news about people she knew back on the prairies and then told favourite family stories about when they were growing up.

At the time, I thought we were preserving food but now, looking back, I realize we were preserving memories.

Collaboration

2008-09-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Have spent this week listening to people's views in Powell River, Pender Harbour, Sechelt, Gibsons and Cowichan Bay. While there are many similarities in the issues identified - ferries, health care, affordable housing - each issue has had a common thread and also a specific twist that makes it unique. These unique aspects make addressing the issues effectively more complex but in acknowledging the uniqueness we make our bond with each other stronger.

Picking Blackberries at Dusk

2008-09-02T16:16:00.001-07:00

We left our blackberry picking too late in the day and dusk was already starting to fall. We went out anyway, but it made it hard to see the blackberries in that low light amid the shadows.

It made me think that politics can be a bit like that. It's hard to see the real heart of the issues when they are obscured by the foliage of controversy and the shadows of misinformation. Sometimes you just need to bring a big flashlight to shine a light on them so you can see the whole thing clearly.

Pearls of Wisdom While Seeking the Nomination

2008-08-26T20:03:00.000-07:00

I have been meeting with people who have campaign experience and who are willing to share their insights and advice. So many different points of view expressed - so much conflicting advice. Sifting through it all to select the pearls that I can use now and then storing the rest for later. So many questions - mine and theirs - and lots of answers - each suitable for a particular situation - sorting and sifting. It's a journey through unknown territory looking for guideposts in the fog.

Festival of the Written Arts - Sechelt

2008-08-18T11:15:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend immersed in literature and together with being at the Rockwood Centrre provided a magical weekend experience. Although not all of the authors' readings resonated with me, those that did will be unforgettable. Shane Koyczan's spoken word performance was an incredible surprise and one of the highlights of the weekend. Chantal Hebert's political analysis was compelling and challenging and a call to action. The authors who are also musicians were especially engaging and occasionally quite provocative - Dave Bidini (formerly of the Rheostatics), Paul Quarrington, Will Ferguson and Tom Phillips. I am already looking forward to next year's festival.

Guest Sermon for Sunday

2008-08-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today I am working on a sermon for Sunday. Our Minister is on vacation and so members of the congregation are often asked to take a service. This is my first time. I have known from the beginning what my theme would be - Transformation and Acceptance. Now, I am pulling together the myriad thoughts in my head that have been clustering around these two words for the past few weeks.

On one level, I will be talking about it being the 20th anniversary of the United Church's decision to admit self-declared, practicing gays and lesbians into the ordered ministry, i.e. how our view of them was transformed at that time so that the church no longer saw them as ineligible but as highly valuable. They always were valuable but the church needed to undergo a transformation in order to see it.

On another level, I will be talking about how our daughter, Laura, transformed into our son, Julian, and how we were able to focus on the inner person and be supportive as her outer being transitioned from female to male. I am hoping to be able to convey that the great love in our hearts for her provided the pivot point so we kept our gaze on the incredible person inside her and not on whether she was female or male, straight or gay.

Julian lives in Victoria and is a wonderful writer and, in a recent essay called Not a Straight Line, he talks a little about the advantages of being a transsexual man. He says, "I was raised female, so I have a head start on all those communication skills men are supposed to find so difficult. There are some disadvantages. I don't know all the unspoken rules for masculinity in my culture. Then again, a certain non-attachment to the rules of manhood might not be such a bad thing...I may sometimes feel bewildered and lost about how to be a man in the world, but I have it on good authority that so do all the other guys."

He will be visiting the Sunshine Coast this weekend to attend the Writers Festival. I don't know if he will come to hear the sermon but I hope the message of Transformation and Acceptance is meaningful to those who do come to Gibsons United on Sunday morning.

Powell River

2008-08-10T21:55:00.000-07:00

Off to Powell River today for the Delegate Selection Meeting. Other than the torrential downpour near Trout Lake, the drive up and ferry trip were good and we were able to discuss many topics while we travelled. The DSM meeting itself went well and our strategy meeting afterwards really reinforced the key activities needed to succeed. Had a little trepidation waiting in the ferry line-up at Saltery Bay and with good reason, as it turns out. We were the very last car on the 4:30 run, shoehorned in at an angle at the last minute. Glad we made it!

Small Planes and Long Days

2008-08-09T21:08:00.000-07:00

Took Tofino Air to Nanaimo today for a meeting. Up at 6:00 and drove to Sechelt in drizzle which had turned into a torrential downpour by 7:15. Soaked right through my GoreTex. Small Beaver plane but big views as we flew over Georgia Strait. Great meeting, met lots of dedicated folks and flew back at 6:45 on a bigger plane - with a load of people who had been to a memorial service and were high on life - I think that happens sometimes when you have a personal experience with the death of someone close to you. One woman pretended to be the flight attendant and gave a pretty good imitation of the safety announcements. Passing over two cruise ships as we flew home was amazing - they looked small on the expanse of water. And now, to rest for the meeting tomorrow in Powell River.

Communication Plan Part 1: The Website

2008-08-08T16:53:00.000-07:00

Who knew that there were so many questions requiring answers? I reserved a domain name and thought that I was on the right road. But then, where to host it? How many email addresses come with it? What does hosting cost? Design? Storage capabilities? So much to know - and it is only one part of the Communication Plan! It requires small steps moving in the right direction.