A special need: Public officials have to understand what leadership is all about

They probably thought it would go away -- our challenge to the county commissioners and the city council about taking care of the county's Special Olympics program.

And because we believe in full disclosure, we want you to know that we put the Special Olympics bowling team on the front page of today's paper on purpose.

We wanted to introduce you to one of your teams and to remind the county's leaders to whom they are saying no.

Once again, we acknowledge that there is not an unlimited amount of county funding to go around, so care has to be taken when a need arises to make sure all obligations are covered.

But that is not really what happened here.

A line was drawn in the sand, and nonprofits were identified as a potential problem in the county's budget, and so an example was made -- not with malice or because the commissioners hate Special Olympics in particular -- or nonprofits in general -- but because a line had been drawn in the sand.

And the concern over the budget is not really the problem either. There are several nonprofits on the county's funding list that are a bit of a stretch to fit the definition that has been recently applied -- if you take it strictly and without wiggle room. These organizations do not exactly fit the county's core mission when it is strictly defined.

But this is not an attempt to get the county to abandon funding one organization for another, it is about, as we have said in the past -- leadership.

When faced with a challenge, an obstacle, a left hook, if you will, citizens expect their leaders to get creative -- to figure out how to take care of obligations and to manage the money effectively.

We have suggested a couple solutions -- and as we expected -- crickets.

So, we are sending out the challenge again.

The commission and the council need to put their heads together to come up with a solution to this problem. They need to support an organization that supports a group of people who need them -- and who are, by the way, citizens.

And city and county government are first and foremost in charge of taking care of their citizenry.

These people need their community right now -- and have been self-sufficient, by the way, for years.

These are not high-budget, high-cost nonprofits. These are volunteers -- most of them parents or loved ones of these athletes. Can you imagine how hard it must be to worry and care for a child with special needs? To wonder how they are going to make it, to plan for their future? Can you also imagine the joy of seeing the look on their faces as they cross a finish line or when they bowl a strike?

The least this community can do is support this effort that has brought so much joy to so many while it gets back on its feet.

And that should have been Job 1 from Day 1 when the county and city heard of its plight.

And, just so you know, that is what the employees at Goldsboro's Sam's Club are doing -- without being asked.

There is a bucket at each door collecting donations for the Special Olympics.

That is how you respond to a crisis when you care about your community.

And we should all rally around these athletes as well.

The challenge is there for us, too,

Why can't we help? Why can't we raise some funds?

We have done it before -- and this community will do it again.

So, we issue a challenge once again to the county and city's leadership -- step up and show us that the top priority of your boards is the citizens you serve, especially when there is a real need. Come up with a solution -- even if it is only temporary. Cut an expense temporarily, repurpose an employee or two, help set up a grant, create a way to make this happen.

And look around while you are at it and see what other communities are doing. You might be surprised.

And when you do act like the leaders we know you can be, you can bet that this newspaper, and many of the people who are shaking their heads in disbelief right now, will acknowledge that effort.

And you might even get some homemade goodies for your next meeting.

We know people.

Published in Editorials on February 7, 2015 11:26 PM