Friends of Virgin, Inc.
P.O. Box 790005
Virgin, Utah 84779-0005
www.friendsofvirgin.com
If you wish to be removed from our mailing list, write to friends@friendsofvirgin.com

Board of Directors:
Adele Pincock, president
Linda Collet, secretary
Sandra Grow, treasurer
Nancy Isom, director
DRD Properties South, director

Hello Again!

	After such a long newsletter absence, we almost feel like we need to get reacquainted with you all.  There are a few changes in the FOV organization that we wish to report on.  Some are technical, such as a slight adjustment in our newsletter format, others more philosophical.  At any rate, we hope these changes bring positive results.
	The most significant change is in our Board of Directors.  The directors held their annual meeting on June 29th to elect new officers.  Prior to the election Lee Ballard submitted her resignation from board.  While we had a few months to grow accustomed to this looming reality, it felt somewhat strange to picture FOV leadership without Lee in it.  She has sacrificed a great deal of personal and professional time to keep FOV organized, mobilized, and up to date on the many diverse issues being considered by town boards.  Her dedication was unmatched and we will greatly miss her leadership and participation on the board.  We extend to her our heartfelt gratitude for her diligent and careful work on all things FOV, from the newsletter to research and beyond.   Cheers, Lee!
	The results of officer elections are as follows:  Adele Pincock, president, Linda Collet, secretary; Sandra Grow, treasurer.  The other at-large board members remain unchanged.
	The second change to report is a slightly different format for the Meeting Watch feature of this newsletter.  We know this is something our readers enjoy.  But as we contemplated reporting on the many, many town meetings that have taken place since we last wrote, it quickly became too overwhelming a task to accomplish for this issue.  After much discussion on the matter, specifically the time and space it requires to produce meeting reports, the board agreed to report on meetings with a little less detail without sacrificing important elements of topics discussed and actions taken.  Look for the Meeting Watch feature in our next issue.
	And finally, you may have noticed that the FOV purpose is missing from its usual spot on the front page; but there’s a reason for this.  The FOV board met recently to review the purpose to see if it allows for the broader approach we feel we have already begun to take.  We discussed changes and accomplishments that have taken place in the three years since FOV first organized.  We happily agreed that great strides have been made towards a more open government, access to records and official consideration of public input, FOV’s primary goals.  We believe this is partly due to a diligent citizenry, willing to attend town meetings in greater numbers and with increasing regularity.  We further believe townspeople are more likely to attend, in part, because the current administration includes them in decision-making processes during meetings.  It is our opinion that these two factors have helped produce more thoughtful decisions by town boards and a better-informed community.  We embrace this new trend and feel quite pleased to have been actively involved in this ‘evolution’.
	Positive changes such as these inspire us to move forward and expand our scope to include other, not-necessarily-political activities.  So while we remain fundamentally committed to the principles of open, accessible government, we recognize the need to periodically review and expand our purpose.  After much brainstorming on this topic, the board is pleased to introduce the newly expanded purpose for Friends of Virgin, Inc., adopted at its August 9th meeting:  

Friends of Virgin pledge to volunteer time, talents and efforts to:
•	promote understanding by researching and reporting on key issues;
•	encourage civic involvement by collaborating with fellow residents on common causes;
•	advocate for open government and adherence to ordinances and regulations.

We look forward to the new opportunities this expanded framework will provide. 

A Farewell Note
By Lee Ballard

	Since we announced last winter that I would resign from the FOVI board, a lot of people have speculated aloud to me about the reasons.  Some of their initial guesses were pretty far off, so I thought I’d take advantage of the new board’s request that I write this little farewell for the newsletter to first say that my reasons are purely practical, personal ones, totally unrelated to FOV or town politics.
	Over the last three years, the board of FOV has tackled some pretty daunting and complex tasks.  Though it may not be obvious to the world, we have all spent incredible amounts of time attending meetings, talking to and corresponding with members and agencies and officials, and endlessly researching laws and issues.  I think it’s safe to say that the members of the board are amazed at the things we have learned and even the unexpected abilities we’ve developed:  it will change the courses of all of our lives.  We also have made friends, not just amongst ourselves, but with a whole host of others we would never otherwise have gotten to know.  I am grateful for all of it.
	It is satisfying to consider how much has changed and improved around here, allowing that FOV played a part in the transformation.  Opinions are requested often and given without fear, and even controversial questions are likely to be met with efforts to resolve differences to the satisfaction of all.  The ongoing public opinion survey proves the planning commission’s true desire to know how the people want Virgin to grow, and the discussions it has sparked are bound to lead to closer examination, and greater wisdom.  To the delight of the board, FOV’s role has changed accordingly, becoming largely one of helpful cooperation, and I think this trend is likely to continue.  I am grateful for past, present and future hard work to the new FOVI president, Adele Pincock; to Sandra Grow, Linda Collet, Nancy Isom, and Jim Dredge, who are doing a great job, and to Jan Walker.  Many thanks, too, to all FOVI donors, supporters, and newsletter readers.

A Quick Hello
by Adele Pincock

	FOV is an organization I deeply care about and I feel a little overcome at being selected its president.  Lee left some pretty big shoes to fill, especially when it comes to getting this newsletter published.  I will greatly miss her voice on these pages and her editorial skills.  You probably will, too.  But we’ll keep researching, reporting and writing and beg your pardon in advance if we should stumble a little along the way.
	As you might expect, we are gearing up for this fall’s municipal elections.  As always, we feel strongly that the residents of Virgin will best be served by candidates who adhere to rules of procedure and conduct.  In upcoming newsletter issues we will be reporting on some of our observations and other matters we deem essential for voters to consider before casting their ballots.
	Finally, a quick thank you to all FOV members and supporters, the readers of this newsletter, and, mostly, to my fellow board members.

Goings On

August 19, 2005:  Be sure to attend a Dutch oven benefit dinner for Virgin residents Kurt Wright and Chuck Hall on Friday, August 19th at the Virgin Town Park.  Dinner will be served from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for $15 a plate.  Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Virgin, Springdale or Rockville town offices, or at the park on the 19th.  Meal includes chicken,  potatoes, beans, salad and a drink.  All proceeds will be shared equally between Kurt and Chuck.  We wish them both the very best as they recover.  For more info, call Sandra Grow, 635-7351.

Meeting Dates

Town Council:  Wednesday, August 24, 7p.m; work meeting at 6:30p.m.
Planning & Zoning:  Wednesday, September 7, 7 p.m.; work meeting at 6:30 p.m.

History

The following is copied from the digital library of the Washington County News, August 19, 1915:
	Virgin, Aug 16 -- Sylvester Earl came down from Kolob Friday to take his little son, Samuel, to Hurricane for medical treatment.  He reports a fair crop of grain, nearly all harvested and in the stacks.  The drouth [sic] seems to be broken and a number of good showers have fallen which will greatly benefit the corn and potato crops.
	Mr and Mrs Walter Hunter have the sympathy of the community in the death of their little son, who died Tuesday, Aug 10.  Mrs. Hunter is so far improved to be up after an illness of nearly two months.
	Mrs Mary Beebe of Bunkerville, Nev is spending a portion of the summer here with her daughter, Mrs David Hastings
	Walter Hunter returned to his work at Cedar Saturday where he is assisting Pat Hollohan drilling artesian wells
	David Flanigan returned home from Kolob Sunday, he has been working as sawyer at the Hartley sawmill
	A number of four townspeople took an excursion to Kolob last week, they report having had a fine time
	Henry Cornelius lost a valuable horse Saturday night, it took suddenly ill and died in a few hours
	Mr and Mr[s] Joseph White of Ogden are visiting with Mrs White’s mother, Mrs Elizabeth Earl.
	Born, to Mr and Mrs Arthur Wright, a son, Aug 14; mother and babe doing nicely.
	Mr and Mrs Chester Allen have gone to Circleville to pay a visit to Mrs Allen’s parents
	A number of tourists bound for the Zion canyon passed through here last week
	Mrs Cyrus Earl is ill with heart trouble.