The Weblog
The local foods movement is alive and well in Champaign County! Here are some updates on other projects while we finalize our virtual market:
Local Producers Map:
Our local producers map is ready for publication and you will soon be able to find it on gochampaign.com. Copies will be distributed around the community, in the local telephone book, and other “hangouts”. The guide lists the location and contact information for nearly 50 local producers within our county. The map was a project of the Local Food Council and printed with the help of some local sponsors including the Monument Square District, Champaign Bank, the Community Improvement Corporation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Farm Bureau and others. It is a great start to finding a local source for Champaign County’s finest!
Little Pink Houses
Oh but ain’t that America, for you and me…
Ain’t that America, we’re something to see baby…
Ain’t that America, home of the free, yeah…
Little pink houses for you and me, oh for you and me…
(Little Pink Houses-John Mellencamp)
So, this song…it means many things to me. It marks, in my mind, two events, one in 1982, a very happy, history making time in my life. A carefree time in college. A time when the chapter of my sorority signed their charter to become a sorority on campus. The Delta Zetas of the Xi Beta chapter were formed. I was among one of the first pledge classes. We made campus history. We, a strong band of diverse college girls, paved the way to what is now the strongest, largest, most active sorority on my old campus.
We had no idea that we were making history. We had no idea that we would be among some of the best women that would ever touch my life. We had no idea that we would now be honored, 33 years later, by our campus. Back then, we were just girls, helping girls, building our way, learning how life worked, learning how to be leaders, learning how to be true friends…
Little Pink Houses was a song that we adopted, when we were together, when we were out in the little bars of our college town. To us, it was Little Pink Houses of Delta Z…our hope was to always be united with our sisterhood.
The Delta Zeta Creed…
To the world…
I promise temperance, and insight, and courage…
To crusade for justice…
To seek the truth and defend it always…
To those whom my life may touch in slight measure…
May I give graciously of what is mine…
To my friends, understanding and appreciation…
To those closer ones, love that is ever steadfast…
To my mind, growth…
To myself, faith…
That I may walk truly in the light of the flame…
The creed which I have tried to live my life. Along with the Golden Rule that my grandfather had me live.
Bonds, beliefs, actions.
September 11, 2001…no words. It was not the happy history making event of my Sept. 11 in college. It was history making for all of the wrong reasons. We know it. We felt it. We were broken by it, for a moment. We grieved, we tried to understand. We were horrified.
As a former flight attendant, I watched in horror. I knew the steps that those very brave airline crews were taking to ensure their passengers were comfortable. I could recite, in my head, the emergency drills that were needed, step by step. My heart broke, I cried, I felt for all families, all loved ones, each person on that day, in the days to come. In the years to come.
I often turned to the Delta Zeta creed, to try to understand how I could be of service. Because the creed speaks the most brave words to live by, to guide by, to live by. And, I continue to walk in the light of the flame…
This little local market of love is here, trying to be just a small light…and, tomorrow, our thoughts are with everyone…and, in my own heart, I hope that I serve my creed proud, and that I forever offer a sense of peace…
I open the market, tonight…may we offer all of you, a sense of love, and peace, strength, and pride…
(PS…I, in now way, can convey what each person went through on that day. I can only offer my own thoughts, and how I strive, to bring peace, love, and joy…)
Peace, Love, Good Vibes…
Cosmic Pam