Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul. Live an exemplary life among the natives so that your actions will refute their prejudices. Then they’ll be won over to God’s side and be there to join in the celebration when he arrives. 1 Peter 2:11-12 (The Message)
Last week, I went to a conference for work called: Sustainable and Authentic Florida. Because it was held in my backyard on Anna Maria Island, I was able to attend. Ordinarily, education and training are cut from our budget, but because I did not need meals, hotel or gas, I could participate in this one. It is always hard to focus on training when it is at home because I still feel compelled to work. Juggling office responsibilities and seminars is not easy, but I am glad I went. I could write a week’s worth of blog posts on the interesting conversations, but must condense it into one because I am preparing to go to Guatemala again and may not have much time to write the rest of the week. Here are some of the themes of the conference:
What do sustainable and authentic mean? The first speaker, Peggy Bulger, who is the Immediate Past Director of the American Folklife Center for the Library of Congress, surprised us all by saying that authentic cannot be manufactured nor is it planned. Authentic is uncontrolled, real, an adventure, never predictable. For those of us trying to incorporate authentic into our programs and exhibits, we must be prepared for change and letting go of control. She noted that sustainable is much more than economic sustainability which is the buzz word for governments right now. She stressed that sustainability includes culture, community, heritage, traditions and the environment, and we need to factor in their importance without expecting them to make money.
How do we get “newcomers” interested in preserving real Florida? There was much discussion about teaching people to be “real Floridians” and encouraging them to care about the things that make our state unique and special. One speaker noted the dilemma of, “People whose bodies are here but hearts reside elsewhere.” That would be the people who want to tell us how it is done in Michigan or New York where they spend their summers. The concept of environmental patriotism that transcends place was an interesting concept. Ideas such as educational opportunities for people of all ages to learn about Florida’s heritage and environment, special events at museums and parks, volunteer opportunities and marketing were bandied about. I am not sure any would really be effective, but I guess you have to start somewhere. As Herb Hiller, conference organizer, stated, “If you are not a concerned Floridian, you are not a Floridian.”
Several speakers talked about the importance of sense of place noting that “A sense of place drives us. If we call it home, we care about it.” A sense of place requires a distinctive community, a unique neighborhood and buildings, connections to the land, authentic values, a feeling of timelessness. Of course, the historian in me liked all of those words because historic buildings and neighborhoods separate us from neighboring communities and make us unique. The National Trust for Historic Preservation defines sense of place as: “Those things that add up to a feeling that a community is a special place, distinct from anywhere else.” They list the following that contribute to a sense of place: strong sense of environmental setting, distinctive architecture, sense of history, livability, identity reflected in culture, arts and literature. Another speaker used a Spanish word, “Guernica” which is defined as “The place where you are your most authentic self.”
How do we transcend politics and create unity about preserving this special place called Florida? Many of the speakers decried the polarity in politics. John Moran, one of the speakers who is a well known and talented photographer remarked, “Today’s political leaders know the price of everything but little of its value.” Members of the Tea Party boycotted the conference because they believe sustainability is a tool of the United Nations to take over America. I think they do not know the meaning of that word any more than conference goers, but they exhibited a key point made by one of the speakers. “In local government, decisions are made by those who show up.” So show up at government meetings and planning sessions. Let your voice be heard even if it is just one voice in a sea of confusion. Two other quotes I wrote down were “It is not so much as what we do as what we don’t do,” and “Conform to what you want and not what they want.” Clever suggestions were made for winning over the enemy including civility and kindness, traits often overlooked in today’s political climate.
And finally, the closing speaker, Bob McNulty of Partners for Livable Communities, told us of a National Park Service study that said that historic preservation, unique and livable communities are not just important to save for the future, but for today’s generation. They are essential to good mental health. Perhaps that is why our country is in such chaos and so crazy these days. Too much cookie cutter sprawl and not enough connections with our past and environment.
Whatever the reason, it was heartwarming to see over one hundred people willing to give up three days to not just talk about our state’s future, but to leave with an action plan for saving “Real Florida.” As the hymn states, “This world is not my home, I’m just passing through,” but on my journey here on earth, I want to leave this temporary dwelling better than it was when I arrived.
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