Social networking via the Internet continues to grow at an incredible pace.
Between Facebook, Twitter, Myspace and scads of other on-line facilities, people can easily let friends, family and the whole wide world know what they are up to.
Before these times, memberships relied upon Newsletters. Correspondents would inform members of the latest News they had, including meeting minutes and financial reports. Groups with a strong public following or of interest to any given local Newspaper publisher would actually see that those details were published.
Horticulture groups, Women’s Institute branches, Legion Auxiliaries and dozens of church groups made a tradition of submitting their News for consideration. We still gladly help where we can and greatly appreciate the individuals who think enough of their community to want to share their News.
While in Philadelphia this past week at a conference, we received word that a trusted correspondent of many years had passed away. Joan Bosomworth was 89.
Our memories of Joan include her dropping by our old office regularly with handwritten copy for publication. It would be for the local WI, or her church group, or for horticulture. Her copy was free of error and neatly written. For those who have never written a story by hand, such prose is an immense challenge.
Today we have computers to cut and paste changes in thought as the writing progresses. Joan’s correspondence flowed wonderfully, without error.
She also was not shy with her opinions. One letter she wrote that we will never forget was about changes in labour laws that proposed parents work longer and harder, without a cap on the work week per se. In her judgment that was not right, so she said so. We cannot help but think if more people took the time to write thoughtfully, the barometer politicians use to govern us would place them far more in touch with the citizenry.
Joan was a member of the Wellington County Historical Society executive, where she always had a learned opinion and many remembrances of how things were. Her interest in history and its preservation for future generations was admirable.
We have no doubt, as the years pass, her years of correspondence will personify a time when communities were about community spirit and togetherness, rather than individual interest.
