President's Report

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE   

   My wife and I often go to the Oviedo Farmer’s Market on the first Saturday of

each month. I like looking at all the booths and interacting with the people.

There is one booth at the end of the line that is different from all the others. It is

an information booth that says, “Ask the Old Coots”. Under a tent sit three old

coots, and they sit there in rocking chairs prepared to answer your questions.

They are dressed in T- shirts and farmer jeans, and each look like they enjoy

sweets. I said to them, “It says here on the sign that you answer questions. Is that

right?”. “It sure is”, was their response. So, I asked them, “What is the meaning of

life?” I think my question went a little deeper than the other ones they were

getting because they began just looking at each other. This question could be

answered several different ways. I like the now deceased former Supreme Court

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s answer. She said, “If you want to be a true

professional and an authentic human being, you will do something outside

yourself. Something to repair tears in your community. Something to make life a

little better for people less fortunate than you. That’s what I think a meaningful

life is. Living not for oneself, but for one’s community.” Being a minister, I would

also add having a personal relationship with God.

Arnie Nussbaum had been a resident of Tuscawilla for many years. He was

known as ”The golden voice” of Oviedo and Winter Springs. He served as

announcer, moderator, and master of ceremonies for years never taking any

compensation. He told me that was his community service. Arnie started out in

New York City as a fireman and paramedic, and he was also a nurse. He injured

himself with all the lifting and received a disability retirement. He then worked

for a cosmetic company doing advertising and traveling the country promoting

their products. The last years, he was a legal representative for struggling

children. Arnie and I were friends, and I never dreamed that when we worked

together on the Tuscawilla Homeowner’s “Meet the Candidates Night” that he

would die in less than a week. Arnie found meaning in life by helping and serving

others. He was also a person of faith.

Recently, our city was visited by a hurricane named Ian. This hurricane

brought with it what is known as the five-hundred-year rain. The seventeen plus

inches severely affected our community with fallen trees, flooded roads and

homes, power outages, and water main breaks. My neighbor had a seventy-two-

year-old tree fall down on the middle of her house. (I counted the rings on the

stump). Sitting in my living room, I watched it fall. With that fall comes countless

hours of pain and repair. What was encouraging to me was to see all the

neighbors out helping others. We do care about each other and, as Ruth

Ginsburg stated, do something to repair the tears in our community.

When I was serving as the Superintendent of the Southeast Conference,

there was a widow who was very generous with her time and money. She

annually would give us a matching gift for our programs. She told me one time

that her goal was to leave a little light wherever she went. She left many lights. At

this time of year, we celebrate Thanksgiving. There is much to be thankful for,

and one of these things is a community that truly cares about and helps each

other.

Happy Thanksgiving

Dr. Kurt Miericke

THOA President

Publisher, Tuscawilla Today