It is always a wonderful time to prepare for a year’s worth of reflection at Cranberry Hall and compile this document from the president. I think you all know, present and past members of the board, beloved members, that I do not FEEL like a president at all, (a rather archaic term, anyway) but rather a member of a team of concerned, active and dedicated community members. We are a community hall above all else, and in the memory of founding member Martin Rossander, we do take that commitment seriously. This past year of following health protocols due to Covid 19 could not have made that commitment more clear.
Let me illustrate this last year’s trials in a story. I love stories and they have a huge impact on our collective consciousness. So here for you enjoyment a story that hails from the Chinese culture, called Maybe YES, Maybe NO:
There once was a farmer, making a living from the land, and having the help of their family, and a strong and beautiful horse, the farmer was content. Life was difficult but good. One day that horse ran away. The farmer’s neighbours came to lament the farmer’s misfortune. They were sure to fail, not having their renowned horse to aid in the fields. The farmer smiled and said, “maybe yes, maybe no”. The next day, the horse returned to the farmer, with 6 other wild, beautiful, strong horses by its side. The neighbours scampered to the farmer’s house to celebrate their great fortune! Surely the farmer’s life will become better with the addition of so many fine horses! The farmer smiled and said “maybe yes, maybe no”.
The next week, the farmer’s eldest child, the one who was soon to take over the farm, being interested, strong and capable, began the task of training one of the new horses. They were kicked by the horse, and the eldest child’s leg was broken. The neighbours stopped by and said to the farmer “You are so unlucky! Now you have no one to help you in the fields! Your child may walk with a limp! How awful, how unfortunate!” And the farmer smiled and said “maybe yes. Maybe no.”
Then a war visited the land. The military and government recruited all the eldest and capable children in the land to fight in the war. The farmer’s eldest was rejected, due to their injury. The neighbours weighed in again. “You are so lucky! Your child was spared! You are blessed!” And the farmer smiled and said “maybe yes. Maybe no.”
And on life goes. Maybe yes. Maybe no.
This whole year was a dance. We are open, we are closed. We can have yoga classes, we can’t. We can meet in person, essential services, such as support groups. Ooops, no we can’t. We mask. We don’t. Eessh, what a year! Confusing for everyone! We want to acknowledge that the rental groups, our economic engine in this hall, were always in conversation, always alert to changes, always stepping in to effectively follow Public Health’s often confusing and conflicting instructions. (Even our neighbours helped!) And the teachers of those classes were always ready to sacrifice the scarce income that their classes would bring to them!
The board acknowledges the following folks for their leadership, kindness and proactive and responsible actions: Emma Bashford, Sandra Tonn, Grant Fischer and the members of Grapeviners, Frances and the Writers Group and a few brave independents who were patient and careful during the use of the hall under these new health protocols. I also want to acknowledge what I will call our “virtual” leaders in holding community together during these times. Pat Buckna, Sherry McKnight and Tyler Bartfai to name only a few! They and the performers they attracted, brought music right into the living rooms of our community! What a wonderful difference that made to the prolonged periods of isolation!
Moving forward, the board will continue to follow the highest recommendations from the Public Health office during the months and perhaps (maybe yes, maybe no?) years ahead. We will be cautiously optimistic. We have a show coming August 13th and are delighted that live music will once again be heard in the hall. We will be limited, however, in capacity, in movement, in the regular things we have done in the past. But we will adapt, with humour, with kindness and with our larger community’s interests at the heart of our actions. Will it be uncomfortable at times? Maybe yes, maybe no.
To this year’s outgoing board members: Thank YOU. For hanging in there, for holding on, for your endless hours of contributions, for showing up! And to those board members standing for re-election: a deep gratitude for having you once again on this team. Will we carry on. Together. No maybes about it!
Annabelle Tully-Barr, President