On November 17, former board chair of the Tumbler Ridge Public Library, me, was at council to receive a pair of certificates for my long service and dedication to the board.
“Long,” because officially people are not supposed to stay on the library board for longer than eight years. But finding new volunteers can be hard, and it took an additional five years to find enough people to sit on the board so that the former chair (me), could leave.
The award was part of the Public Library Branch, Library Trustee Recognition Program, but also from the district itself, under whose auspices the library operates.
“We want to present Trent Ernst with a certificate of recognition from Tumbler Ridge, but also from the government and the many years that he has spent as a trustee on our local volunteer board here in Tumbler Ridge,” said Mayor Darryl Krakowka before the meeting started. “Without somebody like Trent as a resident in our community and to give what he’s given as a trustee to our community and to that board, we would not be in the place we are today.”
The mayor thanked him (me) for all the time he committed to the library board, both as a trustee, and later as chair. “He put in so many years, and we were holding him there because we were trying to find replacements. So, I do believe it’s important for volunteers to step up and join that board. But tonight’s all about Mr. Ernst, for taking the initiative and spending the amount of years on that board and not just on the board, but being the chair. I don’t think it’s the easiest job. Every four years a new council is elected. Ever year you can end up with a new liaison that is appointed as a voting member to the library board that you have to work with and catch them up to where the library is. So on behalf of myself and council and the community, we want to take the time to thank you and recognize you for the time you spent.”
The library is still looking for board members; if you’re interested in sitting on the board, contact publisher@tumblerridgelines.com.
Above photo: When the newspaper dude is also part of the story, what do you do? You take a selfie with council. Apologies to the rest of council for not getting them in the shot. Except for Ron—sorry, Councillor Hoffman—who seemed to be deliberately trying to avoid being in the photo.
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
