Oh What A Night!

Gathering Change, Inc., was asked to run the concession stand during last night's Concert on the Common sponsored by the Friends of the Lynnfield Library. The band Evolution was the attraction. They are a very talented homegrown group of musicians. Given the dreary wet summer we have had so far it seemed like everyone was happy to be outside. From our vantage point near the Lynnfield Meeting House, away from the band, we got to watch all the happenings. Children played a game of baseball across the common, some danced, while others played tag. A self-defense class did a demonstration to music during intermission and the winner of the Lynnfield Idol got to sing a solo. High School students volunteered to help the Friends of the Library and ironically we all wore yellow.

As MQ pointed out it was like we really lived in a community and she was right. This is what everyone looks like when they come together to enjoy each others company on a beautiful summer evening. There was no stress on the parents faces because there was no place their children needed to be the next morning. School is out and a lot of families are on vacation. There were older folks there as well. When 8:00 came the band continued to play because everyone knew these moments were few and far between.

As far as speaking to the audience to spread the word about our mission, I was given a few minutes before the start of the concert. I had put together what they call an elevator speech. This is basically a speech covering the top ten points you want the stranger in the elevator to know about your organization before the doors open to their floor, including an additional second or two to pull out a business card. I guess people listened because by the end of the evening we had a lot of money in our collection jar and most of it was green!

Perhaps the best part for me was spending time with this remarkable group of women who have given so much of themselves to this charity. Thank you MS for coordinating this event, you did a fabulous job. Thank you to MQ, JS, SC, JB, as well as two very special friends who helped us out SB and MB. I also want to thank all those who baked for us. And thank you MS and SS for doing such a great job selling the ice cream and slush and to BQ for helping with the set-up. Thank you to all the children who helped and it was beautiful to see you all getting along. A few of our members could not be there but a big thank you goes to YB for our beautiful table display. MS and MT you were missed.


What I took away from last night is that Gathering Change Inc., is also a community of families whose values and priorities say volumes about what is important in our town and in our world.

Oh What A Night!

Dorothy Goodwin