A Piece of Our Heart

by Wicky Sleight, MHC Board Member and 2002 Governor’s Humanities Awardee

“It is better to give others a piece of our heart than a piece of our mind.” ~Bishop Fulton J. Sheen

The Missouri Humanities Council Governor’s Humanities Awards are indeed a gift of a “piece of our heart.”  The 2009 awards were recently given to three outstanding Missourians for Exemplary Community Achievement and three Missouri authors and artists for Distinguished Literary Achievement.

As a 2002 recipient of the Governor’s Award for Exemplary Community Achievement, I can personally attest to the enduring quality of this gift.  Since nominations are secret, I was not aware that I had even been nominated when I received notification of the award.  The fact that Don Corrigan, editor of the Webster-Kirkwood Times and professor of journalism at Webster University, nominated me meant almost as much to me as the award itself.  I have always admired Don and his work.  He never fails to give a “piece of his mind” every week in our local newspaper but with this nomination he also gave me a piece of his heart.

The award led to Michael Bouman, then Executive Director of the Council, to ask me to submit my nomination for service on the Board to the Governor.  Governor Blunt appointed me to the Council in 2007.  Serving on the Council has been extremely rewarding.  Each Council meeting, and there are four a year, includes an educational component related to the humanities.  As a group we have visited the World War I Museum in Kansas City, the Lincoln Library in Springfield, Illinois, a Chautauqua in Kirkwood, a Museum on Main Street exhibit in Vandalia, and an historic house museum in St. Joseph.  We have heard from recipients of READ from the START programs and Read First! communities.

When we hear first-hand what our grants and programs have done for children, for parents, for families, and for communities, it makes all the lobbying, fundraising, and just plain hard work seem worthwhile.  The Governor’s Awards are one way we can give back to individuals and community organizations for their outstanding efforts in promoting Missouri humanities.

I love Missouri.  I love the diversity of the landscape, the diversity of its citizens, and yes, even the diversity of its climate.  As I suffer through these days of high humidity and heat, I can look forward to the wonderful tomatoes that will be produced in my backyard.  We also have to have summer to have fall, my favorite season, and we have to have winter to have spring, another favorite.  I will have the opportunity to take our new Executive Director, Geoff Giglierano, on a tour of this great state in the coming months.

I would encourage anyone who is reading this newsletter to begin thinking about those people and organizations in your community who deserve to be recognized for their “contributions to our understanding of Missouri, its people, and its stories.”  Do you know a K-12 educator who excels at bringing the humanities to life in his or her classroom?  Have you recently read a book written by a Missouri author which reawakened your interest in our history, our art, or our culture?  Do you know an individual or organization that has made special contributions to your community’s understanding of its heritage?  If so, nominate them for a 2011 Governor’s Humanities Award.  Give them a “piece of your heart.”

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