Ed McDevitt’s characterization of River Forest government as having a “long-standing insider ethos” with power that is “closely guarded by the old network” doesn’t resonate with me [The art of small-town politics, Viewpoints, April 1].
When I retired from the Air National Guard after more than 28 years of service, I found I had some extra time to continue my public service with the village. I submitted an application expressing my interest in serving on a number of commissions. Two years later, I got a call from Cathy Adduci. She said there was an opening on the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and my background was well suited for it. Other than the information she had in front of her that I submitted two years prior, Cathy didn’t know me; that was the first time we ever spoke. Similarly, when we had another opening on the commission last year, we were looking for someone with the same work experience as the commissioner who was departing. Again, the new commissioner was not an Adduci “insider” or part of an “old network.”
The comment that “it’s very difficult to discern why someone would want to hold onto such unpaid jobs” highlights the very nature of all positions in River Forest government, from the president and trustees down to every member of a commission or board: We are indeed all volunteers. Why? It’s not difficult to discern. We volunteer because we want to do our small part to keep River Forest the stable, safe, and welcoming community that attracted us to move to the village in the first place.
I would encourage all River Forest residents who have a little extra time and want to do the same to complete a volunteer form at https://www.vrf.us/boards/volunteer.html. Or volunteer with the PTO, your religious group, or a civic organization such as Kiwanis, which is a co-sponsor of the annual Memorial Day event in River Forest. These volunteer efforts are what keeps our community such an attractive place to live.
Nate Mellman
River Forest