Entry bubble Turning One: Forty Years Later

By: Nancy | September 25, 2008 | Category: General

Baby Nancy and a jackolanternThree things have surprised me so far during Gov Gab's Birthday Week:

--The full heads of hair my fellow Gov Gabbers were sporting at the age of one, while I had more of an auburn fuzz going on. (I'm trying to beat down my feelings of inadequacy.)

--Joanne and I were born the same year. See, I thought for sure she was YOUNGER.

--And there was so much going on in 1968, the turbulent year that Joanne and I turned one:

Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr., Vietnam, Nixon, Hendrix and the Hippies—I missed it all. I had no idea on the day that I staggered my first steps around the coffee table, blew out my candle and grabbed a fistful of buttercream icing that two African-American athletes were raising their fists at the Mexico Olympics in a black power salute.

Back then, my world was all about letting my parents know when my belly was empty and my diaper was full. My folks and the next door neighbors who sang "Happy Birthday" to me around the dining room table were my entire community. And that really was the definition of community in 1968—the people living in the grids of streets and tracts of homes around you.

Forty years later, "community" isn't just about where you live anymore; it's also about who you are, and connecting online with people who share your experiences, interests and concerns, regardless of the location of the plot of soil or patch of concrete you—or they—live on.

Government's changed in those forty years, too. Sure, you can still get lots of information about your in-person community to help you find out about your town's services and history. But government has also learned to give you information customized for your life experience community, whether you're a parent, a military vet or active duty, a senior, run a business or a nonprofit, are a government employee or are from another country and want to learn about or visit the US.

Wherever you are and whatever your life experience, we're so grateful that you're part of the Gov Gab community. We love hearing from you and always welcome your ideas. I just wish I could email you a slice of cake to say thanks!

Gov Gab birthday cake

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: 1968   community   gov_gab   nancy  

 

Entry bubble Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.

By: Jake | January 21, 2008 | Category: General

Today federal and state governments recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day, so their offices will be closed (along with banks and some other private enterprises).

Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King's birthday is on January 15th and after much debate nationally, President Ronald Reagan signed a law in 1983 designating the third Monday in January as the official federal holiday. This is consistent with Washington's Birthday, which is February 22nd, but has an official federal holiday on the third Monday of February because of the Uniform Monday Holiday Act.

In 1994, after Coretta Scott King testified before congress in support of making the King Holiday an official national day of humanitarian service, President Bill Clinton signed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Holiday and Service Act. The Act expanded the mission of the holiday as a day of community service, interracial cooperation and youth anti-violence initiatives.

The Corporation for National and Community Service says participation in the King Day for Service is increasing every year. The MLKDay.gov website has ways for you to get involved with volunteer opportunities all over the country.

So if you have the day off, go and help live out Dr. King's dream.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: community   holidays   jake   jr.   king   luther   martin   service   volunteering