In August 2014, Hometown Mentors, Inc., HMI, sent out an email where ONE word stood out as very negative and in error. This email went to hundreds of people and was sharing the story of the new Hometown Hall of Fame: Cameron County Sports Edition, while soliciting donations. Most of the readers overlooked the error but a couple people pointed at it, as irony, and chuckled under their breath.
The writer and the proof-reader, both, overlooked the error before sending the email because spell check didn’t pick it up and they didn’t realize there should be a silent “e” at the end of the word. What do you do without spell check picking up your error? That silent “e” makes all the difference in this case and would have changed the word’s meaning from negative to positive!!
Because this writer performs analyses on absolutely EVERYTHING in her head, she came to the conclusion that HMI is just like that silent “e”. HMI changes the hometown negatives to positives. Perhaps a pompous statement, however, one organization CAN make all the difference. Take, for instance, that word in that August ’14, email. A silent “e” is powerful.
The word in error was “heroin“. Definition: “a highly addictive analgesic drug derived from morphine, often used illicitly as a narcotic producing euphoria.”
When you add the “e”, it becomes “heroine“. Definition: “a woman admired or idealized for her courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.”
HMI is proving to be as powerful as that silent “e” because of the hope and smiles that have been put on faces and in the hearts of people living in our hometown.
Take, for instance the Reunion Tribute Chorus with Sue Ann Beveridge Conducting which was held September, 2013. Prior to this concert, Sue Ann Beveridge and Ron Tusing never understood the totality of the positive effect their lives have had, and continue to have, on hundreds of people. The concert put smiles and memories in their lives that will be hard to forget.
Also, take for instance, the arson at the Prospect Park Playground in 2012. HMI‘s silent “e” changed that negative to a positive for all the residents of Emporium by helping the Prospect Park Area Association to organize and plan and finally make $62,000 worth of improvements to their playground. All of this done with grants and donations from hometown people giving back to their community. (This is what HMI does)