It is everyone’s responsibility to take pride in our community

Dear Editor,
In response to Jessica Deer’s rant in Teenage Wasteland, entitled “Better Investment”, The Eastern Door, vol.19, No.33, dated August 27, 2010, we would like to address her comments on the Kahnawake Beautification Signage Project Initiative, (KBSPI).
The KBSPI is a result of community interest and the committee organized a random selection of a focus group to give their input and thoughts on the project. An information booth was also held at the service complex this past May to inform the community at large and to receive feedback, which was extremely positive.
I would strongly suggest Miss Deer pick up the phone to acquire more information before ranting on how much she ‘despises’ this project and attain the facts before going to print. This is journalism 101, which should also be referenced in an editorial column.
Yes, $55,000 is a lot of money to raise for signs and maps, but this money is not all designated towards the fabrication of signs and maps. There are additional costs involved in any fundraising initiative of this magnitude and many people work very hard to see this project realized.
What Miss Deer omitted to mention is that there is a Company Profile Booklet that will be printed to the tune of $6,500.00 for 10,000 booklets.
The booklets will contain pertinent information on our community, highlight all of the donors businesses and organizations, as well as promote and enhance our local economy.
The committee will thank all of the donors for their stewardship by acknowledging them through the visibility in the booklet and maps.
There is also a graphic artist to pay, who counts on this type of work to put food on her table. It is also important to mention that she has also volunteered countless hours of her time along with other committee members to see this project realized.
If Jessica Deer or anyone else “despises” this project, simply do not donate to this cause or any other fundraising initiatives going on in our community that they do not support. The choice is yours where you donate your money.
Furthermore, if she has a “plethora of other ways to make Kahnawake more beautiful”, then Miss Deer, put your pen where your mouth is and organize a group of people to work on a fundraising project that you approve of. Do something about it and please stop criticizing our project.
What a “Teenage Wasteland”, spreading negativity. Turn your negativity into something positive and that goes for anyone else that feels this way.
We would like to thank our donours for their support and inform the community that we have raised $18,600 to date. A full financial report will be published to the community when the project is completed.
If anyone would like further information on the Kahnawake Beautification Signage Project Initiative, please contact the following:

Lois Williams,
Marketing Coordinator
at 450-635-2947,
or
Louise Mayo,
Project Coordinator
at 514-917-0461.