Category: Conroe Courier

“What’s this world coming to?”  Admit it, you’ve said (or thought) those very words recently, and it’s a valid question given the new normal constantly being shoved at us.  New issues, new causes, new rules, new ways of required thinking.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong with new just because it’s new.  But, for those of us with a few miles on us, some of the new is so contrary to what we feel to be the truth that many are understandably concerned about the direction and future of the world around us and, in particular, its impact on the next generation.  Good news.  There’s reason to believe that the next generation is alive and well and making some very good decisions.  And that’s not just hearsay.  I’ve witnessed it with my own eyes, and you can, too.  
Allow me to (re)introduce you to Bentwater Volunteer Families (BVF). They’re a service organization generally made up of youngsters (6th-12th grades) living in Bentwater or having a relative in Bentwater and who are dedicated to giving back to the community.  Whether boxing food for local Meals On Wheels or writing letters to go with cookies being sent to our soldiers through Grammy’s Cookie Convoy or working alongside the Bentwater Civic Association volunteers during the BCA’s myriad recycling events, BVF regularly demonstrates why they are a force for good.  If you’re a parent or grandparent with youngsters here in Bentwater, you probably already know about BVF.  If not, the basic concept driving this organization is to have engaged parents and engaged young people (key word, engaged) actively working to be productive citizens through three specific disciplines:  philanthropic service, leadership development, and cultural awareness.  They just held their first meeting of the school year this past week so, if you missed it or would just like to learn a bit more about the who and what of BVF, just know that the group meets at North Shore Church at 7:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of every month.  I’m sure they’d enjoy having you join them, and being there in person just might brighten your day and adjust your attitude.  For more details you can reach out to President, John Hart at jhartrn1@gmail.com. 
You’ve no doubt heard by now, tomorrow’s Labor Day.  What you may not have heard is why.  What’s the reasoning for Labor Day?  Seems it has now been celebrated in some form or fashion in the United States for over 130 years but, like most things that have been around for that long, sadly, it’s pretty much lost its true historical meaning.  Too many of our citizenry have no clue what it’s actually about.  Most consider it to be the unofficial end of summer and/or the official beginning of a new school year and, of course, it’s both of those things.  But it was originally organized to recognize the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations.  With last century’s mills and factories now gone and the labor force dramatically evolved, today it’s mostly celebrated as a very welcome three-day weekend.  A time for grills and gridirons.  Yep, college football is officially underway.  You may have picked up on that after seeing dozens of folks’ favorite school banners popping up in neighbor’s yards throughout Bentwater.  Let the quest for bragging rights begin!   
Send Bentwater fun news and social tidbits to Bruce@TheLakeConroeGroup.com