PBA Talks Incorporation At November 5 Annual Meeting by Rhonda Dorfman

By Rhonda Dorfman, Pensacola Beach Advocates President

Recently I was fortunate enough to be in Washington, D.C. for a service at Arlington Cemetery. Afterwards, we did a little sightseeing. What struck me as I was viewing portraits of our founding fathers, historical memorials at the Holocaust museum, and our founding documents at the National Archives, was the intense level of frustration leaders had with the status quo and how they were determined to forge a better way.

For the writers of the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and Bill of Rights they were determined to improve the manner in which they were governed. Even if some opposed declaring independence they were dedicated to being treated fairly and having a government that represented the people. Discovering there were lots of ways this could occur, dedicated men who risked everything worked on a path for government and independence. It wasn’t easy. They disagreed a lot!

Fast forward to today and we are about to celebrate 250 years as a nation. I look at politics today, and while our system of governing prevails, we are still fighting over the details and arguing about a too strong Federal government, states rights, and the rights of the people.

Our only agent for change is us and our vote - dare we ever have to relent to a declaration of war like our ancestors have done in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, or the World Wars.

Elie Wiesel, a famed Holocaust survivor, always said it was about choice. We always have choices to make and how our lives may have been different if we made a different choice. He also said, “We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere…”

As beach leaseholders we too are looking for better governance, more accountability and we want everyone to participate and everyone to have a voice!

Join us at our Annual Meeting on November 5 at The Beach Church at 6 p.m. We are facing a crossroads and need to make changes in Escambia County and at the SRIA. We want you to join us to give us your choices, and make your voices heard. As history has taught us, government will only do what its constituents voice they want to have done.

Help us by joining PBA today. Go to PBAdvocates.org for more information.