remembers why his bank did not close early on September 11 and uses

that as a basis for his 2002 resolution.

staff members are close and we are a small institution looking to

become successful in a very big marketplace, and we just thought it

was best to stay together. Anyone who had concerns about their family

went home. But we had events unfolding on television, and staff chose

to remain here. We wanted our customers to know that we were still

in business and that everything would be handled as best as it could

be."

"The goal of our bank is to reconfirm the commitment of treating

people respectfully. We could see the expression on people’s faces,

both customers and employees. In this environment, everyone pulls

together. In spite of the turmoil, this environment was something

you could count on.

"We approach 2002 with a resolve to fulfill the commitment to

the communities we service. We need things we can cling to, to keep

our lives normal."

Mary Harrison

in Lawrenceville, says that after September 11 "customers were

flocking to the shop, saying, `this is such a calm, peaceful place

to be.’ They were looking for a place to be that was safe." Her

resolution:

customers

to not only shop but to relax and enjoy themselves. My goal for 2002:

peace and tranquility.

Emily Mann

theater

offered a community experience in this excerpt from a recent McCarter

newsletter:

September

11 finding my footing, but as I have been reassessing what we do,

I have found inspiration and a renewed sense of purpose. I was

grateful

to be in previews for "Romeo and Juliet" immediately following

the attacks, both because it gave me a focus and because that play

speaks so deeply to loss and the terrible legacy of hate. We reopened

our doors on September 12. I cannot tell you how many people

approached

me afterward to tell me how much it meant to them to come to the

theater

and to see that play. For them, being part of a community watching

"Romeo and Juliet" was a restorative.

One of the most uplifting moments of these past weeks occurred at

a McCarter jazz concert in October. It was a tribute to jazz greats

Miles Davis and John Coltrane, and after the first phenomenal number,

Herbie Hancock talked to a very sad and shaken audience about why

jazz matters — especially at this particular moment in time. I

cannot quote him directly, but the essence of his message was that

great jazz is about three things that are essential for all of us

to go on: trust, risk-taking, and the courage to leap into the unknown

together. As the crowd shouted and stomped its agreement, I realized

he was also providing a true definition of art.

When the band started to play its next astonishing number, we, the

audience, were elated, and I had to add a fourth component: hope.

Art at its best gives one hope, even when the art itself asks us to

travel to challenging and emotionally complex worlds, as is the case

with Dael Orlandersmith’s riveting new play "Yellowman," now

onstage, and our February/March production of Edward Albee’s "All

Over."

Theater tells us stories about ourselves in ways that no other medium

can. It reminds us of what it is to be human, and because it is live,

it is only "finished" at the moment of performance, with the

audience as a creative collaborator. During these difficult days,

we must now, more than ever, keep telling our stories together —

live. Therein lies the hope.

M. Kitty Getlik

Community College, offered these reflections and hopes:

time our family members are so spread out. A typical evening might

find one child at soccer, another at Girl Scouts, the other at a

friend’s

house, one parent still at work, and the other doing volunteer work.

So in the case of a terrorist attack it could be hard to confirm that

your whole family is safe and sound. I think perhaps this year

families

will work on doing more things together rather than separately. Prior

to September 11 I thought how decadent it was for people to allow

teenagers to have cell phones. Now I am seriously considering getting

one for my soon-to-be eight-year-old, so I can quickly confirm her

safety.

As an organization the Kelsey Theater has always been known as the

family theater, offering events the whole family can enjoy and attend

together. The arts have always been, not only a reflection of life,

but a way to reinforce positive values and achieve catharsis. Art

can cheer you up in times of sadness. I hope that in trying times

like these more people will avail themselves of the plethora of

artistic

offerings in our area, as we are lucky to have such wonderful

galleries,

theaters, concert halls and arts institutions so close to home.

Christopher Rice

EACH DAY, through December 31, the New York Times

devoted

an entire page to honor those who died on September 11. The length

and tone of each obituary was the same whether the deceased was the

head of a bond firm or a cook at Windows on the World. The profiles

told stories — painting a vivid portrait about the work, family,

hobbies, and accomplishments of each individual. Having read these

for months, I could often tell if a person had a passion for his or

her job or was simply tolerating work for the paycheck.

In a world where we spend so much time in the workplace, those who

have a passion for their work are lucky indeed. The fire fighters

profiled always loved their jobs, their sense of mission, and their

colleagues. After them, it’s a flip of the coin — not related

to position or station in life — as to who seemed to find

fulfillment

in their work. I feel sorry for those who didn’t.

Although BlessingWhite’s mission has always resonated with me, this

year’s events have magnified my own commitment to finding meaning

in the work I do. When I have a tough day, I review workshop feedback

to be reminded of personal achievements we’ve triggered, or I connect

with a client whose business goals we supported to remind myself of

why what we do at BlessingWhite matters. And, for me, like the fire

fighters, it is not only the importance of our mission but my

colleagues

— our BlessingWhite employees and associates — who cause me

to think that in my obituary it would be written "he couldn’t

wait to get to work each day."

Judith Lindenberger

Titusville-based

management consulting firm.

offers valuable insight about what people want from their jobs and

companies.

So one of my resolutions for 2002 is to apply these learnings to

strengthen

my clients’ leadership talent and to significantly improve their

business

performance.

Jon Shure

nonpartisan

organization. These comments are excerpted from the winter newsletter.

we so admirably are doing, there is a need to figure out what is

appropriate

policy debate and what is not. If the question "what kind of

society

are we?" was important before September 11, the question,

"what

kind of society will we be?" is even more salient today.

It is time to look through lenses other than ideology or financial

cost in our effort to rethink what government can and cannot, should

and should not do — and how to equitably pay for it. Progressive

organizations, progressive people, progressive beliefs must be more

engaged than ever before because we live in a place and we live at

a time where the need to care for each other is greater than ever

before.

Charles E. Metcalf

600 Alexander Park.

concerns

as of late, important domestic policy decisions loom in the year

ahead.

For instance, Congress will be turning to the reauthorization of the

welfare and food stamp programs. State and federal government must

also confront the problem of how to help recently laid-off workers

return to work, an issue that has become increasingly pressing in

the days since September 11, as many low-wage workers have lost their

jobs due to the failing economy. In the days ahead, policymakers will

also be considering how to ensure that citizens have access to

equitable,

affordable, quality health care and how to help children, particularly

at-risk ones, succeed in school.

Mathematica Policy Research looks forward to providing sound,

objective

information and careful analyses to these debates. The firm has been

at the forefront of social policy research for more than 30 years.

Through its rigorous, nonpartisan research, the company will continue

its mission in 2002 — to improve public well-being by bringing

the highest standards to bear on its work.

Marty Johnson

nonprofit dedicated to community building. These comments are

excerpted

from the organization’s 20th annual newsletter, published in the fall

of 2001.

front page recently noted a broad increase in binge drinking, eating,

and consuming — the results of a fatalistic, deeply cynical,

to-hell-with-the-future

response to terror.

Even more worrisome is the potential for the attacks to accelerate

already eroding trust levels in society. Sociologists cite a gradual,

25-year breakdown of people’s trust in institutions — from

religious

to corporate to governmental. The "trust slide" is not fully

understood, but this we know is true — Isles’ greatest successes

occur when groups of committed people come together to meet their

own needs through training, education, planning, and developing

projects

that are important to them. These successes benefit countless

individuals,

but they hinge upon a trust in that group process. Without that trust,

everyone is weakened.

Then again. . . A more optimistic scenario may also surprise many

of us.

Perhaps the threat to our communities will trigger a compassionate,

more focused (as well as patriotic) response to the times. Perhaps

philanthropists will increase their support despite the drop in

assets.

Maybe we will zero in on the important things and understand that

— while we must go after the terrorists — one powerful

antidote

to terror is strong healthy communities, both here and abroad.

Hanan M. Isaacs

counsel at Princeton Professional Park.

20th year of my law and mediation practice here in Princeton. This

year also produced a shattering and powerful paradox, namely the

September

11 attacks and America’s response to terrorism. This state and country

have never been more receptive to Alternative Dispute Resolution

methods,

and yet we find ourselves in domestic and foreign battles over the

most fundamental principles of freedom and democracy.

As someone who is fully dedicated to conflict resolution, these events

have forced me to reflect long and hard on the importance of power

and force in negotiations and reminded me yet again that there are

limits to tolerance. And yes, that there are matters worth fighting

about and even dying for. As individuals and citizens of this

wonderful

state, nation, and world, and for me as a parent of two young

children,

we must develop the wisdom to understand and act on these important

distinctions.

Personally, I resolve to strengthen myself physically, mentally, and

spiritually in the New Year, which will allow me to withstand even

greater levels of community, family, and personal stress. I also

pledge

to continue my efforts at rational, productive, and reality based

peace building at a time of unprecedented community and individual

insecurity.

Corrections or additions?

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