Called Upon To Serve

Last week, Ilana Landsberg-Lewis was a guest on the Gill Deacon show, where I work as a photographer and web producer. She's the daughter of Stephen Lewis and Michele Landsberg, and has followed in their famous footsteps by taking the reigns as Executive Director of the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

I caught up with Ilana afterward, to bring her up to date on the benefit The McFlies are playing at Hugh's Room on Friday. As I had done with her dad last fall, I got chatting with her about the nature and the necessity of commitment to the cause - whatever the cause may be. For her and for her father it's the world; for me, it feels like a struggle just to shoulder what's mine to carry in my local community. I need to learn a lot.

Talk turned to our mutual acquaintance, Holmes Hooke. He's a poet, performer, and presenter, who spends the bulk of his time supporting the community, doing the business and organizational tasks lots of people won't do. Incidentally, one of the many things he does is book other acts at Hugh's Room. Because of that, his own work doesn't get as much attention as I feel it should.

I asked him about that once, and how it made him feel. He said very simply, "Sometimes, David, we are called upon to serve." And not long ago, when I mentioned the work I do at the CBC, and how I try to support what Gill is trying to do, Holmes summed it up nicely once again: "That's your responsibility now, David."

I was recently called upon to serve: the membership of the Shelter Valley Folk Festival invited me to stand for election to their board. It was a huge honour even to be considered for the position: in the three years of the festival's existence, I've been an artist, sponsor, MC, photographer, campfire host, workshop organizer, videographer, sound recordist and audience member... all without ever attending a meeting. And I liked it that way. I don't like meetings, as a general rule. I'd rather play my guitar. But when called upon... how could I refuse?

And so I allowed my name to stand, and was again honoured by being voted on to the board. It's a difficult honour: a three year commitment to meetings, meetings, meetings. During that time I will be called upon to change, to grow, to face sides of myself I don't like and to investigate others I don't even know. There will be much joy, of course, but there will also be a lot of soul-searching and lessons in patience and commitment. It's for the sake of a cause that no one, even me at my most selfish, can argue with.

Just like what Gill is doing at the CBC. Just like what Holmes, the presenter first, then poet and performer does for the community. Just like what Ilana does for the organization her father built.

That's my responsibility now. I'm going to work hard it it. I need to.