To the Editor:
The intent of this letter is to demonstrate my support and endorsement of Lori Dollard who is running for New Scotland town clerk. Although I do not live in New Scotland I am in the Voorheesville school district and I attend church and many other activities in Voorheesville so I care about who is elected to serve in New Scotland.

In these divisive political times, I deeply believe we need change in order to heal our broken society. We need creative solutions to our multitude of problems, at the local, state, and national levels. Too often it seems career politicians put their own interests over and above the interests of their constituents.

The desire to remain in power often appears to be the most important focus for many politicians. Gone seems to be the understanding of our elected officials as civil servants. One hardly even hears this term mentioned in politics. What might help us is to embrace the concept of servant leadership.  

In the words of Robert Greenleaf:

“The servant-leader is servant first … It begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first, perhaps because of the need to assuage an unusual power drive or to acquire material possessions …The leader-first and the servant-first are two extreme types. Between them there are shadings and blends that are part of the infinite variety of human nature.

“The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and difficult to administer, is: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the effect on the least privileged in society? Will they benefit or at least not be further deprived?

“A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the accumulation and exercise of power by one at the ‘top of the pyramid,’ servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

Greenleaf additionally states:

“This is my thesis: caring for persons, the more able and the less able serving each other, is the rock upon which a good society is built. Whereas, until recently, caring was largely person to person, now most of it is mediated through institutions — often large, complex, powerful, impersonal; not always competent; sometimes corrupt. If a better society is to be built, one that is more just and more loving, one that provides greater creative opportunity for its people, then the most open course is to raise both the capacity to serve and the very performance as servant of existing major institutions by new regenerative forces operating within them.”

I have known Lori for over 20 years now when we each had a child in a kindergarten class in Voorheesville Elementary. I can think of no one who exemplifies servant leadership better than Lori.

Her life choices demonstrate this beautifully. The hard work of raising loving and hardworking children demands a special kind of servant leadership. It is the good parent who “puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible.”

Lori and her husband have raised four children and are currently serving as guardians for a nephew. I am sure they provide a loving family environment for him and are a great blessing to him. I can attest that Lori and Brian live out their Christian vocations in their family and communities.

In her work life, Lori served as a kindergarten aid at Voorheesville Elementary. As a mother of seven children, I can state that this kind of work requires a compassionate heart, a lot of patience, perseverance, and a good sense of humor, all of which Lori has in abundance.

After that experience, Lori went on to serve as the activities coordinator at Daughters of Charity. As the former director of the Spiritual Care Department at St. Mary’s Healthcare in Amsterdam (which included a Residential Healthcare Facility), I intimately understand how important the role of activities coordinator is to the well-being of residents.

In her own words Lori said, “My greatest reward at Daughters of Charity, however, is when moments are created that bring joy and meaning and each participant experiences life enrichment, adding value to their day.”

In her role as coordinator, Lori earned valuable experience in running a department, balancing a budget, and overall people skills that would greatly qualify her to serve as town clerk.  

Lori has been very active in her faith community in a multitude of ways, again exemplifying what it is to be a servant leader. I know that Lori would make an excellent town clerk and New Scotland and its residents would be blessed to have her serve in this role. I unreservedly endorse Lori Dollard for New Scotland town clerk.  

Julie A. Gray-Bablin, Ph.D., MATS

Altamont