President’s Message
Snippets from Sidna
Who is your neighbor? Is your neighbor someone who lives nearby or a friend who shares your interests? The name of our organization sometimes confuses people who think we are a group of friends who happen to live near each other. We are so much more than that…To paraphrase American philosopher, Elbert Hubbard, we believe a neighbor is “the person who needs you.”
We help those who need us in numerous ways. Through our diverse activities we help fulfill each other’s needs for fun, companionship, mental stimulation and physical activity. Through our Sunshine Committee and Cooks Who Care we offer help to our neighbors within our organization who have an illness or other family emergency. We help our neighbors in the larger community through our Service and Ways and Means committees, including collecting items for the Memphis Family Shelter at our monthly luncheons.
If you are like me when I moved here almost four years ago, you left close friends and family to move to a place where you did not know anyone. Shortly after our move, I mentioned to the owner of a local business that we were new to the area. Another customer overheard our conversation and asked if I had heard about New Neighbors. She handed me a business card and told me that if I left my name and phone number someone would return my call within a few days. That warm, friendly return phone call changed my life forever.
The name of the organization listed on the business card was “New Neighbors of Germantown.” Since I had moved to Cordova, I wondered if I would be allowed to join. Although we were still unpacking, I decided that I would sell my house immediately and move to Germantown if necessary.
Please contact me with any questions or comments you may have about New Neighbors. As our friend Mr. Rogers used to say “Won’t you be my neighbor?”
In fellowship,
Sidna
SIDNA BOOKOUT, NEW NEIGHBORS PRESIDENT