It seems fitting that the title is A Life’s Work. Now that both of my children are in High School, contemplating what THEIR future will be, I find myself wondering what my impact on this world will be.  Certainly, like all mothers out there, I hope that my children are happy, healthy and kind, and contribute to society.  And I imagine that that is part of my contribution.  But I sometimes wonder, what legacy will I have left, after I am gone?

Winnie at Easel (from her website)

I bring that up because after returning home from our family vacation, we learned that our dear friend and teacher, Winnie Ferguson had passed away from complications due to lung cancer.  If you didn’t know Winnie, you missed out.  She was a truly accomplished artist and a phenomenal and patient art teacher, as well.  With a doctorate in art education, she taught high school and later was a university professor of art education and art therapy.  What she loved most, though, was painting.  Painting in oil and acrylics, and sharing that love of art with everyone around her.

She loved the way light played on a canvas and was particularly found of painting landscapes, nature and gardens.  What she could do with a paintbrush!  Her greatest joy was bringing that joy of art to people – whether it was teaching students in her private studio (my daughter was one of her students) to teaching classes at the Cary Senior Center (where my mother took a class.)

Plen aire palette knife painting

What Cary will miss most, though, is her commitment to this great community that we all call home.  Winnie was one of the founders of the Cary Gallery of Artists, and you may have seen her work around town.  (The gallery is located in Ashworth Village – and she has had many of her paintings displayed.)

Our family will miss her even more. She was instrumental in creating a “love of painting” for my daughter, supported me in my quest to be a public servant, and was always there with the presence to listen, the soul of an artist, the heart of a proud and strong advocate, and the will and fortitude of a community warrior.  She never took “no” for an answer – and said to me once… “Life is like a painting, if you don’t like what you have, just paint over it and begin again.”

Her legacy will live on in all that she has touched – and we will never forget the impact that she has made.

Our hearts and prayers go out to her family through this tough time, and know that our community is saddened by her loss as well.  Her “life’s work” will keep her memory alive in all of the people that she has touched in Cary.

Winnie, you will be greatly missed.

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UPDATE (6/27/12) : Winnie’s obit is posted in the N&O today.

Her memorial service is on Sunday, July 1st, 3pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh (www.uufr.org)

In honor of Winnie’s love of color and texture, she requested that those attending her memorial service wear bright colors.

(Pictures from Winnie’s Website)
Featured picture is a small painting she made for me during “Lazy Daze”, trying to teach me how to paint.

I should first say that I love doing that.  It’s always been my passion to help people use technology to improve their lives – whether as a Product Manager or Homeland Security Advisor at Cisco, teaching internet safety classes or training teachers to use technology in the classroom as a way to excite and engage students.

 Confessions and Solutions

My iPhone

And, I have a confession. I have an addiction to the toys.  It’s true. I have 2 smartphones, 2 Macs, a desktop PC, an iPad, and other gadgets.  I just love the stuff. And, I don’t think I’m alone.  Wherever you go in Cary, you can find people on their devices.  Folks texting, tweeting, or updating their Facebook status.  They’re “checking in” or using Foursquare, sharing tips and restaurant reviews, shopping and navigating.  They’re Pinterest-ing (an online bulletin board), posting photos on Flickr, and stumble-upon  new information.  (If you didn’t get any of those references, click on the links to learn more.)

So, we use these tools in our day-to-day lives – so why can’t we use them to improve our engagement with at the town, and with our citizens?  I think we can.  Scratch that, I know we can.

Town of Cary Webpage from 2004

Many years ago, a citizen (now Mayor Weinbrecht) joined and led the Information Services Advisory Board.  It’s an advisory board to council on technology and communications used by the town.  That board, under his leadership, did some incredibly innovative (at that time) things.  They worked closely with staff and council to recommend website updates & communication ideas, with a goal of opening up more of our processes to the web (such as online permitting, and posting meetings over video.)  Much of this work has garnered awards for the town back in 2003.

But, in my opinion, we haven’t continued that progress. We once called ourselves the “Technology Town of NC” – but that isn’t where we are today.  But it COULD be.

My Vision

A town that leverages our fantastic infrastructure to deliver “just in time” information to it’s Citizens. Using Social Media (like the town’s Twitter feeds and Facebook pages) to outreach to citizens – posting park and field closings (no more calling the phone and waiting for the answering machine.)

Raleigh's SeeClickFix

Enabling SeeClickFix – (here’s Raleigh’s version) a mobile app that empowers citizens to assist the town in identifying non-emergency issues such as potholes, broken traffic lights or clogged sewers. Citizens will be able to help us locate and identify issues, and be part of the solution to help improve our community.

Streaming Town Council and other meetings for those of us without access to CaryTV 11. A growing number of us have DirectTV, without access to our cable access channel. Let’s create channels of information, in small nuggets making it easy and quick to digest the content.

Mashups of GoogleMaps with greenways, bike paths and other “citizen created” layers. (Take a look at one from New York City.)

Teach Cyber Security and Cyber Safety to our citizens. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the U.S. and we should find ways to teach our citizens how to stay protected while they’re connected.  (Full disclosure:  I have a board seat on the National Cyber Security Alliance – www.staysafeonline.org. )

Citizen outreach and reducing paper – using online surveys and portals/blogs to more quickly engage with citizens, use more online communications to reduce mail and postcard printing costs, and collaborate with citizens.

 What’s Next?

So many of these capabilities and applications are not only low or no cost – but some may save us money down the road, while also increasing citizen engagement and satisfaction.  Plus, there’s always the cool factor.

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Featured photo by: Seth Meranda

But, then, I SMILE. Because I get to share all the amazing things she does as “Comfy the Clown.”  (Her real name is Carleen, by the way.)  Comfy is her alter ego. In spirit, body and mind. Comfy is a 5 or 6 year old at heart, with bright pink hair, a southern accent (my mother is from the midwest), and a penchant for chocolate and single men.  She’s what they call a “caring clown” traveling to all sorts of locations to brighten the days of people who don’t get many visitors, spreading cheer, entertaining the lonely by singing songs and doing a few crazy magic tricks.  Her frequent stops are at senior centers, nursing homes, Alzheimer wards as well as a few children’s hospitals and has even been to a prison (in clown, of course.)

It’s a Family Thing

For the last 5 years or so, I’ve joined Comfy in her Christmas Day clowning. (Not every year, but as often as I can.  My kids have clowned with her, as well, when they are able.  We are Comfy, Clever (me), Casper (my son), Citty (my daughter).)  We load up the car with stuffed animals that have been collected and cleaned all year, and we head off.  Our mission is to bring these “homeless pets” to new owners; folks that promise to love and care for them. I have never felt the joy of giving back as much as I do then.  The look of surprise on the face of a resident when she/he gets something soft to love and hug, along with a laugh and a joke from the clowns, or a Christmas song as we make our way down the hall.  Our presence seems to lighten the mood and bring smiles to otherwise stressed faces.

This year, my son went with Comfy to the Cary Total Life Center – an adult day care in Bond Park. They sang, they danced, they did magic and gave out gifts.  More importantly, they lifted the spirits of everyone there. Comfy flirted with a a few of the men, while singing with folks and telling jokes.

Watch them Smile

I’ve seen amazing things happen when Comfy “does a gig” at a nursing home. When people that were otherwise non-responsive, or quiet, will grab the microphone and belt out a tune with her Karaoke music playing, with such accuracy and vigor that you wonder why they were ever quiet.  When the staff looks at you – and whispers, “we haven’t heard her talk in 3 months”, or, “he hasn’t smiled in weeks” – I know that she brings more than just stuffed animals.  She brings joy and life back to a place that holds our loved ones.  She’s even taught a few others “the trade” and they now go out in groups, to spread even MORE CHEER!

Lessons Learned

Comfy has taught me more than how to put on whiteface and tell a joke or two.  She’s taught me what it means to give back.  What joy looks like on the lit up face of great-grandmother, and how just a touch can lift the stress from a tired man that has seen more than I will ever know.  She’s taught me how to let go of how things LOOK, and to be and feel young with enthusiasm, because that’s what clowns do.  She’s shown me that ONE PERSON can make a difference in the day of someone, and THAT difference could mean the world to them. And, most importantly, she’s taught all of that to her grandchildren – sharing a legacy of giving that will never stop.

Note: How do you get to be a clown?  Wake Tech used to offer classes called “Clowning for Adults” run by Linny & Mo.