Reflections on 2025 and Dreams for 2026

As 2025 wraps up tonight, I am reflecting on all the amazing things that have happened this year. When the sad news came to our community that the Dryden United Methodist Church was going to be closing its doors, a group of people were convened by Tom Sinclair to see if a community center would be possible in this space. Sitting around that table were some of the most dedicated and committed people in Dryden, who wanted to make this happen. We weren't exactly sure what it would look like when we got started, but we knew that we were going to be part of something transformative for our whole community.

Research, discussions, meetings with directors of other similar organizations in the wider community, drafting of documents and decisions on a mission and vision statement all happened in the ensuing months and each step brought us closer to our goal. When we found out the asking price for the building ($275,000), we knew we could raise this. Given a short timeframe from the sellers, we exceeded expectations in the next 2 months as members of the Dryden community and beyond stepped up to support this project financially. And during that process, teachers and instructors and potential volunteers told us their dreams for how the new Dryden Center for Community can help connect and strengthen our community.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be a part of this process. When I left my position at the Southworth Library on December 19th, I knew that I would still be seeing the friendly faces I had met over my years working there, and that the DCC will be working closely with other organizations, businesses, and individuals who are all working to make Dryden the best that it can be.

While we are not the owners of the building just yet, we are so close! It was disappointing that the judge who needs to sign off on the petition from the sellers could not look at it until early January, we know that this is the last step that is needed before we can set a closing date. And now January is only a day away. Then all the fun will begin!

I look forward to seeing YOU at the DCC!