L. David Mech "Dave"

Nancy jo Tubbs

Nancy jo Tubbs is a writer who runs Camp Van Vac, a summer resort outside Ely, MN
Here she tells how she came to write a column for a local newspaper.

I am a notorious chicken when it comes to swimming in cold water, handling snakes and speaking my opinions in public. But, in Ely, MN, my hometown, I was one of a group of women who formed an organization and took a controversial resolution to the city council. It passed but created an angry backlash, and the council rescinded the vote.

The thing was, I noticed nobody died. I learned from the women who stood up and said what they believed to a hostile crowd that, while it could be scary, taking a stand is rarely fatal. What’s more, I learned that I wasn’t alone in my views. Community is a powerful force.

After the election in 2004 when a woman I respect for her political savvy said, “I think the Ely Timberjay newspaper should have a columnist who thinks like us, and I know who it should be,” I said, “Terrific, who?” Only too late did I realize that everyone was looking at me.

The award-winning Ely Timberjay gives me a chance to write one or two op-ed pieces a month. It’s during the writing I usually learn what I believe on the topic at hand. I juggle anger with hope, and a desire to rip someone’s head off with a firm belief in peace. Needless to say, the first draft always takes major editing. Nevertheless, I find it extremely satisfying to share my viewpoint with the larger community to encourage discussion and perhaps be a catalyst, encouraging others to speak.

Articles by Nancy jo Tubbs