Gallatin needs more oboists like Charlie

About 50 people focused on what it takes to make a healthy community during sessions held Monday and Tuesday at the Christian Church Fellowship Building in Gallatin. One goal is to encourage volunteers, who may not even consider themselves as community leaders, to focus and form ways to transform Gallatin into a community which reaches its potential.

People of all ages participated. A hearty portion of those attending were youth; students invited to participate were excused from classes all day yesterday to continue the forum.

No doubt the funeral services for longtime community leader Charlie Belshe affected the forum’s day-long session held yesterday. And yet, it seems quite fitting that as Charlie leaves us behind for a better place in eternity, we should revive our interest and effort in weaving the tapestry of this community. Charlie would like that.

During the opening session Monday, a video was presented to kindle the thought process. An orchestra played classical music. From the conductor’s podium we knew the music was titled “Construction.” Beautiful nature scenes were displayed while the symphony harmonized. But then, as in all of life, things changed.

In the next sequence a pianist not only improvised but antagonized the conductor so much that the conductor quit. Other instruments disjoined from the music and chaos ruled. The video showed scenes of contamination, destruction and waste. Then, from the ashes, a crumpled piece of musical score was picked up by one of the musicians who began to play from the last movement entitled “Reconstruction.” Others followed. Things weren’t as before. Some played from atop dump heaps; others played in factories or before a backdrop of industrial smokestacks. But the music, classical and as beautiful as ever, kept getting stronger.

When the video ended, the symbolism was discussed at length and opinions were shared. There were so many details and views to share. And as I reflect upon the experience, again I think of Charlie Belshe.

Tom Brokaw was writing about the Charlie Belshes of this community when he penned “America’s Greatest Generation.” World War II veteran, Lions Club leader, business leader, father, church member and more are itemized in Charlie’s obituary elsewhere in this issue. But in the video viewed Monday during the community forum, Charlie was the oboe player — capable and sometimes thrust into playing a lead solo, distinctive, and unique yet willing to harmonize and blend splendidly with others.

The oboist in the video attracted and encouraged others to be players no matter what the music, no matter who was leading the group. Charlie did that. The construction of Lake Viking is ample evidence of that. The successes of Gallatin Chamber of Commerce in years past is more evidence, and Charlie’s part in Gallatin Rotary Club. Charlie was a player in the first industrial development authority in Daviess County. He persevered during the ebb and flow of those groups and was helpful and supportive when new ideas and ways emerged. And there are so many other examples that family members and others close to Charlie can share.

Charlie was a banker and I know that means not everybody liked Charlie, just like not everybody likes lawyers or dentists or doctors …or, most certainly, newspaper editors. But even those who preferred some other music than Charlie’s would agree he made a difference. Charlie helped embroider the fabric of this community — family, church, friends, and service — in good ways. We need more Charlies, many more.

On Monday those 50 persons at the community forum divided into groups according to longevity of local residence. Each group was to identify significant events during their designated time span, give their era a name, and identify values to take forward. It was quite interesting and revealing.

I’m curious as to what name Charlie might attach to a lifetime spent mostly in Gallatin. Somehow, with that familiar grin and with a twinkle in his eye, I can hear Charlie say, “Good!”