By By Adam Prestridge
Being a part of Leadership Atmore has been beneficial to say the least.
Not only has meeting other local professionals helped to build business relationships, but it has also helped in building friendships.
Like all the classes before the Class of 2006 we too look forward to reuniting periodically to catch up with one another. One way we plan on doing so is through the Atmore's Picking Up anti-litter campaign our class has taken on as its class project. In conjunction with the Atmore Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Atmore, we hope to encourage local business leaders and residents to take timeout on April 29 to pick up trash that blankets our area.
It has been said that you can't instill pride in someone; they've just got to have it. We're all reminded of pride on a daily basis as we drive the roads throughout Atmore and Escambia County.
The next time you pull up to a traffic light in town look around you. Is there any trash scattered in the gutters or in the median? The answer nine times out of 10 is "yes".
How do you solve the problem? Take pride in your city. Don't throw your straw wrappers out your vehicle's window after exiting the drive-thru at a local fast food restaurant and keep you soda cans inside your car until you get home.
There's a place for garbage and city streets, medians and sidewalks is not it. County back roads and woods is not it either.
It is said courtesy is contagious. Well so is cleanliness. If you don't throw trash out the window of your car, the motorist behind you will more than likely be courteous to Mother Nature and not litter as well.
Also, on April 29, residents are encouraged to clean up around their property. Again, the same applies as the roadways; if your property is clean your neighbor is more than likely going to clean up as well. Who wants to be the messy one in the neighborhood?
There's a lot that can be said about preventing litter in a town, but we've all heard them before. It's up to us to keep our town clean. And if you think you're an exception, think again.
So in 10 days, meet the Leadership Atmore Class of 2006 and other volunteers as we clean up Atmore. In the long run, it will be beneficial to everyone.
And until then, think again before you toss your trash out the window. Remember this, if you keep the town clean, you won't have to clean it up. Think of all the things you could do with you Saturdays then.
Adam Prestridge is publisher of the Atmore Advance. He can be reached at 368-2123. His column appears weekly.