Lake Web site proves need for Internet portal

Thank you for your interest in WeLoveOurLake.com. Judging by the traffic on the Web site, it appears as if others have found it useful as well. The comments registered have been diverse and, for the most part, thoughtful.

I think that the numbers of e-mails and other communication received by the city of Whitefish, Flathead County and the Whitefish Lake and Lakeshore Protection Committee have increased as well, indicating that the public needed a portal to ask questions and express their thoughts about the lake we all love.

In visiting with longtime residents of Whitefish, I have become aware that the conflict and dissension we see today is uncharacteristic as measured by the history of the community. Most have told me that, in the past, Whitefish and surrounding area residents have been able to come to a consensus and move forward, even in the face of disagreement on issues.

By open participation and working together, they built a world-class public golf course, a top community ski area, a library, community center, health club, theater, skating rink, soccer fields — and the list goes on. Their combined skills, talents and determination exercised in a spirit of cooperation constituted an awesome force that has made Whitefish unique, I think, in every sense.

I fear that we are losing that spirit — partly because people feel excluded by lack of ready access to information and opportunities to make their voices really heard, not just “listened to” at public comment portions of meetings. Apparently WeLoveOurLake.com is reawakening that participatory spirit, and I’m pleased to have been able to help do a small part to address the need.

Please visit the site often and offer suggestions. We will try to post everything we are able to obtain that might be of interest to protect our lake and its residents. Please also consider contributing to the writings yourself. Together, we can all help Whitefish to again be the Whitefish we all love.

Rick Blake lives in Whitefish. He is responsible for creating the WeLoveOurLake.com Web site.