The Big “Thank You” from Jud

Last night, I had the honor of receiving a 2012 County Executive’s Award for Excellence in Arts and Humanities for my work as the founder and chair of the Gaithersburg Book Festival.  We had an amazing turnout of Book Festival Committee members, elected officials, staff, sponsors, and Festival supporters.  We made a big statement!

For those who couldn’t make it, here’s the body of my remarks:

There were lots of reasons for my starting the Gaithersburg Book Festival.  Of course  I love great books and I’m fascinated by the creative process, so I’ve always enjoyed author events.  And I’m the type of person who tends to share his passions.

I also see this in more global terms.  Books shape, define, and preserve our culture.  They enrich our lives.  How the world would’ve been different, would’ve been less than what it is without, for example, “To Kill A Mockingbird” or “1984” or “The Count of Monte Cristo.”

Books carry on our collective wisdom in compelling ways, they introduce us to new thoughts and ideas, they whisk us away from our daily lives to show us what it would’ve been like to be right there – in Gettysburg in “The Killer Angels” or in flight training in “The Right Stuff” or riding across the prairies in “Lonesome Dove.”

And it’s that very whisking us away that makes reading books so important.  As the great novelist Ann Patchett says, “[reading] is a vital means of imagining a life other than our own, which in turn makes us more empathetic beings.”  And I’ll further add to that, ‘better citizens.’

I believe that we make our community and our world a better place when we promote and discuss good and interesting books.   And, even in Montgomery County, where that may seem obvious, where we’re already one of the most literate places in the country, we can’t take this message for granted.

This is a time when the book industry faces existential threats – a time when our attention spans are being atrophied by reading and writing in un-grammatical 140 character spurts – a time when our kids may pick up a TV remote, a cell phone, or an Xbox controller before they’d pick up a book.

I hope you’ll think about that and consider joining our endeavor.

Back in 2009, I set out to build this thing for our community so, to stand here this evening and be recognized by the community in this way… well, I can’t imagine a higher honor.   I’m just overwhelmed.

But by no means is this honor mine alone.   There are many who share in this moment, and I’m going to just recognize a few.

• Thanks to my family for their love and patience.
• Our Mayor and Council saw the value in this idea from the beginning and have been outstanding supporters of and participants in the Festival ever since.
• Our beloved city staff.  Everyone, from the City Manager on down, plays a part in it.  And, particularly Carolyn Crosby, Nansie Wilde, and Denise Kayser.
• My spectacular volunteer planning committee, who stay up nights and give SO much of themselves to make this thing a success.  They are our flesh and our beating heart.
• Our many wonderful sponsors and partners, some of whom I’m proud to say are here this evening.  Their generous contributions and expertise are invaluable.
• To the author community, whose work inspires us and whose support has meant so much.
• And to everyone else who has volunteered, attended, or otherwise championed the Gaithersburg Book Festival in any way.

I proudly accept this award on all of their behalf.

And, further, on their behalf, I invite you to join us next May 18^th for the 4^th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival.  All the info you want is at www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org.

Thank you!