Glad tidings over the holidays

[Elarien]

Glad tidings over the holidays

It has been a rough year for many of us. But we have persevered and endured what the year gave us and come through it a lot stronger as a region, and as a community. This is something as always to be proud of, even when your leaders like anyone make mistakes. As hard as that might be to contemplate.

It is different here in Lazarus, as we don't make people face mutual recriminations, we don't hold grudges for years or decades, and we can forgive when the time is right.

I know it has not been easy to be Lazarene, as it requires keeping an eye open for all the possibilities, including people infiltrating our region for the sake of it. Or other regions pre-judging our community, not realizing that Lazarus is a place where people like to relax and calmly discuss the issues, and enjoy our lives here regardless of religious, political, or cultural differences.

When people come to Lazarus, we don't assume they are spies or out to do us harm. We treat people with empathy, kindness, and understanding. It is for this reason, we rarely, if ever, raise our voices or shout people down. We listen, we talk things through, and we debate things without trying to tear someone else down or trying to make them feel small.

When contemplating the season, full of politics, divisions, and differing religious perspectives, try to accept that despite everything, we are all people capable of bringing good into the world, even if not all we do turns out like that, even if it causes hardship for others. Because in this region at least, we are all in it together.

And when it does come to running our region, we are transparent. We had to make the hard choices this year, in putting more power and influence into the Executive Council, rather than the Assembly. An Assembly that had been politically compromised for some time by divisions and factionalism, some of which was engineered from outsiders, and some of which was built internally over years and came to a head this year.

We will be making more political reforms next year, cleaning up our administration of the region to be more efficient, and building upon Lazarene culture so that staying in Lazarus is a far more fun and enjoyable experience. As we have listened and understood that people coming in may be confused by how our region does things.

Just know that whatever happens, Mmph, is the word, and our great team of Treadwellia (or Tubbius) our Delegate, First Citizen Domais, and myself - Elarien of New Rogernomics, are always here for you, right at the top of our region. So, if you need anything let us know, even if we get busy at times, we are always here for you, my fellow Lazarenes.

Giving you sincere well wishes,
Elarien of New Rogernomics
Herald (Vice Delegate)