Meet
CCI Member – Phil Dabner 
Just a few blocks from the CCI office
on 22nd Street, Phil Dabner has made Des Moines his niche for many
years, along with his mother, brother and sister. Retired from the
Navy Reserve after serving 22 years, Phil wanted to be a part of
a close-knit community – a community he found with neighbors
and friends he has made through joining CCI.
How did
you get involved with CCI?
I got involved when somebody told me about CCI in my neighborhood—that
they had meetings once a month on a variety of issues; everything
from fighting drug activity to slowing down the traffic. When CCI
became membership-based, I became more involved with Ingleside Hills
Neighborhood Association. I didn’t know a lot of the people
who lived in my neighborhood, and it was good to meet the people
who were doing things not only in my neighborhood, but also the
city, rural areas and small towns.
What do
you think is the key to the success of CCI?
Plenty of enthusiasm; plenty of hard work. There’s always
something that needs to be done for communities, and CCI helps people
across Iowa get things done. Almost all of our members are involved
with the things they want to see get turned around, and they just
don’t give up.
Why are
you involved with all aspects of CCI?
The more you go to the meetings and the more you meet people, the
more you learn. I didn’t know about all the issues people
are facing in rural areas. I purchase beef every year from a family
farmer to help the environment and support our local farmers rather
than corporate farming.
The main reason why I’m involved
today is because there are so many other people involved. The CCI
community is growing and will continue to grow, and I think that
being involved with others through CCI has helped me grow with them.
|
