who we are
The Door County Civility Project is a community-based initiative that advances the cause of civility in everyday life to strengthen our shared community.
steering committee members
orlaine gilbert
Mark
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Orlaine is a Wisconsin native with a BS in Secondary Education from UW-Milwaukee, 1969, and MS in Counseling and Guidance from UW-Madison, 1973. Living in Indiana for 4 years, she worked in a group home for adolescent girls in roles of school liaison and vocational counselor, younger girl house supervisor and assistant director. Returning to Fond du Lac, WI. in 1977 she became director of an AODA prevention/intervention nonprofit for adolescents for 4 years and then as a drug and alcohol counselor for 16 years. Moving to Door County Orlaine worked part-time for HELP as the Older Adult Advocate primarily focusing on prevention. Orlaine enjoys being a Director of a Duplicate Bridge game and also teaches the game. Currently, she is a bi-monthly contributor to the “In Search of Civility” column in the Peninsula Pulse newspaper.
"My last year at HELP I was working on eliminating Non Violent language when I went to a Civility training. I had seen how harmful violent language was on relationships as well as all other aspects of life. It is critical that the majority, if not all our communication, is civil in order for each individual to flourish." - Orlaine Gabert
Susan McAninch spent the early part of her career life in nursing, focusing on the hospice movement of the early 1980s, and then staying on as a hospice care coordinator for a total of 20 years in the hospice field. Her interest in human behavior led her to graduate school for a masters of social work degree, followed by a 16 year career as a psychotherapist. Susan and her husband, Jim, lived in Illinois for 33 years, where they raised their four children. Living in Door County since 2000, they are happy to be the destination location for those children, now grown, and for their grandchildren. Professional writing has been a thread through the years, including an award-winning co-authored guide for patients and families about pain control and articles about the joys and burdens of care giving. Susan authored a monthly “Dear Abby” advice column that was translated for a foreign magazine. Currently, she is a bi-monthly contributor to the “In Search of Civility” column in the Peninsula Pulse newspaper.
“I consider civility to be the space between us. Visualizing that space is a reminder for me that I have a choice in how to fill it. I choose civility.” - Susan McAninch Shirley Senarighi was raised on a farm in northern Minnesota. After a few years working in the juvenile justice system and finishing an M.A. in Educational Psychology she began a career in the public schools of Wisconsin, first as a guidance counselor and later as an elementary principal. She and her husband Rudy have resided in Door County since 1978. They always intended to return to Minnesota in retirement, but they fell in love with beautiful Door County. Besides the Door County Civility Project, Shirley has been active with the League of Women Voters of Door County, PFLAG Door County, the Door County Non-Profit Group, American Red cross, and Hope UCC. "I appreciate conversations I’ve had with people in Door County regarding civility; I’ve gain from their stories and perspectives. I look at civility as a conscious effort, when faced with a challenge, to stop, breathe, and think and then speak or act." - Shirley Senarighi Diane Slivka became involved in the Door County Civility Project to see if there was a way to share differences and address challenges when those close to you are far away in philosophies and ideals. She found that through the tools of the “Speak Your Peace” program there is hope towards mutual recognition of our differences, and I get to share that hope with, and, learn from others in our workshops!
Diane retired from the Sturgeon Bay School District after teaching elementary school for twenty-seven years. She is active in the WI Education Association Council Retired Educators and enjoys being a docent work at the Miller Art Museum. Reading is another her passions! "The civility we need will not come from watching our tongues, it will come from valuing our differences." - Parker J. Palmer "To me, a community that is civil can have discussion about matters that concern all, without being negative or aggressive. Being able to talk and not get upset about another’s point of view seems to be a rare thing in today’s world. In a small community such as ours, where we see each other often and work with each other, we must be more compassionate and allow each other to have one's owns beliefs, without getting bent out of shape about it." - Andy Starr
Andy Starr is a Door County native who resides in Sturgeon Bay with his young family. He is the Manager of Materials Management at Door County Medical Center. Sue Todey has been a lifelong educator having worked as a teacher, counselor, and central office administrator. She currently serves on the Sevastopol School Board, the Cooperative Education Services Agency 7, and the Wisconsin Association of School Boards. She was a consultant with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and continues to do part time consulting work. She is involved in a variety of community organizations. Sue lives on the family farm in Sevastopol with her husband and six cats. Patti Vickman had over 40 years of educational experience before returning to her home town to serve as Southern Door School District Superintendent. Key to her leadership has been her commitment to partnerships developed which prepare students to be college, career, and community ready. As member of the Civility Project’s steering committee, her district collaborated with the Civility Project to develop high school curriculum in civility which was recognized as one of the State Superintendent of School’s 2017 Friends of Education. "Civility means going beyond the 'golden rule' to the next level of treating others the way 'they' want to be treated: to be understood, respected, and valued as individuals for the unique perspectives they may bring to the conversation, their family, the workplace, and society." - Patti Vickman |
We appreciate the support and advice of our consultants:
Brey Bicoy, Door County Community Foundation
Rob Burke, University of Wisconsin Extension
Brey Bicoy, Door County Community Foundation
Rob Burke, University of Wisconsin Extension
our vision
The vision of the Door County Civility Project is an engaged community that values the opinions and ideas of others and is committed to civil behavior and discourse.
our mission
The mission of the Door County Civility Project is to foster and incorporate the principles of civility into the fabric of everyday life.
our goals
The goal of the Door County Civility Project is to advance and secure commitment to the principles of civility by:
- Demonstrating civility;
- Engaging and educating the community with a clear and consistent message;
- Providing the community with necessary support, resources, and tools.
our history
The Door County Civility Project, formed in the spring of 2013, is a community-based initiative to advance the cause of civility in everyday life and strengthen our shared community.
The Door County Civility Project was formed in 2013 after many conversations in our local communities:
This led the LWV DC to study the Civility Projects of Duluth-Superior, Truckee-Tahoe and Oshkosh, all based on the work of Dr. P.M. Forni, author of Choosing Civility and The Civility Solution. Patti Vickman, Superintendent of Southern Door Schools and LWV member, had previously worked with the Oshkosh project and helped bring their team to Door County in January, 2013. Over 40 people attended, including school leaders and leaders of non-profits, churches, businesses, etc.
When participants were surveyed following the presentation, there was resounding support to initiate a Door County Civility Project. Comments referred to the epidemic problem of bullying in schools, incivility at some public meetings and personal experiences in the workplace as reasons why our community could benefit from a civility project.
In May 2013 Core Planning Committee of twelve people formed and developed a mission and vision statement: “The Door County Civility Project is a community-based initiative that aims to foster and incorporate principles of civility into the fabric of everyday life in Door County. We hope to see communities full of engaged citizens who value the opinions and ideas of others and are committed to civil behavior and discourse. It’s not a campaign to end disagreements.
Disagreements can lead to healthy debate, which brings new information and ideas to light. Good communication is the key! We plan to reach not only elected officials and political groups but also regular people, in schools, neighborhood organizations, service groups, churches, businesses and even the parents on the sidelines of youth athletic contests. We believe that civility can be as contagious as incivility!
In July, 2013 the DCCP proudly became a fund of the Door County Community Foundation. The Core Planning Committee developed a strategic plan and budget, as well as program goals. Twenty people agreed to be part of our speaker’s bureau. As of (October, 2016 the DCCP volunteers have made introduced the Project to over 2000 individuals in over 75 groups in the public, private, non-profit, and religious sectors of Door County. 12 two-hour training sessions have been conducted around the county, including Washington Island.
This website, DoorCountyCivilityProject.org, was developed and the project's Facebook page has 300 + followers. The Door County Civility Pledge has been endorsed by over 1000 individuals and 35 organizations. An additional 11 businesses and organizations have endorsed the project through financial contributions. (See our Training and Presentations page for more details.) Public awareness of Tools of Civility and the Civility Project have been the focus of monthly articles in The Peninsula Pulse, written by Susan McAninch and Orlaine Gabert. READ MORE HERE
What we have learned from these many conversations with the people of Door County is while most consider themselves to be “civil people” and the groups they are involved with to “generally behave in a civil manner ” most also admit that they have had personal and professional experiences when they or others around them have struggled to be civil… usually when angry, frustrated or hurt.
Most of these local governmental bodies, businesses, and organizations have chosen to endorse civility; not because they feel they have not been civil in the past but because they simply believe it is the right thing to do, but because it may help their groups and their constituents maintain civility when the next “contentious” situation comes along…. and it seems they always do at some point.
The Door County Civility Project was formed in 2013 after many conversations in our local communities:
- In 2012 the League of Women Voters (LWV DC) noted that once again many candidates for local elected offices run “uncontested”. One of the noted reasons was that people simply don’t want to “take the guff” they saw elected officials receiving – a sign of incivility.
- In 2012, the Wisconsin Council of Churches promoted “The Season of Civility”. Church groups. including several local churches, conducted discussions of Parker Palmer’s book, Healing the Heart of Civility - increasing local interest in civility.
- In 2012 the LWV DC held seven public showings of the documentary film Patriocracy. The film focused on national issues but discussions held after each showing indicated the growing frequency of acts incivility (perceived or real) was a serious concern among attendees.
This led the LWV DC to study the Civility Projects of Duluth-Superior, Truckee-Tahoe and Oshkosh, all based on the work of Dr. P.M. Forni, author of Choosing Civility and The Civility Solution. Patti Vickman, Superintendent of Southern Door Schools and LWV member, had previously worked with the Oshkosh project and helped bring their team to Door County in January, 2013. Over 40 people attended, including school leaders and leaders of non-profits, churches, businesses, etc.
When participants were surveyed following the presentation, there was resounding support to initiate a Door County Civility Project. Comments referred to the epidemic problem of bullying in schools, incivility at some public meetings and personal experiences in the workplace as reasons why our community could benefit from a civility project.
In May 2013 Core Planning Committee of twelve people formed and developed a mission and vision statement: “The Door County Civility Project is a community-based initiative that aims to foster and incorporate principles of civility into the fabric of everyday life in Door County. We hope to see communities full of engaged citizens who value the opinions and ideas of others and are committed to civil behavior and discourse. It’s not a campaign to end disagreements.
Disagreements can lead to healthy debate, which brings new information and ideas to light. Good communication is the key! We plan to reach not only elected officials and political groups but also regular people, in schools, neighborhood organizations, service groups, churches, businesses and even the parents on the sidelines of youth athletic contests. We believe that civility can be as contagious as incivility!
In July, 2013 the DCCP proudly became a fund of the Door County Community Foundation. The Core Planning Committee developed a strategic plan and budget, as well as program goals. Twenty people agreed to be part of our speaker’s bureau. As of (October, 2016 the DCCP volunteers have made introduced the Project to over 2000 individuals in over 75 groups in the public, private, non-profit, and religious sectors of Door County. 12 two-hour training sessions have been conducted around the county, including Washington Island.
This website, DoorCountyCivilityProject.org, was developed and the project's Facebook page has 300 + followers. The Door County Civility Pledge has been endorsed by over 1000 individuals and 35 organizations. An additional 11 businesses and organizations have endorsed the project through financial contributions. (See our Training and Presentations page for more details.) Public awareness of Tools of Civility and the Civility Project have been the focus of monthly articles in The Peninsula Pulse, written by Susan McAninch and Orlaine Gabert. READ MORE HERE
What we have learned from these many conversations with the people of Door County is while most consider themselves to be “civil people” and the groups they are involved with to “generally behave in a civil manner ” most also admit that they have had personal and professional experiences when they or others around them have struggled to be civil… usually when angry, frustrated or hurt.
Most of these local governmental bodies, businesses, and organizations have chosen to endorse civility; not because they feel they have not been civil in the past but because they simply believe it is the right thing to do, but because it may help their groups and their constituents maintain civility when the next “contentious” situation comes along…. and it seems they always do at some point.
Organizational partners
We also want to express our gratitude and appreciation to many other supporting individuals and organizations. Here's a starting list in no particular order:
join us as a volunteer
Click below to send a message our way and become a volunteer with the Door County Civility Project.
