Madisonians,

The flags are no longer flying at half-staff but our thoughts and prayers are

never far from the victims and their families of the September 11 terrorist

attack. We are deeply saddened by the heinous acts and their dreadful

aftermath. Hundreds of valiant firefighters, police officers and rescue

personnel became victims themselves when the weakened buildings collapsed.

The recovery effort will proceed indefinitely. A group of five Madison

firefighters was among the first wave of volunteers who rushed to the scene from

throughout the country to help with the initial rescue efforts in New York City.

I've been asked many times by people, how can they help? What can we do? There

are things we can do. We can donate blood to the American Red Cross and money

to any of a number of targeted relief organizations. We can also try to do

something in our own community that may make a difference, a difference in our

own community.

We have only to look at the great number of non-profit agencies that are

represented by the United Way of Dane County, or other umbrella organizations,

to perceive a widely felt need for volunteers to sustain a multitude of worthy

programs at the local level.

Having just presented the Executive Budget for 2002 to the city council, it is

very clear that government alone cannot achieve the goals we've set for our

community. We must rely on private individuals to step up to the challenge of

building stronger communities.

A Statement to the Community, signed by many Madison area community leaders and

citizens, was issued in the days immediately following the attacks. It assured

everyone that every precaution has been and is being taken to forestall any

subsequent terrorist attacks. It urged the community to remain calm and guard

against taking revenge against any particular ethnic group. The full text of

the Statement to the Community is accessible on the City Home Page at

www.ci.madison.wi.us We must keep working together to improve our community and

the world.