Undaunted, but, well, Daunted

Here's what I had to say at the inauguration of council:

"They said we were to talk for about two minutes, but in light of where we are, here in the Legion, and in honour of the recently late Reverend Ian Stuart, I thought maybe 40 minutes would be more appropriate.

I really only need about 40 seconds.

First point: if you ever have trouble puzzling out how to pronounce my name, because of its strange spelling, lean toward Robin Hood, and stay away from Gilligan’s Island.

Next, thanks to my amazing husband, Charlie Rentner, for his unfailing support and sage advice.

Also, thanks to my tiny terrific team, who believed right from the start that I might be of some use to the town. They went alone and with me on the alternately frying and frigid days to convince other people of the same.

I would particularly like to thank my sister, Darlene Elliotson for her relentless positivity and enormous faith.

And to the voters of Collingwood: thank you for agreeing that I might be helpful to you. It is a tremendous honour to serve and I will do my level best to deserve it."

Our ceremony on December 3rd was the first of five inaugurations I attended: Collingwood, Clearview, Wasaga Beach, Springwater, and Simcoe County. I've been to orientation, my first Committee meeting and last night, my first full-on council meeting. I am still working on exactly how everything works from a formality of the proceedings point of view, but I'm not the only one who's getting used to things being different or new, so I'm feeling fairly sanguine about any screwups. (Oh, who am I kidding - I'm nervous as I can ever remember being)

I'll be serving on the Corporate and Community Services Committee and the NVCA and will act as an alternate at the County Council if there's a time the Mayor or Deputy Mayor can't attend.

Since deciding in July to run for council I have worn makeup more days in a row than I can remember in my adult life. When I was on radio, my co-hosts were lucky if I remembered to brush my teeth, and I could go months without donning a pair of high heels. For the inauguration, I dug out my only remaining suit following a closet purge some years ago. It's 24 years old and I won't say it still fits; it fits again, thanks to all the walking and knocking on doors during the election campaign.

I'm planning to keep this page updated, but I'm still reading and re-reading the rules and recommendations about social media use along with reams of minutes, agendas, reports and bylaws. I want to be sure I do right by you and make the best choices. It's daunting, although I'm undaunted at the same time; my confidence that I can figure this out comes because you voters told me so. I don't want to let you down.