Macali honored as club's Outstanding City Employee

VIRGINIA BEACH, June 12, 2008 -- William M. Macali, Deputy City Attorney for the City of Virginia Beach, was recognized this evening as the Virginia Beach Rotary Club's "2007 Outstanding City Employee of the Year" awardee. 

Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera Oberndorf presents Bill Macali the hand-colored, calligraphy "2007 Outstanding City Employee" award. (Click photo for full view)

Virginia Beach City Manager Jim Spore (L) presents Bill with a plaque tha highlights the award's 28 winners and will hang in City Hall. (Click photo for full view)

Planning Director Jack Whitney (L) presents Bill a Revere Bowl in recognition of his great work. (Click photo for full view)

Following are Bill Macali's comments upon receiving the award

"Wow . . . I haven't had this much attention paid to me since Mr. and Mrs. Macali showed off their brand new, 7 lb. 8 oz. bundle of joy to the relatives some 55 years ago. I only wish they could be here with us today to share my pride in receiving this award, because it was their hard work and sacrifice that gave me the chance to get a good education, and their example that taught me the value of working together to achieve a common goal – which, to me, is exactly what this award represents. My name is on it tonight, but I hold it in trust for all of the people, both within the City government and without, who I have worked with over the past 23 years in the service of our community.

And what a community it is! I think I can say, without fear of contradiction, that Virginia Beach is just a terrific place to live and work, and I am so lucky to have been in a position to contribute in some small measure to the things that make our City a great one, and one that’s getting better all the time.

Think of it – we have it all – a wide, sunny beach, State parks where you can stand among the cypress trees or on a deserted beach listening to the roar of the ocean, and with just a little imagination, be transported back in time to a different age. We have silent waterways where the only sounds are the plash of your paddle slipping into the water and the songs of the birds watching you, miles and miles of farmlands with row upon row of tall corn or soybeans turning gold in the Fall, or big, fat juicy strawberries there for the picking, hundreds of neighborhood parks where moms and dads bring their children to play, and scores of athletic fields filled with softballers and future World Cup soccer players.

We have a new downtown just pulsating with energy and a sense of anticipation, a world-class aquarium, a dazzling performing arts center, and so much more. There simply are not enough hours in the day to name all of the great things about this city, and so I hope you'll forgive me for having mentioned a just a few of my favorite things about the Beach.

Virginia Beach, of course, is far more than just things to do and places to do them in. It is a living, breathing thing with 430,000 heartbeats, a City with an astounding diversity of races, religions, viewpoints, lifestyles and attitudes. It is this diversity, perhaps more than anything else, that is the engine keeping us moving forward into the future while not allowing us to forget our history and our heritage. It is our differences that unite us.

I said earlier that the City Employee of the Year Award represents people working together to achieve a common goal. It is that part of my career in public service that gives me the greatest satisfaction. It is only stating the obvious to say that whatever I may have accomplished, it has been only through the efforts of many other people who have shared my belief that government is a good thing, so long as those who work in that government remember always that they are here to serve the people they represent. We, as representatives of local government, could do worse – much worse - than to commit your guiding principles firmly to memory:

Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Yes, we are a government, and so everything we do is not going to make everyone happy – that is a cost of our diversity. But we CAN always be truthful with our citizens, we CAN always be fair to all concerned, and we CAN always strive to build a better community and to do things that will benefit the community as a whole.

Looking out at all of you tonight, I see many of the people I have had the distinct pleasure of working with throughout the years. They did so not because it was their job, but simply because they have such a strong sense of community and the desire to contribute to that community. For that, we who work for the City and who make the City our home owe them a debt of gratitude for giving of their time (which they have precious little of) and their talent (which they have no end of). It's been great to have worked with you in the past, and it will be great to work with you in the future.

Others here tonight I have worked with, of course, have done so in the course of their jobs, but to them, public service is so much more than just a job – it is a calling and a passion. I am proud to be counted among them and among the thousands of other public servants who comprise the City's work force.

Because you of the Rotary Club were so kind as to allow me to invite them, several of my fellow City employees are here with me tonight. Each and every one of them exemplifies what is best in government and public service. I count them not only as valued colleagues but much more than that, I hold them as my dear friends. To Les Lilley, Karen Lasley, Jack Whitney, Kay Wilson, Robin Stamper and Bobby Rountree, I say it has been my distinct pleasure to have known you and worked with you and to have been your friend throughout these many years – and Bobby, you may not get your paycheck from the City, but having been a fighter pilot, a squadron leader, the Executive Officer of NAS Oceana, and now the Deputy Air Operations Program Director and having played such an indispensable part in shaping the City's AICUZ program, you're one of us – I hope you don't mind.

Let me conclude these remarks by saying that, although I knew a little something about the Rotary Club before tonight – for instance, that the first Rotary Club was founded more than 100 years ago in Chicago (by a lawyer, no less, which explains why the Rotary Club has become so successful throughout the entire world), I couldn't have known – but only suspected – just how very gracious and kind all of you are. You have honored me more than you can know, and I will remember tonight for the rest of my life and hold it amongst my fondest memories."

About Rotary
Rotary has over 1.2 million men and women members globally in over 32,000 clubs in 168 counties. Rotary volunteers enjoy the camara-derie of a service club that provides humanitarian aid work and service at the local and global levels, as well as excellent opportunities for business networking. The business club encourages Rotarians to maintain high ethical standards in their businesses and lives, and strive to build goodwill and peace in the world.

David Rourk contact

david@rourkpr.com, (757) 478-0150

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