As I was scanning through this book, I found that it was not very similar to what we refer to as a 'Yearbook' today with pictures and events from the year, or in this case two, that passed. Instead, the book took on an entirely more serious purpose. I found long passages on what had been accomplished as well as future plans. However, as I was flipping through my brain halted on a page entitled 'Florida Code of Ethics'. I decided to read it in full and was very surprised by what I found. I thought that women's clubs often found their duty in feeding the homeless and bettering neighborhoods, but these women had bigger fish to fry. Their focuses included agriculture, environment, health, industry, community business and purchasing local goods. Their ideals for Florida were so beyond their time! These are topics that today are just being brought up as solutions to the decaying local systems across the United States. These are some of the most important missions of our time and also some of the most ignored. It is as if these women could see into the future. These women were very successful in changing the face of Florida with their great projects like the Everglades, but I wonder how different Florida would be now if they were even more successful; If their ideals were not unacknowledged and defeated.
My favorite part of the entire page, although the entire thing is brilliant, is the second to last paragraph. This section speaks of the importance of the whole. It does not ignore the importance of different or poor neighborhoods but rather lavishes on their importance. This to me could have changed the way Miami grew if this powerful idea had been spread. The nice neighborhoods with beautiful beaches would not be played up so strongly and the poor areas would not be as fiercely forgotten. I do not think I could say it more eloquently than them so I will place it below.
"I will not cast any reflection upon any other community in Florida realizing that every section has its peculiar charms and that the progress and prosperity of each community will, ultimately, affect the community in which I live."
This idea should stand very closely to the hearts of Miami locals. I think that the rougher neighborhoods are often pushed aside as less important, but in many ways they hold the power. The way their community is run affects the entire city as a whole. If Miami focused on all areas, instead of just the ones with obvious charms, the outcome would be an all around better city to live, work and visit.