Advisor:
Daniel O'Connor
Upon Mr. Ruland’s retirement, Mr. Daniel O’Connor became the
sixth advisor of SEQ. “As the present advisor of SEQ, I am totally honored
to continue the work that began in 1970! I personally know all of the
previous advisors, and I have come to know many of the previous members.
Although I did not start teaching in South Country until September
of 1982, I have lived in this community since 1980, and I have been reading
about SEQ and its accomplishments since then.
I have always had a love of nature and an awareness of mankind’s
impacts on it. As a history teacher, I was first more cognizant of the
sequential impact humans have had on the environment; subsequently,
through my own pursuit of “hobbies” and continued reading and contact
with academia, I now consider myself an advocate for our environment.
I continue to canoe, kayak, swim, surf, sail, ski and hike. Most of
my “free” time is spent outdoors. I am immediately attracted to anything
related to the environmental, and I am passionate about sharing my opinions
and obtaining those of others. SEQ ‘found’ me, and I hope that I have
done right by it!
Since my daughter Bridgid’s (BHS ’98) first involvement in SEQ,
I was involved as well. I supported her and her friends and helped with
cleanups and attendance at Town of Brookhaven meetings regarding our
local landfill, “Mount Trashmore.” I preached the values of school recycling
despite the ups and downs of South Country’s administrative
changes, and explained to SEQ members the limits of our efforts due to
contracted agreements with ‘carters’ of our district’s wastes. Encouraged,
then frustrated, I continue to be a ‘guarded optimist’. I thoroughly agree
that we are, as a society, making definite inroads regarding environmental
issues, but I am alarmed by the slow pace of change. As a teacher of history,
though, I am fully aware that many changes take more time than we
want.
Most encouraging are the present members of SEQ. I am in my
fifth year as advisor, and I am happy to report that the spirit of what led
SEQ to exist is, indeed, very much alive and well. Present members continue
to strive for education and results via impulse, discussions, research
and the ability to prioritize one’s efforts. We do not claim to save the
world, only to do our part towards saving it!
