Sidney Mayor Proclaims Nov. 1 As Extra Mile Day

According to http://www.extramileamerica.org, 414 mayors have declared Sunday, Nov. 1, as Extra Mile Day; among these 414 mayors is Sidney Mayor Rick Norby. "This is a day where people are encouraged to go out and thank the volunteers, we have in our community that go the extra mile," stated Norby.

This year marks the fifth year that Norby has proclaimed an Extra Mile Day. 

The purpose of this day is to encourage community members to take time to acknowledge all of the people who are inspirational in their efforts and commitment to make their organizations, families, community, country, or world a better place.

This movement was kick started by the organization, Extra Mile America, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that empowers everyone to go "the extra mile". According to http://www.extramileamerica.org, the organization created this day as a way to "celebrate the capacity we each have to create positive change in ourselves, our families, our organizations, and our communities when we go the extra mile." 

Through Norby's position, he sees first-hand how much volunteer work goes into making the community run smoothly. He explained, "I have been the Sidney mayor for seven years and have been sitting on the Sidney City Council for almost six years, and through these positions, I see just how much volunteer work goes into the community. Without our volunteers, a lot of the stuff we do, even here at the city, would never get done. The boards we have are all volunteers - you take a look at the hospital, fire departments, ambulance crews, and all of our community organizations - these are all made up of people who donate their time in an effort to better their community."

When asked why this day is so important, he responded that many people who volunteer do not want to be recognized, so it is crucial to have a day where the community celebrates all of those individuals and organizations who are going the extra mile to make a positive difference.

According to Mayor Norby, this year is one of the most important years to have an Extra Mile Day. "I would say now is one of the most strenuous times for a volunteer to even want to help. Due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the community, it just makes it that much more important to give a special thanks to all of the volunteers out there."