The Sunshine Report Roy Malool – An Amazing, Positive Spirit! 'Karen and Jay share thoughts on their great friend and community leader, Roy Malool' When we founded the Newport Sunshine Initiative five years ago, Roy Malool was 91 years old. A positive spirit with boundless energy, he was running his business, going into the office every day and most of all, committed to helping the community he loved. Doing all this in spite of the fact, that he was pretty much legally blind and had to be driven up to Dartmouth three times a week to get his kidney dialysis treatments. And of course, that yes, he was 91 years old. But you couldn’t stop this guy! Not surprisingly, when we founded the Sunshine Initiative, Roy embraced the effort with all his heart – and literally became my closest partner in driving the progress – revitalizing our great community of Newport, New Hampshire. In the course of our efforts together, Roy became a close, close friend. Karen and I developed a deep respect and fondness for Roy and his devoted wife, Eeva. I talked to Roy almost every day. The phone would often ring around 7 a.m., and it would be Roy. An idea to restore the Opera House, improve the school, revive the local newspaper, build a community center for the next generation, develop a ‘school to work’ program for our high school students or whatever else. Idea after idea. And, always with the most positive spirit and a firm belief that if we could just get good people together, talking, communicating with one another – then magical things would happen. When it comes to leadership by example, there is no one who can surpass what this man demonstrated. The town of Newport has benefited in ways that are beyond measure due to Roy’s efforts and generosity. And, I personally have learned so very much from Roy – and his leadership. Really a role model for so very many. So, it is with a great sense of loss that we said ‘goodbye’ to Roy a couple weeks ago at the age of 96. Newport lost a true treasure. And I lost one of my closest friends. But as Roy would say ‘the future is bright!’ Incredible opportunities. Our best days are ahead of us. When it comes to leadership in our communities, we often think that it’s solely the responsibility of our elected officials to find solutions to our challenges or problems. We may also look to them for guidance, inspiration, or a morale boost. While it certainly is part of their duty, it must also be recognized that community challenges require community-based solutions, and with that, support and action from the community. Whether it be local businesses, charities, just an everyday citizen, or a coalition of each of these, the strongest communities are the ones where local civic engagement beyond that of our elected officials is not only prevalent, but commonplace. And this is what Roy so very much exemplified. When President Teddy Roosevelt helped create the National Civic League, he boldly challenged Americans to, “be actors, and not merely critics of others.” Building community “takes a village” as the proverb goes, and this includes individuals willing to take responsibility for their communities. A few years ago, when the Sunshine Initiative was just an idea, it was Roy who first offered his support. He attended every event he could, health permitting, donated resources and capital, and made important introductions. Now several years later, thanks to his support and initial belief, that idea has flourished into a series of actions that have not only helped my hometown of Newport blossom, but has helped several communities across New Hampshire do the same. It’s Roy’s example that demonstrates how much we as individuals can do not only to inspire others to get involved, but address the needs and aspirations of our communities. Following a visit to the United States in 1831, French historian and Philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville wrote his famed book Democracy in America. In it, he expressed his fascination with the way in which Americans believed in working together as means of promoting the greater good. He went on to note that, “the health of a democratic society may be measured by the quality of functions performed by private citizens,” an observation that within the foundations of American society, even if we do so unknowingly, as citizens we tend to promote the well-being of one another, which strengthens us. It was also a warning that in order to promote the well-being of our democracy, we as citizens must take responsibility for it through civic duties. Roy brilliantly demonstrated in his own playful way that all starts with each of us taking ownership within our own communities. So, please enjoy this edition of the Sunshine Report. We are dedicating it entirely in honor of our dear friend, Roy. And, as we move on, we leave on a positive, upbeat note, in much the same way that Roy ended so many conversations with me over these past few years – ‘Jay, stay positive! Stay positive!’ I urge you, too, to stay positive and see the wonderful future that lies ahead. Read The Report Roy Malool – Local Legend   Read More Roy and the Newport Opera House Read More Positive Profile of the Week - Roy Malool This week we are delighted to highlight our dear friend, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and devoted community leader, Roy Malool, as our positive profile of the week. Truly a creator, Roy started his company, Roymal Inc., as one of the first to use water-based technology for printing on multiple surfaces. The company continues to test and design new products and be an innovative leader in sustainable coating chemistries for food packaging and other industrial applications. Roy was a true visionary and was tremendously excited by the sustainable, ‘green’ opportunities that Roymal could offer going forward. Exceedingly generous as a philanthropist, Roy created a family foundation and consistently contributed funds from the foundation to support a wide variety of initiatives to help the town of Newport, lift it up and enable it to be its very best. From small to large projects, Roy was generous and helpful. Serving on multiple boards, Roy gave great and needed input into the community and guided many endeavors to fruition. Roy was a great friend to his neighbors, and his sense of humor was one of his greatest qualities. He was the master of the ‘kazoo’ – giving out kazoos to kids, to business colleagues – and being the first to ‘break the ice’ in any social situation. As one of the first to encourage the creation of the Sunshine Initiative, Roy played a crucial role in spreading the positive message in Newport.  Roy will be greatly missed. The best way to honor his spirit is to generously give of yourself to the community and live a life of positivity and good will. Quote of the Week “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader.” - Dolly Parton     Jay Lucas | www.JayLucas.us  Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jay Lucas | 7 Portwalk Pl, Portsmouth, NH 03801 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected]