Every year at this time we Groton Democrats honor one of our own. Truth be told, one purpose is raising money, but the honorees are all deserving, but this year’s is especially so.
Natalie Burfoot-Billing, a member of the storied Burfoot clan of Groton (brother Amby won the Boston Marathon lo those many years ago), has pretty much done it all.
Like yours truly, she has swept the table of elective offices here in Groton, having been a member of the Board of Ed, the Town Council, and the Representative Town Meeting. Unlike yours truly, she managed to get re-elected whenever she chose to run again.
But Natalie’s real worth, substantial as it was and is in those offices, is on the ground during political campaigns. We often don’t see much of Natalie at town committee meetings during the off season, but once the campaign season begins, she’s everywhere. Nothing gets done without a lot of willing workers, but those willing workers aren’t going to get much done without someone willing to take charge and make sure that the things that need to get done get done. That’s where Natalie shines. Calls get made, signs get posted, voters get tabulated. Those things wouldn’t happen in Groton without Natalie. Well, maybe they would, but not nearly as well as they do. We are a disparate bunch, but it all comes together during campaign season, and it’s Natalie that makes it happen.
One suspects that there’s someone like Natalie in every town committee-at least every successful town committee. We’ve had a lot of close elections in our neck of the woods, Joe Courtney’s first win being a prime example. Joe would be just another small town lawyer (like yours truly) if not for folks like Natalie.
If you’re a Groton Democrat, or wish you were, come to the Groton Motor Inn
99 Gold Star Highway (Rt 184) at 3:00 PM to honor Natalie and support your local town committee.
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