A community relies on its mayors, city council members and commissioners to ensure things run smoothly and future endeavors are pursued with responsibility and attention to detail. Sometimes, however, it is those behind the scenes, those out of the limelight, or possibly even those crunching the numbers who make the greatest contributions to the successes of a community.
Hailey resident Penny Cook is one of the latter.
For the past 14 years Cook's "To the Penny Bookkeeping Service" has been caring for one of the largest bookkeeping accounts in the valley—that of one of the most community-minded organizations, the Blaine County Recreation District.
Cook, whose last day was Dec. 31, 2006, "loved working for the Rec District." They treated me like family, which was nice because one can be lonely as a subcontractor."
Cook saw great change occur at the Recreation District.
"I remember when there were just five employees and just a few programs and today there are about 100 full- and part-time employees, including a full-time program director," Cook said. "I have seen a lot of change over the past 14 years. I am the last of the old guard."
According to Cook, the real thrust behind the change was former Executive Director Mary Austin Crofts. "She built the thing from nothing," Cook said.
"She truly lived and breathed the Rec District—the trails, everything—it was all Mary. And she basically did it with three or four staff members."
Cook's reasons for leaving are twofold. First, "My parents are getting up there (in age), and I need more flexibility in case I need to go to their aid. I didn't want to be torn between my responsibilities to the Recreation District and the possible needs of my parents."
Cook's parents, who live in Lodi, Calif., a city just south of Sacramento, have trouble making the trip to the Wood River Valley. "If I am going to see them I have to make it down there," she said.
The second reason for leaving was the increasing time commitment the Recreation District was placing on her. "What used to be a 15-hour-a-week client has become almost a full-time client in addition to my core client base, and that doesn't leave much time for a life," Cook said.
"I would have to just add up hours. If I put in 40 hours for the Rec District, then I had to work nights and weekends for my other clients. I had to make up work somewhere.
"I loved working for the Rec District. I am very sad to leave, but at the same time I am happy. Life has become different for me."
Cook's plans for the future remain up in the air. "I don't know exactly what I would like to do. I know I would like to donate my free time to community benefits. I would love to give something back to the community—I just love it here."
In the meantime, Cook will continue to work with her regular clients, who are mostly farmers and ranchers. "I have the best client base," she said.
In addition to community service and the aforementioned core clients, Cook hopes to devote more time to the arts. "My sister and I make jewelry," and together they have participated in the Ketchum Art Show.
"My creative side is screaming to get out. I am tired of just adding and subtracting."
