Campaign for Greater Buffalo executive director Tim Tielman told a packed house at the Market Arcade Theater what beign a preservationist means to The Campaign. Tielman introduced a segment of the documentary film Buffalo Unscripted, created for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The movie had its premier on Friday, Oct. 21. Campaign board members Chris Hawley and Bernice Radle closed the show with a meditation on hope. You can check out the movie info here:http://buffalounscripted.tumblr.com/

Tielman said, "Let me tell you what preservation means to us at the Campaign. Preservation implies action. Not merely celebrating those things of the past that have managed to survive, but actively working to make sure worthy buildings, parks, and neighborhoods do survive. 

"Preservation implies a willingness for front-line action when behind-the-scenes discussion isn't working. a willingness for the drudgery of research to uncover the story — that is surely there—that attests to worthiness of our action. 

"Preservation is a willingness to bring forth alternatives to destruction grounded in common sense, cultural respect, and value to our community— to do the public good. 

"Preservation is endurance. To fight vigorously, to tirelessly inform, to endlessly educate, to cajole, and when necessary, confront. Because, serendipity happens. The faded house and foresaken building may be so today, but with compassion, care, and understanding, they can shine tomorrow. In order to shine tomorrow, they must be saved today.

"Preservation is the knowledge that we are all in the same boat. We'd rather that boat be a well crafted sail boat or canal boat. Or an arc, with a place for everyone and everything, a bit cluttered and bearing the marks and character of time, but ever bobbing on the surface, calm or rough, being able to breathe fresh Cheerios-scented air. Not a sleek, cold, climate-controlled nuclear-powered submarine headed to the bottom.

"Lastly, to be a preservationist is to demand a role in creating the rooted, nurturing, sustainable history, architecture, and culture of tomorrow. To insure that our city does not have its humanity sacrificed to the machine, the whims of fashion, and maximum return on minimal investment. To fight to insure that our city reflects the warmth, depth, complexity and contradiction of us, it’s citizens."