By Lynn Bartels
DENVER — Noel Ginsburg shared some of the lessons learned on the campaign trail during his run for governor when the businessman and philanthropist was honored Tuesday by the Jewish Community Relations Council.
“The most important currency we have as human beings is trust,” he said. “Telling the truth is not optional. It is essential to building coalitions and solving problems.”
Ginsburg received the JCRC’s Community Leadership Award at an event at the Grand Hyatt, where Gov. Jared Polis and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock also addressed the crowd and congratulated the honoree.
Among the sponsors of the event was United Water and Sanitation District that, along with Colorado State University and the Platte River Water Development Authority, helps Colorado’s farmers, municipalities and special districts meet their water supply challenges through controlled experiments using subsurface irrigation techniques at their research facility near Kersey Colorado. The Subsurface Irrigation Efficiency Project highlights innovative irrigation technologies that help farmers and municipalities put their scarce water resources to more efficient use.
The principals of United Water are major supporters of the Jewish Community Relations Council.
“Colorado and Israel share many of the same complexities when addressing water needs,” said Bob Lembke, president of United Water.
“JCRC does an incredible job of outreach to educate Colorado legislators on issues facing both Colorado and Israel — especially issues relating to water storage, treatment and efficient use. Many of the water technologies developed and perfected in the desert county of Israel are transferable directly for use in Colorado.”
A Facebook post of the event drew praise from Honey Wedgle-Gesundheit: “Bob Lembke, you are an inspiration! Thanks for everything you do to make the world a better place.”
Ginsburg thanked a host of people when he accepted the award, including his parents, Morris and Helen, who were at the lunch. He credited them with his values toward business and community.
“The truth is,” Ginsburg said, “this type of recognition has always been uncomfortable for me because I know without question that anything I have ever done has been the result of the efforts of many people.
“Success has always been a team effort.”
He became emotional when he talked about his wife Leslie and their two grown children, Corey and Ali.
Ginsburg said since leaving the governor’s race in March 2018, people often question whether he would do something like that again as if “who in their right mind would ever do it in the first place.”
“It was the experience of a lifetime. It has made me a better person and hopefully a more accomplished leader,” he said. “There is not a day that goes by that I don't draw on the lessons learned from the 16 months I was running.”
Those lessons include the importance of listening carefully, trying to understand where people are coming from and “giving a voice to the voiceless.”
“My appeal to you this afternoon is to use that voice in any way that you see fit.”
Lynn Bartels worked as a newspaper reporter for 35 years. Her contact is againlynn@gmail.com.
