Ask Not What Your Town Can Do For You

The first eight years we were married my husband and I lived in 7 different cities or towns. One step ahead of the law?  No, just movin' on up. When we hit the sixth place, Mill Valley, CA, we bought a house and for the first time in our lives became somewhat active in the town in which we lived. We joined committees and worked on water issues and proposed growth matters. We attended meetings, lots of meetings. We won on a few issues, we lost on a few issues. And after five years, we sold off almost everything we had and headed back to my original home state, Massachusetts.

It was when we began our lives here in Dover that I got even more active in the life of my hometown. First, I joined a food co-op- many women who met once a month to repack, for their own families, bulk purchased organic foods : seeds, nuts, oats, flour, peanut butter, spices, etc. It was good food obtained at a good price and a little volunteer work. Besides I met many Dover and Needham women who gradually became my friends.

From there I joined the Dover League of Women Voters and that experience shaped the rest of my years in Dover. Each year, the LWV used to take on one local issue, one state issue and one national issue which we studied, from all possible angles, and then presented the results of the study to the whole group. After discussion, a consensus was reached and the League would take a position for or against whatever issue had been studied.

Through the League I met many women already active on town committees and in town government. They were wonderful examples of what being a responsible member of a community meant.  These were women who put long hours of thought, research and action into making their community a better place to live.  The LWV used to try to interest other women in running for various town committees.  It explained what the committees did, what our jobs would entail, what our commitments would mean in terms of time and energy. The League also sponsored a Candidates' Night so that the town could meet all the candidates running for open spots on various Boards, hear them speak about what they hoped to accomplish, and then ask questions.  

In time, my turn came, and I ran successfully  for Regional School Committee and served for three terms. Later I served the town on the Warrant Committee and on a school building committee.  I had a full time job and two children. And yes, a full time husband who was a great support and help to me. (Way to go, Rog.)

But, for all intents and purposes, there is no functioning LWV here any more. There are no more Candidates' Nights. No need for them - there are no contests anymore. In fact, often we approach an election with no declared candidate for some offices.  The town is not well served by this state of affairs. I have the greatest respect for all Dover citizens who serve on the many town boards and committees.  But, they should be able to look forward to a hand-off at some point - another man or woman who wishes to volunteer for a few years and assume the responsibility of helping the town function and be a pleasant place to live.  We have quite a few months now before the next Town Meeting and Town elections. During this time, we should come up with some non-political, objective way to interest members of our community in running for town boards. We need to let them know what is involved.  Some independent sponsoring agency should present a Candidates' Night so that the community can get to know them and ask them questions.  We need to have contested campaigns for committees, and we should never have to go begging for someone to fill these positions. Surprisingly, sometimes begging gets you a good person, but that's not a reliable system.

So, I say to you, ask not what your town can do for you, ask what you can do for your town. Think about what you can do make town government function smoothly.