Last night, Bonnie and I sat “outside the rail” as citizen-spectators at the meeting of our Rutland City Board of Aldermen on the 2nd floor of City Hall — it is generally held on the first and third Mondays of each month at 7 pm.

There was a lot going on in the meeting; I did not understand or know the whole back-story for all of it, and although I’m sure spectators can ask questions, a lot went unexplained. It wasn’t the first time I’d attended one of these meetings, and I expect it won’t be the last.

I came away from the AlderBoard meeting wishing I knew more about how our local community leadership and governance functions. There is a helpful Rutland City website, Rutland Herald articles, Facebook pages, and other social media sources of civic information and education. As time and life permits, I am interested in learning more, gradually.

With all that is going on in our world, one thing we can do is pay attention. The first step to getting appropriately involved in being a citizen in a democracy is probably educating ourselves as to how our system –in this case our local city system – works. How does Rutland City govern itself, take care of its citizens, and structure the common work of security, prosperity, and community? Not only on paper as a municipality, but in actuality, as the people of our city, in the relationships and groups and conversations and meetings that make up our identity and discourse and politics? How are things done around here, and who is doing them? “Pay attention,” are the words that have come to me repeatedly, as I’ve considered all this.

Sometimes I’ve seen a Grace person or two at one of the city government meetings, but not always. We have an opportunity, as people of faith, to love our neighbor in this context, by being aware of and participating in our community governance. Issues of housing, taxes, business, safety, land use, and other aspects of our common life are being discussed; this would seem to invite our awareness, interest, and Christian concern. We are invited as part of our life of faith and discipleship to notice how things are run and to join conversations about the values and visions for our city.

I can imagine a small group of us having dinner or dessert before attending an Alder meeting together, and even talking about what we saw afterward. Also, the meetings are broadcast on PEGTV and recorded for watching on the internet, for those who are not in that upstairs room. Agendas for AlderBoard meetings are posted on the Rutland City calendar at rutlandcity.org.

Some of you are far more knowledgeable about our local government and history than I ever will be; I welcome your thoughts, advice, and feedback, as always please talk to me! And let me know if you’d like to join us to take in a meeting.

Blessings, — Terry