No, its not an advice column (perhaps). On the way to one of the inaugural meetings of the Continental Congress in early 1776, Abigail Adams wrote the following to her delegate husband John as he journeyed to Philadelphia to lay the blueprint of our now America;
You cannot be, I know, nor do I wish to see you, an inactive spectator . . . We have too many high sounding words, and too few actions that correspond with them.
--Abigail Adams
Likewise and even more so where essential city services are administered; municipal government much like the infancy of our democratic national government requires volunteerism and involvement. What with high finance and bonding, the complexities of interlocking highway jurisdictions, human resources dynamics and the myriads of state and federal codes not to mention local ordinances and land use/zoning rules and regulations. There are many "non-spectator" activities one can "cut their teeth" on in the city; i.e. Steel Days volunteering, Parks and Recreation work, planting of trees, senior citizen work, literacy helper, cleanup efforts, beautification, arts and cultural events, friends of the library and so on and so on. Elected office require 25-40 hours a month in preparation work, attending meetings and sub-meetings, returning phone calls/emails, site visits, citizen appointments, meeting with staff and outside consultants, reading and re-reading codes and general plan elements. Entry level it is not.
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