In my Humble Opinion: Attend local government meetings
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In My Humble Opinion
Jodi McDade
Last week I had an occasion to look back at the file on my columns and realized I have been writing for “The Coosa County News” since September of 2012! I had no idea it had been that long! I have covered many topics – some local, some state, some national. Sometimes I talked about politics, sometimes about events, sometimes about meetings I attended, and sometimes about personal matters. My life has always been something of an open book, and my intent has always been to write as if I am talking to YOU – no matter who you are. I want to thank all of you who have commented on my columns through the years and thanked me for saying things YOU would have liked to have said. Most of my topics have come from conversations I have had with many of you!
Everything to me has a local connection because I don’t think anything happens in this world that does not trickle down to us on the local level. Now that doesn’t mean that everything affects everyone. But out of all of the people in Coosa County, I think someone has been touched in some way or has a family member or friend who has been touched. I have not personally lost a family member to COVID-19, but I have lost family members to cancer. I have not had a family member killed in combat, but I have had many friends who came home from war without limbs or with PTSD. But I can feel for people who have experienced things I have not experienced.
Just because something is happening in Omaha but isn’t happening in Rockford doesn’t mean it might not happen here in the future. Living in small town America sometimes gives us the ability to be warned of things to come or to learn from others’ experiences. It’s kind of like fashion trends. I remember when the “Gothic-look” was the IN thing on the west coast, but it took a while to get to Coosa County. Same thing with dyeing hair all the bright, multi colors! Eventually we will see things start here – but we have had the ability to watch out for some of it.
I am going to encourage all of you again to attend local government meetings. Last week the Coosa County Commission held its first evening meeting, and I was delighted to see many new faces in attendance. I remember when I was working and kept asking why some meetings couldn’t be held at times working people could attend. I was told “we tried that before and no one came.” SO, here is another opportunity for those of you who work to get involved and find out what is going on. If nothing else, you can meet your commissioner in person and just say hello. Thank them for what they are doing or ask a question about something that is bothering you. If you want to speak to the entire commission on the agenda, contact the commission office the week BEFORE the meeting and ask to be included. They may not answer your concern at that meeting, but you have made your thoughts known to others in attendance, also.
But don’t forget that the morning meetings are also held every month, too. And, it is different business at each meeting. Attend when you can, even if it’s sporadically. AND, the Board of Education has monthly evening meetings so you can find out what the school system is talking about. Goodwater, Kellyton and Rockford all have Town Council meetings in the evenings, so there is no excuse for our citizens not to be informed.
This was a very strange Labor Day to me this year. The holiday was created to celebrate and thank all of the working people who make our country operate on all levels. But this year, we have so many businesses BEGGING for people to work and unable to find them. Sorry, but this is not the America I grew up with when we all looked forward to getting our first jobs to become an independent person. We understood we would start at the bottom and work our way up or move on to another job that might be more of our liking. But I don’t ever remember having a thought about NOT working – even if it was only part-time or temporary. But then again, back in my day charity was for an emergency only and came from churches. Then the government stepped in and created welfare to become a way of life.
As always, please pray for our country, our military and our leaders. God bless you all.