The word – ‘broadsides’ – pops into my mind. I’m thinking I know something about them, maybe from history classes in school, but I’m doing some research, anyway.
Early in the nation’s history, broadsides were public notices printed on one side of sheets of paper. Back then, people tacked them up on tree trunks and fences, I’m recalling from schoolbook pictures.
The word comes to me as I’m posting a modern-day version of broadsides around our community, here in the heart of California’s Silicon Valley. I’m posting community meeting notifications on bulletin boards, rather than tree trunks or fences. It’s going to be a virtual meeting, of course, because of the pandemic.
We have enclosed bulletin boards, which work far better than tree trunks or fences. They have windows you unlock and open, so you can tack your broadsides on cork boards. Sealed inside, with the window closed and secured, the notices stay nice and dry in damp weather, and they hardly fade or shrivel, when the weather’s sunny and warm.
It’s pretty cold, that morning. Not Pagosa Springs freezing cold, but, without the two face masks covering my face – one under another for added safety, during the pandemic – I’m pretty sure I would be seeing my breath on the air. A neighbor walking by says it feels almost as cold as Minnesota.
Why post broadsides on bulletin boards, when we have a community website, and we can also blast-email folks, to keep them informed? I’ll tell you why.
We need to do what we can to reach everyone, and while many people have PCs, and such, at home, some may not have high tech.
So, on this chilly morning, it’s my turn to take the extra step of posting broadsides about the meeting. And, I have to keep slightly older – but still important – notices on the bulletin boards, as well. That takes some doing, because you don’t want notices overlapping one another.
So, as I’m toiling away, I’m starting to realize that posting notices is, in a way, a public service. As corny as that may sound.
And then, I’m thinking about all the public servants in the federal government, and state and municipal governments, doing what they’re elected, or appointed, to do. Doing all the big – and little things — as they’re addressing public needs…keeping people informed, spending public money — the money people pay in taxes – responsibly and prudently – hopefully — and legislating, adjudicating, and so on.
That’s really something! Thousands of public servants doing thousands of things, consistently and diligently – one hopes, as well.
Of course, I’m thinking, some public servants perform public service better than others. Some are more dedicated than others. That’s human nature.
But, anyway, as corny as this may sound, I’m thinking I shouldn’t mind shuffling broadsides around on bulletin boards, having one of the broadsides slip from my fingers, in the wind, and having to chase after it. And, having to do some problem solving, when a lock on one of the bulletin boards jams up for several seconds.
Tacking up broadsides. Communicating the old fashioned way. Working things out.
If you’re serving the public, why not?