This is a picture of the church where I now work:
This is a picture of the church where I used to work:
(FYI: I was not the one who laid on her belly to take the first picture)
Showing posts with label Masschusetts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Masschusetts. Show all posts
Monday, June 30, 2008
Where I work
I thought I might share this with you.
This is a picture of the church where I now work:
This is a picture of the church where I used to work:
New England churches look a lot alike!
(FYI: I was not the one who laid on her belly to take the first picture)
This is a picture of the church where I now work:
This is a picture of the church where I used to work:
(FYI: I was not the one who laid on her belly to take the first picture)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Democracy in Action
Did you know that Massachusetts is one of four states in the U.S. officially designated as a Commonwealth? (Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania are the other three).This means that they have a "government based on the common consent of the people" as opposed to Royal Colony status from Great Britain. Massachusetts is one of the original 13 colonies; we take our independence very seriously. Our town doesn't have a Mayor - we're governed by Town Meeting.
A New England Town Meeting is Democracy in Action. An average citizen can come to town meeting, voice their opinion, persuade their neighbors and fellow taxpayers one direction or another, and vote on issues that concern their community. One person can mean the difference between an article passing or failing.
Our Annual Town Meeting was this week. I've attended hit or miss in the past, but now that I'm involved in town government it's important to attend. There were more than 50 warrant articles to be voted on. My committee had a warrant on the agenda; it was pretty much a no-brainer, and it passed without any problem.
It went pretty quickly for Annual Meeting too. All articles were decided in one night, and the meeting ended about 11pm. Some years the meeting has to be extended to the next night to finish it all up.
Next week certain articles that were approved at Town Meeting have a requirement of show up on a ballot; also on the ballot are individuals running for election (or re-election) to town positions.
Though it may be boring to read about (sorry!) it's kind of an amazing process to be involved in; especially to me, transplanted from a part of the country where this is not the norm. I'm more involved than I have ever been in politics or government.
Thus endeth the Social Studies lesson for today.
A New England Town Meeting is Democracy in Action. An average citizen can come to town meeting, voice their opinion, persuade their neighbors and fellow taxpayers one direction or another, and vote on issues that concern their community. One person can mean the difference between an article passing or failing.
Our Annual Town Meeting was this week. I've attended hit or miss in the past, but now that I'm involved in town government it's important to attend. There were more than 50 warrant articles to be voted on. My committee had a warrant on the agenda; it was pretty much a no-brainer, and it passed without any problem.
It went pretty quickly for Annual Meeting too. All articles were decided in one night, and the meeting ended about 11pm. Some years the meeting has to be extended to the next night to finish it all up.
Next week certain articles that were approved at Town Meeting have a requirement of show up on a ballot; also on the ballot are individuals running for election (or re-election) to town positions.
Though it may be boring to read about (sorry!) it's kind of an amazing process to be involved in; especially to me, transplanted from a part of the country where this is not the norm. I'm more involved than I have ever been in politics or government.
Thus endeth the Social Studies lesson for today.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Where, exactly, is HOME?
I moved across the country, from Oregon to Massachusetts, to marry my husband. I didn't choose the location, I chose HIM. Fortunately I like my little town very much. I'm very active in town and church, and have made wonderful friends. I've lived here 15 years.
Fifteen years, yet I still call Oregon home. My parents, sister and her family, aunts & uncles, cousins, all are in Oregon. If I lived there I probably wouldn't see most of the extended family that often, but I sure miss not being able to get together with them all.
The thing is, living in Massachustts, I call Oregon home. When I'm in Oregon, I refer to Massachusetts as home. This polarity drives me a little nutty sometimes. I feel a constant pull to Oregon; yet I have roots here, too.
In my own perfect world, Massachusetts would be about where Idaho is. Close enough I could still drive home for family gatherings and visits.
Fifteen years, yet I still call Oregon home. My parents, sister and her family, aunts & uncles, cousins, all are in Oregon. If I lived there I probably wouldn't see most of the extended family that often, but I sure miss not being able to get together with them all.
The thing is, living in Massachustts, I call Oregon home. When I'm in Oregon, I refer to Massachusetts as home. This polarity drives me a little nutty sometimes. I feel a constant pull to Oregon; yet I have roots here, too.
In my own perfect world, Massachusetts would be about where Idaho is. Close enough I could still drive home for family gatherings and visits.
I'd be interested to know if anyone else experiences this mixed bag of emotions about HOME. Maybe it's a KathyLikesPink phenomenon.
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