We're made up of boards

Have you ever picked up the paper, read about some government action and thought, "I coulda told them not to do that?"

Mostly we elect people, step back and hope for the best. But that's not how it should work, even in a representative democracy. Sometimes you or I do know more about a given topic than our representatives. That's why in Seattle alone, there are dozens of boards and commissions made up of community volunteers who try to steer the city in the direction they think it should follow. Maybe you should be on one.

With so many boards, the city is always looking for people to fill vacancies. Michael Gilmore, boards and commissions administrator for the mayor, regularly sends out e-mails soliciting applications from people who either live or work in Seattle.

"I have an e-mail list with a thousand people on it who get my monthly e-mail," he told me this week.

People volunteer because it's an opportunity to be heard and a chance to do something for the city, a good mix of self-interest and community service.

Having to sit through monthly meetings might sound boring, but it isn't if the meetings are about something that interests you.

On Tuesday night, members of the Arts Commission were discussing the need to have more spaces in the city for people in the arts to display their work.

Arts education is Sergei P. Tschernisch's top concern, and serving on the commission gives him a pulpit for preaching the importance of art as a core part of education.

Tschernisch is president of Cornish College of the Arts.

Most of the 15 commission members have significant positions in the arts world, such as actor Tom Skerritt and Richard Andrews, director of the Henry Art Gallery.

It's one of the groups where expertise is a major criterion for appointment (seven of the members are picked by the mayor, seven by the council and one by the other members). But most anybody could add something to the Pedestrian Advisory Board, and there are many boards in between — the Bicycle Advisory Board, for one.

Gilmore, who helps screen candidates, said the city looks for expertise, interest and also for people who can take in a lot of information, weigh all sides of an issue, work with other board members and not be afraid to speak up in meetings.

Some boards are easy to fill, such as for parks, human rights and libraries. And this week there were eight applicants for one vacancy on the Seattle Women's Commission.

But the Fire Code Advisory Board usually has vacancies, as do the Aging Advisory Council and the Council on African American Elders.

There is a list and contact information at www.seattle.gov/mayor/boards.htm.

There are alternative ways of having your say. You could get very wealthy, or create an activist group, or get elected to something.

But joining a board might be simpler. Oh, meetings are open, so nonmembers can get a word in, too.

Jerry Large's column appears Monday and Thursday. Reach him at 206-464-3346 or jlarge@seattletimes.com.