How the people who show up control who else gets to show up
Did you see this article? There really are a lot of different aspects to this subject, which I guess an online news article can’t cover.
When I read this I thought: meeting times also affect council staff. I'm certain that some of the same factors that stop women and gender-diverse people from becoming elected representatives also keep all kinds of excellent people from working for councils or being promoted into leadership roles.
Our communities are shaped by the people who *can* and *do* show up.
Some meetings I used to attend when I was a councillor at the City of Hobart could go on indefinitely - yep, no scheduled finish time. All the staff involved in the items up for discussion at those meetings had to stay just in case they were asked a question. Ugh. To make it even worse, councillors didn't, or didn't know they were allowed to, ask questions of the staff members who'd spent months writing the reports they were debating (or, sometimes just commenting on the picture on the cover because they hadn't read the report).
I'm having flashbacks. Hoo-boy. Give me a second. What was my point? Meeting times! They're just one element with a whole lot of knock-on effects.
Whose skills are currently missing at all levels in councils because there's no accommodation for people to manage their health, caring responsibilities, work or personal lives around existing work hours and expectations? Where are the bright, motivated, progressive people who could revolutionise our communities? They're making contributions somewhere else.
But, the good news is: the people who show up are the ones who can change things. Especially if there are enough new people to dislodge those who’ve had a good long turn. Cultures can change. So, if you have the right confluence of life circumstances to show up and open the door for others, your next council election is your chance (it's October for all Tasmanian councils, just saying). People can get elected with surprisingly small numbers of votes.
I break it down for you in my book, “Thank goodness you’re here!” and explain how you can create a successful, cringe-free election campaign.
I'd love to hear what you thought when you read this article. I had a LOT of thoughts. So many. I need a lie-down.