In light of the recent conundrum over accessibility of information about our public volunteer boards, this seems like a good time to point out that the Vashon Library makes an effort to provide paper copies of the minutes of many of these meetings, including Vashon School District, Vashon Park District and Vashon-Maury Island Community Council boards, plus many of the VMICC committees. 

We have minutes of the full council as far back as 1990. Minutes of the committees are mostly complete for the past few years and available randomly from earlier years. 

We really appreciate the persistent efforts that have been made by Hilary Emmer, Joe Ulatoski and other VMICC volunteers  to ensure that these minutes reach us.

The Community Council minutes are located on our Government Documents shelves, across the aisle from the Holds shelves. They are in the second range of documents, fourth shelf down.

These documents provide a way to be directly and democratically involved in community discussions of local issues affecting our lives even if we can’t all make it to every community council meeting.  

Reading about the issues and the input of community members active on the council and its committees can prepare us to make informed contributions.

More informed participation by the community will lead to more thoroughly considered opinions when these issues come up for a vote.

Rayna Holtz