For the past year, I have been sitting in many, many meetings, sometimes the only one present outside of staff or other media. This sounds tedious. But one thing I’ve learned.

It’s important to be there.

Most of these meetings include elected officials, voted on by me, my neighbors and the community. And I appreciate the time it takes to work in these positions. These are not easy jobs if they are reading the materials and studying the issues.

So I respect those who have taken up the challenge, campaigned for the positions, and then find themselves placed in a totally new role.

Rarely are these people stepping into these jobs with experience. This is the ultimate of on-the-job training. Yet we ask them to manage people, figure out budgets and know all the cumulative knowledge about everything that comes across their table.

I know this because for 35 years, I worked in a world that was governed by boards of directors — most without management experience. Each month a lot of information was distributed to board members, to be read and studied. Some did. Others did not. Some said they didn’t worry about it because they trusted me.

That’s not a good answer.

The lesson I learned from those 35 years, is that trust is needed, but should never replace the personal education provided in documents, written reports and, yes, in meetings.

The people who have stepped into our elected positions need our help in understanding many of the issues. They represent us, and need to hear from us. Especially those who have solid knowledge, suggestions and ideas.

I know that by sitting in the room, I learn.

When I take notes, I learn more.

I know when I start to write an article for the newspaper I form questions, and investigate a bit more to clarify information.

I’m hoping it helps carry some solid information out into the public.

In the last few weeks, I have left meetings not wanting to write about what I heard. There are stumbling blocks and people who are getting hurt. No one wants to write about that. The social media platforms are ablaze, and not with good intentions.

I know that good people are getting criticized, who are doing the best they can. And things don’t always turn out the way they had hoped.

Sometimes they make mistakes.

So do I.

Everyone does.

Sometimes those mistakes identify a deeper problem; sometimes it takes a lot of studying to figure it out.

But they are trying to do a job within a very controlled environment. Open meeting laws dictate how and when they can talk, when they can discuss and how much they can say publicly.

Handling this perfectly is very difficult.

Some groups overmanage what is said, and to who, and when; others under-manage. No one wants to be accused of breaking those rules, but the public gets frustrated because things don’t seem to move fast enough.

As non-elected citizens we can ask, we can discuss, we can question. We don’t usually have all the information. But people can get it. As a member of the media, I can only do so much, talking about the issues, but not able to spend the time in-depth research would require. My days are already too long.

But others can help. They can call representatives, can ask for the minutes, can ask for documents, and study them. Anyone can talk with our local elected officials one-on-one.

When we talk to our elected officials, and we should, ask questions. Then that information can be used to devise a plan that will help.

Getting correct information out to “everyone” is very difficult. In this world of social media attacks and assumptions, the finger pointing and frustration needs to be directed to something positive.

So attend some of these meetings.

Learn about the issues, draw comparisons, listen, discuss, research.

And don’t be complacent. Get involved in the solutions. Offer to help. Run for offices, volunteer for a committee.

Mistakes are not made on purpose, they are made when people are tired, frustrated or don’t have the correct information.

The news in the paper can only go so far. It has to be read completely, then educate more from there.

Be part of the community and learn more about what is happening here.

Take a stand.

Be in the room.

Kolleen Taylor is the Community Editor for the Daily Freeman Journal.