If You Ask Me / By Martha Knight

Dear Santa,

It’s nice to know you get the “Reporter Argus.” You and Mrs. Santa get lots of fan mail in it, and apparently the eight veteran reindeer and Rudolph are popular too.

I see many children have written you letters by sending them to the paper—Santalets, something like the letitors that newspaper editors get, which are also meant for sharing. You have many helpers, Santa, and when they read Santalets in the paper they pick up some ideas about what they can give people on their lists. You are so busy this time of year, you must appreciate it when other folks pitch in and help.

I am going to mention some things that I think would be great for people to get. Maybe those people didn’t think to ask you, or even send you a list. Maybe they thought they had not been especially good this year? Or maybe they don’t remember what you told little Virginia that time. Or they don’t realize they could use these items. Or they aren’t sure it matters. Well, Santa, just use your best judgment, okay?

It would be wonderful if you could bring certain volunteers some extra gas or a couple tires. But I know you don’t carry flammable liquids, and tires are too bulky for open sleigh transport. Can you just leave a little reminder for each Meals on Wheels volunteer that the many miles and hours they give are appreciated deeply?

The consumers who get those meals enjoy them, and the nutritional boost is critical for their health. Their families and friends are glad this service is here for their dear ones. The volunteer delivery teams get so little in the way of recognition, but they should feel a warm glow. Additional people are welcome to take some turns providing this caring service, if they let you or me know.

There are people who have been giving their service to the community by doing thankless jobs that they got by running for election. Gluttons for punishment, huh! But there they are, serving on the borough council or township board or board of commissioners or planning commission or school board or library board or in the fire department or some service organization.

We absolutely have to have people who will do this kind of work, even though in most cases it pays nothing. They know it is important that it be done, and done right.

Is there some way you can give them a sense of satisfaction in taking care of those responsibilities? Maybe when they go to the concerts and games and see what our young people can do, those school board members will be reminded that these opportunities are available to our youth because of decisions school board members make.

Santa, since you pay enough attention to know who has been good and who hasn’t, you probably don’t miss much. You would have seen that the Public School Code says that the major decisions about our public schools are to be made by “boards of LAY SCHOOL DIRECTORS.” Community members, not career educators.

So for those who recently were elected to school board offices, such as president or vice-president, a pat on the back would be nice for stepping up. Check their backbones while you’re at it, you clever guy. Presiding officers should preside. They should run the meetings. They call on administrators to help, but not to be in charge of the meetings. Or that’s the way it is supposed to be.

If they need it, remind superintendents they do not run the meetings, or shouldn’t. They report and advise and help supply information, and apply their administrative skills to carrying out the policies of the school district as set by the board, and the programs funded by the taxpayers. They are in charge of day-to-day operations, and assist as needed with meetings, but they don’t run the meetings.

Santa, some of those good souls who serve in local government could use their own copy, maybe a compact digest, of Roberts Rules of Order in whatever is the current edition. Sometimes they get flustered and flummoxed, and don’t know whether they need to postpone or table, or how to table, or how to reconsider or rescind. It isn’t as difficult as some of them think, but they need to be able to do it or things can get out of hand.

It’s really good of you to visit our community before your Christmas Eve delivery trip, Santa. Even when things are so hectic at the shop, you have been spending time at your little house on the Square, and visiting the school and Everyday Happynings and the Senior Center and other spots. Hardly any elves of any size, shape or age have your special powers that let you be so many places. You call on special helpers to do the necessary magic. I hope they have some fun. They deserve something special for welcoming the squirmy, sticky ones who tug at your beard from curiosity, and kick your shins out of youthful exuberance.

What many school officials, and local governments in general have on their wish lists are more state and federal aid, more reimbursement, and fewer unfunded mandates. Do you have any way to help that happen? As for governments at all levels, they think we are all Santa Claus! Please remind them we are neither Santa nor Daddy Warbucks.

Do give something nice to the folks who worked so hard to make the Christmas on the Square event come together. Clearly it was enjoyed. We could tell you had fun! Pat Bodamer recruited lots of elves and other helpers you were glad to have, and Peg and Gary McKervey and sponsors came through with a Nativity display that can be enjoyed for years.

As for us reporters, I know we have tried to be good. Some readers scold us. We put something in they think we should have left out; we failed to put something in they think was of utmost importance. We spell a name wrong or leave it out. We don’t make the deadline and either an editor or faithful readers are irate. Deadlines are earlier than ever, and printing schedules are unreal. Santa, we need a supply of No-Doz. and a noise filter that tunes out the Grinchy-Grouches.

Thanks for reading the RA, Santa. We at the RA appreciate all our readers. And we know what the season is about, don’t we?

Peace.