Thanks, Carmin Reiss, for your service

For a decade, Carmin Reiss — alongside running her thriving, renowned mediation business yearlong, right here in Acton — committed countless volunteer hours each Town Meeting, once or twice a year, to guide us through our rite of democracy.

Town Meeting, with hundreds, sometimes almost 2,000, coming, is a very large undertaking. The moderator spends months preparing for each, with all the many aspects to be delivered. When the warrant is finally settled, a detailed article-by-article plan is made for the several nights in coordination with the many town boards, departments, and committees and the large, vital team who will get voters in and through the physical and audiovisual accommodations we take for granted each evening.

(Volunteer every year. Help is available to any and all who may benefit from a little guidance.)

At its crux, Carmin led each meeting — evenhanded, with good humor when it mattered, instant decisions, on and on — to ensure an absolutely neutral space where all points of view are respected, welcome. The essence of the democratic process. We are so fortunate.

This is just the main show. Carmin also found the time to be head of the Massachusetts Moderators Association. If I am correct, she also contributed to the latest Town Meeting Time, the rulebook by which our Town Meetings proceed. She saw Acton Town Meeting into two large, coordinated spaces. She was regularly available, over a decade, to counsel those of us working to bring remote participation. She thoughtfully brought clickers into use.

Carmin Reiss set a standard for moderator of Acton Town Meeting.

Thank you, Carmin.

David Allen

Heaths Bridge Road