After purchasing three more old computers at the “Friends of Samuels” store at the library today, I treated myself to a haircut to get ready for the Warren County Board of Supervisors meeting. I’d been researching some questions they had sent to the Library since last week.

I wasn’t sure what to expect this year, given what happened last year. When I arrived, I thought I’d have to navigate a crowd and convince the sheriff that I was with the Library’s Board of Trustees. To my surprise, the turnout was much smaller, and getting in was easy. Even more unexpectedly, when I went to sit behind the president, director, and other key figures, I was asked to sit up front as the member-at-large.

We each took turns responding to prepared statements and offered input here and there. The main takeaway was that the Board of Supervisors requested a detailed breakdown of the funds they contribute to the library’s operational budget. So much happened during the meeting that it was a bit exhausting, and I was surprised by how many people approached me afterward.

It feels strange speaking to government officials on behalf of an organization and then getting attention afterward. It’s the staff who deserve the thanks—they’re the ones doing all the work. I’m just here to lend a hand.

The video hasn’t been posted yet, but it will eventually appear on the Warren County Virginia Board of Supervisors Meetings website under “Work Sessions” for October 29, 2024. The meeting lasted two hours, and my voice is still a bit quiet from being sick recently. A few members of the press were there taking photos, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see something in the local papers tomorrow as well.