A Call to Citizen Participation

The city of Oshkosh currently has at least 7 citizen advisory boards with existing vacancies. These boards provide residents the opportunity to voice their position on the policies and actions of the city, and can be a powerful avenue for guiding the direction of the city.

To check out the boards and to access an application, visit http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Meeting_Schedule.htm

While the city has limited requirements for participation, Main Street Oshkosh has outlined what we believe to be an ideal advisory board player:

1. Must attend meetings and be ready to participate.

2. Should be willing to question the city when things are not clear.

3. Should be willing to oppose the city when they believe an action or policy goes against where they believe the city should be headed.

4. Should be willing to support and recognize positive and productive work completed by the city.

5. Should be willing to do something - for instance, not just sitting.

6. Should not be comfortable sitting on a board that simply rubber stamps everything that is proposed by the city. This type of board activity simply provides the city with a way to say they received "public support" and "committee review" without actually attaining either. We want people to think individually, to be reflective and inquisitive.

7. Should be willing to state their ideas and suggestions.

8. Should be willing to positively work in a group setting - after all, people working together gets things done.


Sometimes "for the greater good" isn't enough to motivate everyone, so some additional benefits to serving on an advisory board:

1. It can be a positive on your resume

2. Good opportunity for building networks

3. Good experience for learning the municipal process and formal committee structure

4. Good stepping stone for folks interested in future public office

5. Gives you an opportunity to stop just being a whiny bastard on your couch

6. When something is accomplished, it can make you feel great

So, again, to check out the boards and to access an application, visit http://www.ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Meeting_Schedule.htm

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