Monday Proof: Civic Duty

My third week at CityView magazine started today and the primary task at hand was to proof the Dec/Jan issue.  I am excited about the opportunity to proof, mainly because it allows me the opportunity to contribute to improving the content of the magazine.  Broadening the scope of interest in CityView is one of my top priorities and in doing so getting my ideas and edits considered is going to be a balancing act.   I don't want to come off as too pushy or opinionated and I try to be objective in my critiques and stance.  I have a history or being too wordy when I write- and have trained myself to eliminate as much useless wording as possible.  Space-fillers will not do well for improving readership and the more concise our pieces are the more room we have to do other good stuff.  I refuse to take the approach that we must replace the mediocre with what's better- but rather make everything excellent and continue to get better.  I feel certain the magazine would be better off if more people proofed it more carefully.  4 sets of eyes aren't as good as 8 sets per se- but I reckon it depends on which eyes and which mouths and which fingers are offering the feedback.  After around 3 hours I completed my first read through and know there is plenty of room for improvement.  I feel useful and continue to brainstorm.  Brainstorming is one of my specialities and a department of savv.

I like to stay informed about what is going on in my community.  Fayetteville's City Council has a lot of say in what goes on in our city with taxes, zoning/development, public services, etc and I like to make it to as many meetings as possible.  Tonight they will be meeting downtown at 7pm and I will be there.  One of the more important topics on the agenda tonight is to discuss how the council will fill the vacancy left by Wesley Meredith after he won the NC Senate seat from Margaret Dickson.  I am not too familiar with  city government, but I learn a lot at every meeting I attend.  Fayetteville's city council is a diverse group of white males, black males and black females ranging in age from probably 28-65.  The group seems to have pretty good rapport amongst themselves and their fearless leader, Mayor Tony Chavonne is a sharp guy and a tough read.  In political life an even keel is necessary and from what I've see he's got it in spades.  Sometimes I have premonitions and I've predicted the future more than once.  Sitting in on Fayetteville's City Council meetings makes it easier to see the future of the Ville.