As a representative town meeting member in North Attleboro for four years, I have a factual perspective on what transpires at a town meeting. In fact, most of the work of an RTM member begins long before the gavel strikes the meeting to order.

The interest and involvement of a member such as myself is a way of life, a constant part of what we do each and every day to try to keep apprised of what is going on in town. That means exciting things like attending various board meetings in person or watching them on the North TV government channel and calling various town departments with questions regarding their activities.

This has to happen in addition to the lives they lead: full time jobs, children's activities and many other non-RTM commitments, maybe even some relaxation if time permits.

So when it comes time for a town meeting it usually begins with rushing home from work, which more than likely is not in town, but may be in Boston or Providence or even further away. Hopefully your boss or a client doesn't delay your departure; hopefully traffic isn't bad; hopefully Johnny or Susie doesn't have a "crisis" going on.

Upon arrival at home you try to squeeze in a quick snack before heading off to the meeting; an actual dinner is not an option. Upon arrival at annual town meeting, the first order of business is a precinct caucus where, by bylaw, a chairman and vice chairman are elected each year, and there is also a possibility of filling any open seats. This can often delay a precinct from moving to the auditorium by the scheduled time of the actual town meeting, but laws are laws and the discussion in caucus is equally important.

Next, last-minute information is gathered at the RTM sign-in desk and hopefully reviewed prior to being discussed on the floor.

Town meeting finally gets underway, the proceedings of which, although structured, can be very dynamic. One three-hour night can often lead to two, three or even more nights of the same routine (rushing home from work, quick snack, etc). There are so many opportunities for delay or absence.

Finally, with the end of each day's session we head for home, typically around 10 p.m. We likely missed the Red Sox game. We likely haven't eaten dinner. Being impassioned about our work with RTM, our minds are awhirl with the night's events and where we will find solutions to the many town problems of tomorrow; effortless sleep is unlikely.

Finally, by 10:30 p.m. we are eating dinner, catching up on the rest of the family and world events before getting to bed at 11:30 p.m. or later. Tomorrow is a new day and it starts early, as usual.

All of this is done by choice, by volunteering our time to help move us forward; to provide a better future for all of us.

RTM members are civil servants; it is too bad many of our fellow citizens diminish this service, rate its members as slackers, and portray its existence as a burdensome roadblock to progress.

Kudos to our RTM members who quietly take on this role without praise while absorbing public ridicule despite their dedicated commitment to securing and improving the future of all townspeople.

DARRYL SAKACH lives in North Attleboro.