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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Celebrating Our Declaration of Independence: A Public Reading and the Planting of the Tree of Liberty on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 1:00 pm on the Longmeadow, MA Town Green. #Rev250 #MA250

Flyer with picture of a bas relief elm tree,
for Celebrating Our Declaration of Independence:A Public Reading & the Planting of the Tree of Liberty
Sunday October 4, 2026 1:00 PM Longmeadow Town Green

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Celebrating Our Declaration of Independence: A Public Reading and the Planting of the Tree of Liberty on Sunday, October 4, 2026 at 1:00 pm on the Longmeadow, MA Town Green. #Rev250 #MA250

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings UMass Amherst Friday, October 16, 3:30pm to 5:00pm EDT #TownMeeting #LocalDemocracy #MAPOLI @umassamherst.bsky.social Thompson Hall Rm420 & on Zoom. events.umass.edu/event/local-...

events.umass.edu

Local Participatory Democracy: India’s Mendha-Lekha and New England’s Town Meetings

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Tuesday, Sept. 15 7:30 PM "How a little hill town in central Massachusetts participated in the buildup of courage in the colonies to sever ties with the Crown" talk by Harry Pape, @cornelluniversity.bsky.social #TownMeeting #Rev250 #MA250 cornell.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Moderator’s Statement Read at the Annual Town Meeting on May 13, 2025 We have been called to meet here by the Warrant, which begins with "GREETINGS: In the name of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts." 1/ #Rev250 #Massachusetts250 #IndependenceDay #America250

Photos of two old documents, warrants from Town Meetings held in 1774 and 1776, called in His Majesty's Name and later in the Name of the People of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 04/07/2026

Last year and this year, Massachusetts town meeting moderators have been celebrating the role of town meeting as the spark of the Revolution. 🎇 #MA250 #Revolution250 #America250 my May 12, 2026 #TownMeeting statement is below 1

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Town Meeting was last night. Civic interest meant people asked questions and listened carefully. It was impressive.

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Longmeoadow Special #TownMeeting Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm in the High School Warrant here: www.longmeadowma.gov/283/Town-Mee...

longmeadowma.gov

Town Meeting | Longmeadow, MA

Read Town Meeting minutes and warrants.

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 08/10/2025

Happy Town Meeting Day! With appreciation to @massgovernor.bsky.social For the proclamation!

A Proclamation

Whereas French diplomat, historian, and philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville stated, “Town meetings are to liberty what primary schools are to science; they bring it within the people’s reach” emphasizing the significant role of town meetings within society; and

Whereas, Town meetings have served residents both for routine matters and in times of crisis by coming to public judgement on matters of self-governance; and

Whereas, The notion of participatory democracy was a foundational rationale for the American Revolution; and

Whereas Revolutionaries learned to engage in deliberation with each other to further their communities’ causes and pledged their lives and liberties to the principles of self-governance in their efforts for freedom; and

Whereas, The Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were crafted by town meeting members who sought to bring the precepts of participatory self-determination and democracy to the scripture of our founding documents; and

Whereas, The town meeting legislature and the principles it embodies are as vital and relevant today as they were amidst the founding of our nation,

Now, Therefore, I, Maura T. Healey, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim October 8th, 2025, to be,

TOWN MEETING DAY

And urge all the residents of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston, this first day of October, in the year two thousand and twenty-five, and of the Independence of the United States of America, the two hundred and forty-ninth.
By Her Excellency
Maura T. Healey
Governor of the Commonwealth
Kimberley Driscoll
Lt. Governor of the Commonwealth
William Francis Galvin
Secretary of the Commonwealth

God Save the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 04/09/2025

September 9 Special Town Meeting news from @reminderpublishing.bsky.social thereminder.com/local-news/p...

thereminder.com

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 25/08/2025

Town Meeting is community-spirited local democracy.

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Local democracy at work in Longmeadow, Massachusetts: a Special #TownMeeting on September 9, 2025 will decide whether thr Middle School Builidng Project proceeds to the next stage.

Screenshot
Special Town Meeting
Tuesday, September 9, 2025
7:00P
Longmeadow High School Gymnasium
Visit www.longmeadowma.govTownMeeting
to view theWarrant

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

In Congress, July 4, 1776 The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, ... #IndependenceDay share.google/fCCQE9KMpCz6...

share.google

Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling a...

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 05/06/2025

FRIDAY 6/6 @ Noon! Town Meeting ensures citizen's voices are heard in Longmeadow, MA. Jesse Cummings joins me in a Stories Change PowerPoint webinar to discuss how he advocated for change. #CivicEngagement #CitizenPower #TownMeeting #CivicMuscle #Advocacy #Massachusetts #MakeADifference

Poster with photos of 2 people, Jesse Cummings, Owner Titan Fence
Rebecca M. Townsend, Ph.D., Moderator Town of Longmeadow, MA

CITIZEN POWER: Advocacy in Action in Longmeadow, MA
June's Monthly Webinar
06.06.2025
12 PM ET/9AM PT

Stories Change Power

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Longmeadow #TownMeeting honored 98-year old Saul Finestone as Citizen of the Year!

Man in a Veterans hat at a microphone behind a lectern speaks while 4 men and 1 woman look on smiling. The woman is taking a photo.

One man in a blue jacket shakes the hand of a man in a hat and pats him on the back. Audience claps.

Man in Veterans hat and woman in green dress with a Gavel smile together

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Among the wonderful events at Longmeadow's Storrs Library next week is #TownMeeting 101! 4/15 6:00pm longmeadowlibrary.libcal.com/event/14112460

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 08/04/2025

TONIGHT: Speaking at Longmeadow's Select Board meeting tonight about Annual #TownMeeting on May 13, 2025 at 7:00 PM in the High School. Sharing info on TM prep, on participating, our new rulebook, & how we will commemorate TM & Longmeadow's role in the American Revolution. #Revolution250 #MA250

TOWN MEETING HOW LJBEAEAISSA TE I N LEGISLATURE Longmeadow's Town Meeting voters determine the budget and bylaws for our community through delilberation and voting on motions shaped during the meeting. Citizens have the power to decide what kind of Town they want by participating: Longmeadow is a wonderful community due to the decisions Town Meeting makes. 1. REGISTER TO VOTE Citizens must be registered to vote in Longmeadow at least 10 days before Town Meeting to participate If you are already registered to vote you are all set!
2. SHOW UP Arrive at Longmeadow High School Gymnasium by 7:00 PM. The Annual Town Meeting is always the 2"d Tuesday in May A Special Town Meeting is usually in October or November.
3. SIGN IN Give your name and address to the Clerk's Office staff member or volunteer who greets you as you enter. They will give you anything you need to participate
TAKE A SEAT Choose a seat on a bleacher or chair on the main floor. Adult non-voter visitors may sit in the Visitor's Section. Children may sit with parents or guardians. The Moderator will run the meeting. Rules are printed on the back of the agenda (called the "warrant").
5. ONCE THE MEETING BEGINS Each topic Article" " willl need to be 'moved" and seconded" before talking about it. Motions may be slightly different than what is printed in the warrant. Motions may also be amended.
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6. EVERY VOTER HAS THE RIGHT.. to speak (or not), suggest changes to the motion (or not) and vote or not).
7. TO SPEAK: Go to a mic in the center of the Gym. They are marked green (in favor), yellow (ask questions/make motions), or red (opposed). Wait for the Moderator to recognize you, State your name and address. Stay on topic and within time.
8. TO VOTE: The Moderator will tell everyone when it is time to vote. Voting is done by use of an electronic clicker. The Moderator wil declare the outcome of each vote.

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 19/02/2025

Rebellion declared in Massachusetts (1775) “On February 2nd, after two weeks of intense debate, Parliament voted to officially declare Massachusetts to be in a state of rebellion. 1/7 #Revolution250 #MA250

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

This was a lot of fun. The 250th anniversary of the American Revolution is a good opportunity to reflect on the power of #democracy and the deliberative and decision-making power of citizens in #TownMeeting. #MA250 #Massachusetts250

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Becca Rausch @beccarausch.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

#DailyDemocracy Day 52: what is your local legislative branch? Is it a city or town council? Town Meeting? If it's Town Meeting, is it representative (with elected members) or open (meaning any voter in town can go)? #democracy #TheMoreYouKnow #politics #mapoli #civics #DemocracyInAction #localgov

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Becca Rausch @beccarausch.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

#DailyDemocracy Day 54: local legislative operations. Who manages the legislative body in your municipality? Is it a city or town council president? A town moderator? How is that person elected to their role? #democracy #TheMoreYouKnow #politics #mapoli #civics #DemocracyInAction #localgov

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Yesterday I was delighted to speak with Longmeadow's Girl Scout Troop about local #Democracy, the power of people in #TownMeeting, and the skills we need to participate in a deliberative legislative body. We also talked about women in government. 1/

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Becca Rausch @beccarausch.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

#DailyDemocracy Day 37: local government form. Do you live in a town or a city? What kind of municipal government structure do you have? Mayor + city council? Town council? Select Board + Town Meeting? #democracy #TheMoreYouKnow #politics #mapoli #civics #DemocracyInAction #localgov

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

And who leads the municipal legislature? :) Most Massachusetts communities have a Moderator who regulates the legislative body, known as #TownMeeting or #RepresentativeTownMeeting Regular citizens are legislators, w/ proposal, deliberative, & decision-making power in Open TMs. #civics #democracy

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Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend @townmoderator.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Thank you, President Carter, Governor Carter, State Senator Carter, Lieutenant Carter Board of Education Member (and Chair) Carter, Citizen Carter.

State of Georgia

Secretary Executive Department

By His Excellency

GEO OP

Marvin Griffin

1776

Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy of this State and of the Militia thereof.

To

J. E. CARTER, JR.

Esq., Greeting:

By Virtue of the Power and Authority in me Vested by the Constitution and Laws of this State, and in pursuance of your election, I do hereby commission you as a MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION of the County of SUMTER

for the term beginning.

December 6, 1955

and ending

June 15, 1959.

MY THE GOVERNOR: Bou J. Wiggin

YOU ARE, therefore, hereby authorized and required to do and perform all and singular the duties incumbent on you as a MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION of the County aforesaid, according to law and the trust reposed in you. This Commission to con- tinue in force for and during the term pointed out by the Constitution and Laws of the State aforesaid, and above expressed, or until removed in accordance with the same.

Given under my hand and seal of the Executive Department at the Capitol, in the City

of Atlanta, the twenty-ninth day of December

in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty-five.

State Superintendent of Schools

Governor

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Adam Chapdelaine @adamchapdelaine.bsky.social · 16/11/2024

A work in progress starter pack for local government voices in Massachusetts go.bsky.app/9Jx35DQ

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Reposted by Moderator Rebecca M. Townsend

Rebecca M. Townsend @rmtownsend.bsky.social · 01/12/2024

Lights on the evergreen tree on Longmeadow's Town Green!

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