When my wife Margery and I walked to the Dash Point Starbucks in the morning,we would remark to each other, “Look at all the trash on the side of the road. Aren’t people taught litter control anymore? It used to be that you would be fined$500 for throwing trash out of your car. It just looks terrible.”

One day, I said to her, “I am sick and tired of complaining about this. I am just going to pick it up myself,” which we did for eight years.

We also looked at each other and said, “Let’s choose to participate in volunteer activities in our community that improve it but aren’t rocket science. Things that don’t take all our time but together with others of like mind could make a small difference.”

This is the way I feel about being a volunteer member of the Mirror’s EditorialBoard. I saw it as an opportunity to participate in a unique way that might, just might, have a positive influence on our community.

And I believe my participation has been a positive thing. I am ever so grateful thatI have been allowed to participate on the Ed Board (that’s what we call it now that we are on the “inside” of the media).

Guess what?

It is not what people might think. It is enthusiastic discussion about issues important to our community, the quality of our lives, our families, our kids and their education, our merchants, our leaders, you name it — we talk about it.

And laugh, oh my goodness. If you like to laugh, this is for you. Your time invested will be rewarded tenfold. Go for it. Your community needs you. If you are a rocket scientist, you probably shouldn’t apply. The Ed Board is for “regular” people.

Pat Godfrey is a member of the Mirror’s Editorial Board. His term ends in March. If you are interested in applying for this volunteer board, email publisher Rudi Alcott at publisher@federalwaymirror.com.