Town hall meetings provide a way
to spread information, get feedback
By Kevin Dougherty,
Stars and Stripes
WIESBADEN, Germany — Frank Joiner moves from one cafeteria table to the next,
offering small slabs of vanilla cake on paper plates.
Some in the audience readily accept. Others beg off and return their attention to the
speaker.
"We are wrapping up re-stationing," said Army Lt. Col. John M. Metz, the
221st Base Support Battalion commander. "We still have a few families to move …
but, by and large, most of the construction is complete."
While the 1st Armored Division’s move to Wiesbaden dominated this community town
hall meeting Wednesday, other issues and tidbits got aired as well.
A mentoring program needs volunteers. The do-it-your-self auto shop has extended its
operating hours. Renovation work at the 18-hole golf course is almost finished. And the
commissary is hosting a big sale next weekend.
"Lots of calories coming your way," said Ruth Wagner, the AAFES store
manager, when announcing during her spiel that Cinnabon, the popular stateside bakery
chain, may avail themselves to Wiesbaden.
That tasty tidbit brought a ripple of "oohs" and "aahs" from the
audience. A few people, their appetites now sufficiently whetted, even began looking for
Joiner and his tray of treats.
Joiner, the director of the Army Community Service office in Wiesbaden, was helping to
mark the agency’s 36th birthday with the free cake.
Military communities across the theater periodically have town hall meetings. Not every
community confab comes with cake and coffee, but they do offer officials the chance to
inform the masses and solicit feedback, no matter if it’s sweet or sour.
"We have a great community," Metz said, "but life isn’t perfect
here. That’s why we have these things."
The community cafeteria is a regular spot for Wiesbaden’s community meetings.
Local organizations man tables along the walls to answer questions or provide information.
Wiesbaden has its meetings every other month. Some communities prefer quarterly or
semiannual gatherings. Others are less regimented, calling for town hall meetings whenever
the need arises.
"It’s a give and take, a two-way flow of information," Metz said after
the meeting.
Many of the issues are benign. Take the Wiesbaden meeting. Audience members heard
several reminders: the summer fest is fast approaching; high school fall athletes need to
take a physical; the commissary’s early-bird hours may be rescinded if business
doesn’t pick up; self-help stores take old tires and batteries; Wiesbaden will host
the U.S. Army’s wrestling team for a week in mid-October.
Other issues are a bit weightier.
At the Wiesbaden meeting, the first since the 1st AD headquarters moved there from Bad
Kreuznach, Metz talked about the relocation effort. Residents also inquired about parking
and traffic flow.
One soldier alerted officials to occasional delays in getting discarded refrigerators
— a potential death trap for kids — removed from the curbside.
Army officials had their concerns, too.
Col. Michael Noce, commander of the Wiesbaden Health Clinic, implored the
standing-room-only crowd to be patient when calling for an appointment or information. It
seems some folks have gotten testy with a staff trying its best.
"Can they be civil?" Noce asked rhetorically after the meeting broke up.
"That’s all I ask. We’ll take care of them."
The next Wiesbaden town hall meeting is Sept. 26. Metz encouraged the audience, many of
whom sat fanning themselves in the sweltering heat, to attend the meeting and visit the
community Web site.
"Give us feedback," Metz asked. "Are we making the mark or not?"
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