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Based on her recently published book, Moved and Seconded: Town Meeting in New Hampshire, the Present, the Past, and the Future by Rebecca Rule (Plaidswede Press, 2012), this program by Rule covers the rituals, traditions and history of town meeting; including the perennial characters, the literature, the humor, and the wisdom of this uniquely New England institution.

Town Meeting is a sacred institution in New Hampshire. It has rituals, traditions, and a unique history. Town meeting is democracy in its purest form. For three years, noted New Hampshire author Rebecca Rule has been gathering stories, attending town meetings and writing this book. She has crafted an instant New Hampshire classic. You’ll meet the characters who keep the drama cracking, from silent knitters to rabble-rousers, from deep-rooted hoary historians to transplants, from across-the-board cutters to homespun philosophers. You’ll dip into the literature — poems, novels, short stories and essays — some by famous writers and some by writers who may be new to you. You’ll sample the legendary dry humor as well as the down-home wisdom, which inspires well beyond the walls of the Olde Meeting House.

This event is free and open to the public through a grant from the NH Humanities Council.

This meeting will take place in the Woman's Club Room on the second floor of the Goodwin Library.  Light refreshments will be served following the presentation.

Rebecca Rule's presentation was filmed and the video will be posted as soon as processing is completed.

As folks arrive for the presentation, Rebecca Rule talks to some attenders.

Folks gather and socialize in the warm, welcoming Woman's Club room.

Excited Historical Society attendees gather and socialize before the presentation.

Rebecca and Rochester Times editor, John Nolan, talk to the attendants before the presentation.

Rebecca Rule talks to an attentive group of 46 interested attenders.

A Historical Society Members business meeting will follow the presentation and refreshments.