My husband, Bob Hennessey, has his last school board meeting tomorrow. That brings to an end 12 years of board meetings, a few different school bond campaigns, a number of critical issues in the community, a couple of high school diplomas handed to our two oldest kids and a lot of votes.

So this week my husband will pass the honor of elected office to his replacement (Rheagan Sparks will be taking his spot and Spring Hecht is taking the spot of incumbent school board member Steve Ellison). And I find myself thinking of the enormous impact our community board members have on our little island. And I find myself thinking how hard it would be to run the island without them.

As I look at our new school board members , full of hope and possibility, I would like to pass a few recommendations onto them:

1. Never forget how hard you campaigned. Both Sparks and Hecht worked hard for these jobs. They ran campaigns on Facebook, leafleted at Thrifway, took out ads in the paper. Good old-fashioned political campaigns always inspire me and remind me of how politics can inspire. Now the new board members can take their energy and optimism and infuse their journey with it. Keep up the tempo and the excitement. Don’t get bored.

2. Keep talking to parents. One of the things I always loved most about my husband the school board member was how hard he worked to collect information. You would find him at basketball games talking to parents about what concerned them. He would take time at the hardware store or on the bus to ask people about their concerns. Never stop listening. And be that voice at the board meetings.

3. Don’t be defensive. People may disagree with you. And they may feel strongly about it. Nothing makes people more impassioned than their children. But listen and take the feedback. Don’t shut down or turn them away. Whether you agree or disagree, they are your constituents.

4. Find moments of magic in the job. Find the moments when board service inspires you. For my husband, one of them was when he was able to hand diplomas to two of our kids and all of their friends. He also felt honored every time he got to participate in giving out scholarships or representing the school board at official activities. Those moments of inspiration carry you through the long meetings.

5. Learn for a while. Most of the boards you can join here on the island (trust me, I think I have been on eight now) allow you to jump right in. They are great causes and you join up to get involved. You can do it quickly and make a difference. The school board and other public taxing boards are a bit different. It takes a long time to learn the issues. So take your time. Learn the ropes. Ask questions.

6. Remember, parents aren’t your only constituents. One of my best friends doesn’t have kids, and she always reminds me that she cares about schools. She cares about kids. She wants to learn about school bonds. Don’t make the mistake of thinking you only represent parents and kids.

7. Appreciate what you have got. I am biased, but I think we have a pretty amazing School Superintendent. We also have wonderful teachers, great facilities, a community that supports their schools. It’s very easy to forget how lucky we are and how far our school district has come in the last decade and the all the challenges we faced 12 years ago. That improvement wasn’t easy. Now that we have accomplished it, say thanks to those who made it happen.

Yes, it is a lot of work. But I know my husband considers school board service one of the best things he has done in his life. And what a difference he made. Of course, the school board isn’t the only place that has changed our community in the last decade. There are plenty of boards out there in our little community, places with which you can connect and volunteer. You can make a difference.

I keep thinking of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” when Clarence the angel tells George each man’s life touches on so many others, affecting others like ripples in a pond. That’s what people do when they volunteer for boards. They touch many others, like ripples in ponds.

Then again, we could just think of Mark Twain, who said, “In the first place, God made idiots. That was for practice. Then he made school boards.”

It never hurts to cut through the mushy salute with a bit of humor.

Thanks for your service, Bob.

— Lauri Hennessey is the vice president for communications & public affairs at the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle and a former Beachcomber columnist with three (almost grown) kids.