During his remarks Furtado said that through his continued involvement with local governments and organizations he has come to realize the significant impact people can make at the local level. He then stressed how important it is for individuals to get involved in their communities and cities because what they do and say can have an immediate effect.

His remarks resonated with me, and I realized that everything we have been taught continues to work from the bottom up.

However, when it comes to government, we have been led to believe just the opposite--that change occurs from the top down. That it is the state and federal governments' actions that set change in motion at the local level. This is true, of course, but often it's more like a ripple over time than a swell.

More often it is the actions of local government and the involvement of its residents that have the most immediate impact on our lives. And this in turn can affect the behavior of our state and federal governments.

There are examples everywhere to backup this thinking. The most recent illustration was the defeat of all the propositions that the California governor placed on the state ballot. It was individuals at the local level, the voters, who ended up calling the shots. The majority of people simply said no. There are also individuals such as Cindy Sheehan. Whether you agree with her or not, her simple actions have grown into a national movement. There are organizations such as the League of California Cities. These coalitions can be found in many states. The important thing here is that cities are bonding together to establish a larger voice so they can fight for what they need.

Yet an individual doesn't have to be part of a league of cities to get the ball rolling on an issue that may cause concern. Neighborhood associations, watch groups or even clubs can go before their local government and talk about the changes they would like to see.

There is strong evidence that this works. One resident in Willow Glen, Dan Erceg, moved into his North Willow Glen neighborhood that is home to graceful old Victorians. But the neighborhood's architectural beauty was commingled was trash and graffiti. Erceg decided to do something about it on his own. He painted over the graffiti. He cleaned up the trash. His continuing efforts became contagious--a swell, not a ripple. Soon the neighbors were picking up the baton. Because of Erceg and others in his North Willow Glen community, pride of ownership shines and these efforts have been recognized by the city of San Jose.

These examples demonstrate that it doesn't matter where you live or how small you start. At the local level--the very first rung in government--the results of our actions can be seen and felt immediately.

This is the message that came across clearly from Furtado. That each one of us has the ability to make a difference, to change things for the better, even if starting small appears to be just that.

It's a way of thinking that turns our government upside down and truly puts the power back in the hands of the people. We can call the shots, and who knows where that first step can take us.

So get involved in your community. Attend a government meeting. Get to know the people you voted for. Try volunteering in your city, or join a service group. The end results are immeasurable. And you might discover how strong your voice really is.

It is certainly something to consider as we move into the New Year.

Moryt Milo is the editor of The Campbell Reporter. She can be contacted at 408.200.1051 or mmilo@community-newspapers.com.