Using a mix of humor and insight, Harvard professor Tom Sander, one of two featured speakers at the Wright Symposium at TCU in October, explained the importance of civic engagement – being connected to various social networks. The event also featured a speech by Rosa Rosales, president of the League of United Latin American Citizens.

The lack of civic engagement, Sander said, can be seen by examining participation in the 32 largest civic organizations, such as the Lion’s Club, Rotary and others. Starting in the early 1900s, membership in these organizations steadily rose – except for during the Depression – before plateauing in the 1950s. Since then, there has been a decline to levels not seen since the 1930s.

Similar trends, Sander says, have been found in the level of church donations and participation in city or school-related meetings. The television era, Sander says, could be the biggest culprit: “More of us are watching ‘Friends’ than being friends. … Television is the only activity that is associated with doing less of everything else.”