A handwritten sign sat next to the cash register at Craig’s Bicycles: “Health Care Organizing Kickoff . . . Attend a local meeting here!” And so on June 9, a wet Tuesday evening in Vineyard Haven, a small but spirited group of nine people gathered around the spare parts and 12-speeds to debate of the future of health care in America.

Shop owner Craig Hockmeyer, who reckons he knocked on about 170 doors for the Obama campaign in New Hampshire, hosted the event after being contacted by Organizing for America, the White House’s online outreach program.

The administration sent thousands of e-mails to people like Mr. Hockmeyer, asking them to hold a meeting on Saturday, June 6 to, “kick off your community’s push to reform health care by learning more about the President’s three core principles, sharing personal stories, and planning a health care Day of Service activity for June 27.”

Some things take a little longer on the Island than they do the mainland; it’s part of the charm (and occasional vexation) of living here. Upon arrival they have a tendency to take on a life of their own.

The meeting at Craig’s Bicycles was no exception: it occurred a few days later than the administration’s suggested date, and while it didn’t conclude with an activity plan for the day of service, it was nevertheless a lively and intelligent debate.

Among the attendees were the retired Emmy Award winning ABC broadcaster Carole Simpson, and a 16 year-old student organizer for the McCain campaign from the regional high school. Some sat in folding chairs, others cross-legged on the floor; one woman in a blue hooded sweatshirt remained standing in the corner.

The group empathized with each other’s experiences: a long-haired woman in clogs described a friend whose doctor-ordered cancer treatments were repeatedly turned down by her insurance company.

“Like she’s a just piece of paper,” chimed in the woman in the blue hooded sweatshirt. The room murmured agreement.

Ms. Simpson, who also serves on the Commission to Build a Healthier America, said, “I go back to the Constitution — ‘to promote the general welfare.’ The government is to help the people of the United States ... You don’t have a productive nation with people that are sick.”

She acknowledged that critics liken universal health care to socialism, but if it means people will get health care, “I’m saying okay, that’s fine, let’s make this happen.”

Ardell Otten, a retired health care administrator at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School responded to Ms. Simpson and said, “That’s not who we are as a nation, we’re never going to evolve into a socialist nation.”

From the corner the woman in the blue sweatshirt called out, “Who are we then?”

Mr. Hockmeyer joked, “A corporatist nation.”

Laughter and side conversations erupted, but Ms. Otten held the floor: “We are capitalist Republic. People are saying that universal health care is another step toward socialism, that the bailout money is another step towards socialism ... It’s political propaganda.”

About an hour into the meeting people got up to stretch their legs. Some drifted over to the spread of hummus, pita bread and Lisa Vanderhoop’s chocolate chip cookies, which Mr. Hockmeyer had arranged on his worktable. A FedEx man delivered a package.

The group’s attention turned back to a young man seated on the floor. “I’m 16,” he said, “I ran the McCain campaign at the high school. We got 7 per cent of the vote. I pulled some closet Republicans out.”

“Good boy,” replied Ms. Simpson, her voice sparkling with humor. “You’re active, even though you’re on the wrong side.”

The group broke into friendly laughter. “I’m teasing,” said Ms. Simpson.

Pondering the importance of preventative health care, the long-haired woman in clogs shared her opinion that, “teaching our children to chose foods carefully and to exercise is an investment in our future [that goes] beyond money.”

Ms. Simpson agreed, adding that the media could play a role in raising public awareness. “Remember those campaigns, ‘This is your brain. This is your brain on drugs’? Those were effective campaigns that worked, and they ran again and again.”

As the group mulled its consensus, Mr. Hockmeyer reminded them that, “Taking action and doing something is what got Obama elected. He’s asking us what do we think, and we’ve got to answer.”

As people began reaching for their raincoats, it appeared that no conclusion had been made; only that each person believed some aspect of the health care system should change. For the time being Mr. Hockmeyer’s call to action went unanswered.

Gathering her belongings, Ms. Otten offered an opinion, “We need to have a public and private insurance option. We need to have that choice.”

“That’s the American way last I heard,” replied an animated Mr. Hockmeyer, his hands folded across his blue Hawaiian print shirt.

“Choice,” echoed the woman in the blue sweatshirt.