Template.raceDialog.events({ "input #raceInput, change #raceInput": _.debounce(function(event){ var value = event.currentTarget.value; Characters.update(this.charId, { $set: {race: value} }, { removeEmptyStrings: false, trimStrings: false, }); }, 300), }); Template.raceDialog.helpers({ race: function(){ var char = Characters.findOne(this.charId, {fields: {race: 1}}); return char && char.race; }, color: function() { var char = Characters.findOne(this.charId, {fields: {color: 1}}); if (char) return getColorClass(char.color); }, stepComplete: function(){ return Session.get("newUserExperienceStep") > 1; }, showNewUserExperience: function(){ return Session.get("newUserExperienceStep") >= 1; }, });