Template.raceDialog.onRendered(function(){ updatePolymerInputs(this); }); Template.raceDialog.events({ "change #raceInput": function(event){ var value = event.currentTarget.value; Characters.update(this.charId, {$set: {race: value}}); } }); 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); }, });