The executive committee decided Mustafa, Orville, and I would finish the application for our non-profit society.

Pamela reported on responses from the email she sent out five weeks ago: "We got 37 responses. Twenty-six were quite supportive of the idea. Nine were supportive of whatever the executive committee decides. One felt the Town should just sell the land and let the new owner deal with it. And another wanted 'direct democracy' resolve the issue."

Ed said, "If the free market could have solved the creosote problem, it would have done so years ago."

There was a quick consensus on this point.

"What about the direct democracy response? Did that person elaborate?" asked Lenora.

"Let me read the response," said Pamela.

'I have been a member of the Riverbend TDG for four years and have voted in the elections. Admittedly, I have voted for myself because I would like to   experience this new system first-hand. But my neighbors seem to send someone else. While I believe the TDG will provide a better version of representative democracy than our current democracy, the TDG should also explore the concept of direct democracy. I believe this creosote cleanup project is moving beyond the activities we have done in the past. Hence the membership should have a direct say, rather than the executive committee. I encourage the executive committee to allow all the members to vote: first on whether to go into this kind of direction, then whether this project is worthy of the TDG's support. Then the executive committee should take the direction of direct democracy.'
     

I said, "I think we should at least put this member's response up for discussion."

Orville said, "The TDG book really doesn't say much about direct democracy as a decision-making tool."

"If I recall," said Emanuel, "the author discussed it as a somewhat popular, but unworkable, solution to resolving current democracy."

"As membership chair," said Ed, "I can say there's enough energy spent on getting our two annual election done properly. I really don't want to spend the same energy on each big issue our TDG faces. For sure, not now."  

"And to conduct a referendum fairly," said Orville, "we would have to solicit the position of both sides and have them campaign for their position. Our mailouts and public meetings would have to include both sides."

"And there goes our culture of consultation," said Lenora, "The two sides with positions are unlikely to listen to each other."

"And then we have politics as usual," added Mustafa.

Ed said, "The seven of us were elected to decide things like this. We can make a good decision fairly quickly-or we can spend a lot more time and energy to get a fair referendum together."

Mustafa added, "Even though less than 5% of our members commented on our email, I think it's safe to say it is showing a positive trend. I think most of the other 95% would also approve."

Ed said, "Maybe, maybe not. Maybe we should just go ahead with the project. We might find some new things about our membership after we step out of our box. We can make adjustments the next time—if necessary."  

Orville added, "And with the email, we have given a reasonable notice of this action. There really wasn't much of an opposition."

There was a little silence, which I broke: "I sense we are coming to a consensus....In our last meeting we agreed that this vote should be unanimous before the Riverbend TDG takes on this project. Is their any discussion on this principle?

We looked around at each other for a moment.

"If not, I shall proceed with the vote. Because of our previous decision to reach unanimity on this issue, I'll just make it clear that if one of us decides against this project, we will not move forward tonight....And because of my association with the Battenor Ecological Society, I'm going to recuse myself from the vote.

I looked around at the faces in the room.

"All in favor?" Six hands went up.

"All opposed?" No hands.

"My fellow TDGers! We have just moved beyond governing ourselves."

A further discussion allocated $750 to this project. The Battenor Ecological Society could add to that amount. Pamela would be assigned to work with Jane Phail.

"One more thing," said Ed.

"Yes, go ahead," I said.

"These two fellows had taken the time to respond to our email. I think we should acknowledge their contribution by letting them know their concerns were part of the discussion tonight. We could even outline some of our reasoning."

Emanuel spoke, "I think this would be a good idea. I'm more likely to be somewhat supportive of an idea I don't like when I know my perspectives were taken seriously."

I asked, "Pamela, are you willing to put these letters together?"

Pamela said, "I think I've got enough on my plate these days."

Emmanuel volunteered, "I can do it. I can draft a letter tonight for the executive committee's inspection.

I finished, "If there is no objection, Emmanuel will prepare a draft letter to each of these fellows. After our inspection, Pamela will send them our response by email."

Having stayed out of nightclubs for a couple of years, I was in a much healthier mindset for life. But I still yearned to find a life partner. I wanted a husband. I wasn't seeing opportunities in my new social circles, so I turned to dating websites. When I browsed through profiles, I found a few former lovers and a few men I had spurned. I found it strange that they now wanted a long-term relationship. I gave all these fellows a pass.

I was 23 years old when I found Chris. He was new to Riverbend. We agreed to meet for coffee. We liked each other and started going steady. I really enjoyed being hugged and kissed—and not going any further. Chris took me to his church, and I really enjoyed the company of his friends and family.

On one date, he said, "I've been hearing a few things about you. It's time we got real honest with each other."

"OK."

"I'm still a virgin. I've been waiting for the right woman and for our marriage vows. It's important to me."

This might not be good, I thought. I held his hand: "Chris, you are my first real boyfriend. I really enjoy being with you and maybe there is something more to our future .... I've been celibate for three years."

"So I won't be the first man, then . . ."

There's no point in hiding my past. It is time for honesty, I thought again. "I lived on the wild side for a few years. I've had sex with about 30 men. Maybe 40."

Chris' face was a mixture of shock and disappointment. He left me with: "I have to think."

He showed up at my apartment door the next evening. "I'm sorry, Thelma. But this relationship is not going to work out for me. I wish you the best in life."

Then it was my time to think. It seemed if I was going to find that special man for me, I would have to look beyond Riverbend. But I liked my business in Riverbend. And a long distance relationship was going to cut into my accounting training.

I phoned Stacey. She listened. Her only advice was that patience has its own reward.