We had about 600 people in the Heritage Inn banquet hall for our TDG party. We were probably a little over firecode regulations. TDG members brought their kids and friends.

As Rich Ridell, Holger Peters, Stacey Mabrall, and Len Pash walked from the back to the front, the crowd stood in respect, and then applauded when they reached the stage.

The four agreed to let Rich speak to the crowd. After all, he was the first TDGer. As there were children present, we advised him to keep his speech on the short side. This is a party night after all. Pamela Harris, the chair of our communications committee, introduced Rich.

"Let's just do a little counting," said Rich. "How many people here have served as an elected representative in our town council, state legislature, or Congress?"

Three people raised their hands. Two former town councillors and one current councillor.

"Keep those hands up. How many people are working or have worked in a political party or in government at a level that you were required to organize or manage things?"

I could see another ten hands being raised.

"It looks like about 10 to 15 people. Put the hands down. How many people have been elected to a TDG position in the last seven years?

A lot of hands went up:50, 60, maybe 70.

"And this is one big difference between the TDG and our current American democracy. The TDG is going to call more Americans into political service than ever before. . . . . . What this really means is that many people in a TDG-governed society are going to have an innate understanding of TDG governance because they have experienced TDG governance. This is something we cannot learn from a book. Even the TDG book that explains this new system."

Rich talked about his advisory work in Joosemin. This city started with about 10 local TDGs, each within a certain geographical area. Eight started at a district level. Two at a neighborhood level. One neighborhood quickly merged with an adjacent district. The other spawned a couple of other neighborhoods, which later merged into a district.

Rich summarized the evolution: "Right now, the 10 original TDGS are merged into four. These four are in negotiations to come together.I estimate another six to eight months to put Joosemin under one TDG."There was some nice applause.

Rich also talked about his TDG travels outside of Joosemin. He has been advising and inspiring TDG groups around the state and into adjacent states.

He said, "With the TDG becoming better known, it is more common to start organizing at the neighborhood level, natural areas that encompass the residences of about 200 people. The TDG needs only a few people in each neighborhood to start it off. . . . . Just like the 11 people in Northwest Riverbend seven years ago. . . . and here we are today." More applause.

Pamela then closed off Rich's talk. She mentioned that Rich has a GoFundMe to pay for his TDG travel—and if people want to keep him on the road as a TDG speaker, they know what to do. Rich's occupation provides a lower-middle class income. He just can't afford to participate in politics in the usual way.

The executive committee decided not to ask for donations at this party. This party cost a lot; to ask for money did not seem right. So we agreed that our usual request for funds should be directed towards Rich's travel account. Thankfully, the Riverbend TDG had a good bank balance.

We rented out both banquet halls in the hotel. The first hall was for the speeches and the later entertainment. Pamela emceed the entertainment portion of our party. We had hired three local artists providing half-hour acts: hip-hop, folk music, and country. After these acts, eight Tankosin dancers and singers put on a little show of their culture.

The second banquet hall was more for socializing. There we had snacks and drinks. People could talk if they didn't want to watch the entertainment. We also invited local artisans to show their wares: landscape painters, quilters, ceramists, metal workers, and bladesmiths. That filled out the hall rather nicely and gave it some bustle. We also had a membership table, and we got another 41 members that night. I wandered into the second hall after Rich's speech and never found my way back to the entertainment.


Deborah Gray found me first. She has been working with my mother at the hospital for many years.

"Have your parents joined the TDG yet?" she asked.

"No, they're still loyal Democrats. But they are curious about this movement."

"Well, something like this takes time. I joined five years ago and it's been fun watching this organization grow even though I'm not doing much for it. . . . . One thing though!"

"OK?"

"In my five years, I've only been able to come to our voting day twice. It seems I'm either on shift or my family scheduling is a little demanding. I really want to vote. But having a window of only an hour once a year isn't working for me."

Our voter turnout of about 35% for neighborhood elections is something that we really need to improve.

"The executive committee has discussed several options in the past, including advance polling stations and mail-in ballots. I think we are more ready to move in that direction. I shall pass on your concern to them."


Rich then ambled up: "How's my GoFundMe account doing?"

I set up and still manage Rich's account to cover his travel expenses for his TDG affairs. On Rich's website, we document all income, receipts, and activities for donors to inspect. I am the official handler of this account and reimburse Rich after he makes a trip. He usually gets a request to meet with beginning TDGs once or twice a month. Lately, he has even been driving out-of-state.

"I think you have enough for another three or four trips. More money is likely to come in from tonight."

"I hope so. I have the best political job in America! It might not last much longer, but I'm sure enjoying it. By the way, this party is great. I've run across a few old friends I haven't seen since leaving Riverbend."

"You said you were coming back to retire. How's the job in Joosemin?"Joosemin is a city about an hour northeast of Riverbend. Joosemin has about 100,000 people to Riverbend's 15,000.

"It's been a great job. At least one more year. Maybe two before I come home."


Holger was next. I could see he was not well.

"I had chemotherapy shortly after the election of our executive committee. I'm in recovery now. The doctors aren't sure of what's next. But I'm feeling well enough to be here."

"Well, we're sure glad the four of you founders could make it tonight. We really needed this party to make some personal contacts and build unity."

"Thank you . . . .Congrats on becoming the chair."

"That was a surprise. So far, they aren't trying to fire me. I'll give credit to you. You were such a good example of how a chair should act in this TDG."

"And you're going to pass these skills on to someone else; I am sure. Just think, whatever we learned in those first seven years is going to be passed down decade-by-decade to many more TDGers. We are learning and teaching a new way."

"And there is still more learning to come."

"Part of me would still like to be on that path. A bigger part says stepping aside is what I need to do."

I gave Holger a big hug and wished him the best.


"Thelma!"

"Stacey!"

We hugged as old friends should hug. Stacey now lives in Connecticut, having started an interesting government job after getting her Ph. D. in Sociology. We hadn't seen each other in a couple of years, but it seemed only yesterday since we last talked.

"Congrats on the chair job. I know you will be a good face for the Riverbend TDG."

"I was happy as Treasurer. Surprised they promoted me. . . . . How's your TDG activity?"

"Well, I got a TDG started at my last university. I just let the undergraduates build it the way they wanted to build it. These young people wan tto change democracy. When things seemed to be running smoothly, I quietly stepped back. . . . . Because of my new job, I have to be a little careful with political movements. But people in Washington are watching you guys in RIverbend."

I called my husband over to show him off.

"See, I'm finally married!"

Joshua gave me a big hug to show me off: "So, you are the famous and wise Stacey I have heard so much about."

"My congrats for you two. See Thelma, I told you patience pays off."




Len Pash made his way to me.

"This party sure is great."

"Yeah, it's working out better than I expected. We didn't get full consensus on the executive committee because of the cost. But the two members who voted against it didn't hinder the event."

"I think they're going to be happy with this decision. Even the TDG needs to celebrate once in a while. . . .Bringing in local talent is a nice touch."

"Thanks. The artists sure are appreciative."

"I thought you should have been in that little parade. You were after all, the fifth-place finisher for that first executive committee of four members."

"I have enough spotlight these days. People have been chatting with me all night. I haven't made it to see the entertainment."  

Len is our TDG advisor. He had served as an elected representative in the early TDG District of Northwest Riverbend. When his neighborhood elected someone else, he and his wife Jackie found themselves advising some youth in the Tankosin Indian Reservation to form their own TDG. He served the same way for Battenor County. Both these new institutions occasionally call on Len to assist in their deliberations.

Holger Peters helped start local TDGs for Southeast Riverbend and Central Riverbend. However, he couldn't get them to merge. It seemed there was a boundary dispute between the two TDGs over three neighborhoods that left the leaders unwilling to work together. That's when "Angle Riverbend" (Northwest, Northeast, and Southwest Riverbend) appointed Len as its advisor. We asked him to fix the problem.

Len recommended we wait for the next election. He asked to speak at both Central and Southeast election meetings, and their executive committees gave him the time. Len emphasized the importance of good character and capacity for governance when casting a vote. The leader of Southeast found himself unelected—and that removed enough rubble to get these two TDGs to merge into the Central/Southeast Riverbend. Within six months Angle Riverbend and Central/Southeast Riverbend were merged into Riverbend. Len, with help from Jackie and Aiden, were around for those two rounds of negotiations, just watching and making a few suggestions. An older fellow from Southeast, Orville Kennedy, was also quite instrumental in the process.

The new constitution delineated the boundaries between the five original sectors. The three neighborhoods in the Central/Southeast dispute did not have any natural boundaries to deem what sector they should belong to. So they were asked to vote on which sector they wanted to join. The dispute was solved.  

I asked Len: "So what's next? Are there more mergers in the line."

"Not in this next year. Joosemin is still not under one TDG. The Battenor County TDG is running well, but it should get its membership numbers up a little higher. Tankosin Nation is struggling, and it's going to be a challenge to get our two cultures to agree. That achievement will definitely be a good reason for another party."   


Eli Weasel came by. He was managing and singing in the Tankosin act tonight. Eli has been the main person building the TDG in the Tankosin Indian Reservation.

I asked: "Did you meet with Peter?" Peter was our new treasurer.

"Yep. We met in the lounge. He cut a $75 check for each of us, plus $100 to bring the van to Riverbend. It was really good you guys did this for my people. They needed to interact in a positive way with white people. Did you catch our act?"

"Unfortunately, I could only hear. I've been on this side of the hotel since Rich's speech, talking to all sorts of people. Being on the executive committee is not all fun and games."

"But I bet you were still enjoying yourself."

"It's an amazing process this TDG. I feel sorry for real politicians who are often fighting their political enemies while trying to get something done. Things are so much easier with the TDG. Even setting up this party went rather smooth. Other than a few suggestions, I kind of stayed out organizing this event—and we have this nice party. . . . . So how are things your way?"

"Well, our executive committee is getting along. But we aren't doing much. Len says that keeping within our constitutional requirements is going to lead to better things. But we only have 75 members—and only 20 of them voted last election."

"Well, just keep plugging away. Maybe I can help the Tankosin TDG in some way."

"I'll keep you in mind."


I had noticed a young man wandering around the displays and not really talking to anyone. His long hair made him obvious. When Eli left me, the young man came to me, eyes cast downward. He said, "Nothing good will come of this TDG." Then he left the building.

My mother would have preferred that I got into sports in high school. But I joined the cheerleading squad. I liked the enthusiasm of cheerleading and the dance routines. And I had good looks and a shapely body, and being on the squad gave me validation for that.

The second time Mom ran for the primaries, I had to quit cheerleading practice. When the primary was over, I returned but I had lost the edge. I was put on the reserve squad for the rest of the year.

As for social activities in my teenage years, Mom and Dad kept me on a short leash. I was allowed some hang time with my friends, where we gossiped about girls and talked about boys. And fashion! But there was always a curfew and a ride home for me. I kept my end of the bargain, so I wasn’t exactly a hermit. I did attend a few teenage parties where some “experimentation” was happening. A couple of times I found myself in a makeout situation with a boy. I liked it when he put his hand up my shirt, but I would not go any further. Maybe knowing that I was going to be picked up shortly by my parents set the makeout limit. But, for sure, I was looking forward to my first real boyfriend and having sex with him.