Every year I have the privilege of attending a water users meeting. This annual meeting informs property owners with water rights of any crucial facts they may need to know when using their irrigation water in the summer.
The meeting is chaired by our group’s mediator and a secretary. Both of them are in their late seventies, early eighties.
Although the meeting has nothing to do with religion, due to the predominant religion in the hood, it is held in a church an starts with a prayer. I purposely arrive late to avoid that activity.
This year, after the prayer, our mediator moved right into the meeting and requested an approval of the minutes (from last year). The man in front of me quickly moved to approve the minutes, then immediately questioned whether or not he should instead make a motion. Regardless, the minutes were approved.
It was then that the mediator made a big announcement, “I’m stepping down as mediator so we need someone to replace me. I really like the secretary and she’s done a real good job all these years so before I step down I’d like to make the decision that she remain the secretary.”
The man in front of me shouted out a name, “Vic Laird.”
“Is that your name? Are you nominating yourself?” the mediator asked. “Huh, well, alright.”
“Yes,” he replied.
The woman a few seats down from him followed suit and shouted out a name, “Bobby Windsor.”
The second name appeared to be more in line with what the mediator wanted. As a result, while still in his position of ‘mediator power’ and at the podium, he shared his opinion of the second nominee.
“I just want to say I really like Bobby Windsor. I’ve known him for a long time and he’s a good fella. Okay, let’s vote if you want Bobby to have this job raise your hand.”
Several people raised their hands. Others, like myself, weren’t sure who to vote for because we didn’t know the credentials (if any) of each nominee and we didn’t know Vic or Bobby. The mediator and the secretary did not let these facts get in the way of their version of a democratic process and started counting all of the hands in the air.
“Nine,” the secretary asked.
“Yes, either nine or ten,” the mediator replied then instructed, “Now, raise your hands if you want Vic.”
Several of us raised our hands, me included. I didn’t know Vic nor did I know Bobby but I felt Bobby got an unfair endorsement for just being a good fella.
The counting began again.
“Ten” the secretary said.
“I got nine or ten,” the mediator advised.
The secretary got up out of her seat, walked over to the mediator, attempted to use her hand to block sound and “whispered” in the mediator’s ear, “What should we do? We’ve got a tie or Vic won.”
The mediator looked at the meeting attendees and announced, “We’re doing another vote. This time, stand if you want Bobby.”
A few people stood up and he advised them to wait until he asked them to stand. Thus, they sat down.
“Okay, if you want Bobby, stand up.”
Several people stood up and the the mediator and secretary started counting quietly together.
“Twelve,” they excitedly announced, most likely assuming that Bobby won.
“Now stand up if you want Vic.”
As they began to reach “twelve” the mediator made an announcement, “I think some people stood up twice. Let’s table this for now. Who would like to approve the minutes?”
“We already approved the minutes,” Vic, our frustrated mediator candidate, informed him.
“Oh, alright then,” the mediator replied and decided to let the water manager from the city have some floor time; most likely in an attempt to buy some time between voting.
The water manager shared the same information he shared last year and the mediator proposed another vote.
“Okay. Stand up if you want Bobby.”
“I don’t understand what we’re doing. I thought we already voted,” a meeting attended said.
“Not really,” the mediator replied.
We had clearly voted, just not for the person he had in mind.
As people stood up the mediator and the secretary counted and reminded them to not sit down until they’re told to sit down.
“I think I see some people in the hall,” the mediator noted. “We want to make sure they vote.”
The people in the hall weren’t interested in voting.
“Well, that definitely looks like twelve or 13,” the mediator told the secretary.
“If you want Vic to do it, stand up and everybody else sit down. No getting up if you’ve already voted.”
The whispered conversation between the mediator and the secretary continued until they announced, “Looks like nine. Bobby is the winner!”
And that is how neighborhood democracy works. Perhaps they should try this highly effective, completely accurate method for the Presidential election. Oh, wait, they already do.
Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Thanks
Good day! I just would like to give you a big thumbs up for your excellent info you’ve got here on this post. I am coming back to your website for more soon.
Appreciate the recommendation. Will try it out.
Hurrah, that’s what I was seeking for, what a stuff! existing here at this webpage, thanks admin of this web site.
Hello, I check your blog on a regular basis. Your humoristic style is awesome, keep up the good work!
What’s up, of course this paragraph is actually pleasant and I have learned lot of things from it regarding blogging. thanks.
Please let me know if you’re looking for a article author for your site. You have some really good articles and I believe I would be a good asset. If you ever want to take some of the load off, I’d love to write some articles for your blog in exchange for a link back to mine. Please send me an email if interested. Many thanks!
We are a group of volunteers and opening a brand new scheme in our community. Your website offered us with helpful information to work on. You’ve performed a formidable job and our whole community will likely be thankful to you.
Hi to all, it’s in fact a good for me to visit this web site, it includes valuable Information.
Excellent post. I will be facing many of these issues as well..
https://a-p-i.ru — закажите кухню вашей мечты уже сегодня.
Keep on working, great job!
Do you mind if I quote a few of your posts as long as I provide credit and sources back to your blog? My blog site is in the very same niche as yours and my users would certainly benefit from a lot of the information you present here. Please let me know if this ok with you. Thanks a lot!
Great weblog right here! Additionally your web site loads up very fast! What host are you using? Can I am getting your affiliate link in your host? I want my web site loaded up as quickly as yours lol
Hi there! This post could not be written any better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He continually kept preaching about this. I will forward this post to him. Pretty sure he’s going to have a very good read. Thanks for sharing!
Hi there to every body, it’s my first visit of this web site; this blog includes awesome and truly fine data in support of visitors.
Hey there! This is my first comment here so I just wanted to give a quick shout out and say I truly enjoy reading your blog posts. Can you suggest any other blogs/websites/forums that go over the same subjects? Thanks for your time!
You’ve made some really good points there. I looked on the net for additional information about the issue and found most people will go along with your views on this web site.
Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to no back up. Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?
It’s remarkable to pay a quick visit this web site and reading the views of all mates on the topic of this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting experience.
Noodlemagazine You’re so awesome! I don’t believe I have read a single thing like that before. So great to find someone with some original thoughts on this topic. Really.. thank you for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the internet, someone with a little originality!
Magnificent goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too wonderful. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it sensible. I can’t wait to read far more from you. This is actually a great site.
I’m not that much of a internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road. All the best
Hi there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?
Hello! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
Hello!
Finding a licensed casino is key to ensuring a safe gambling experience. At Secure-Casinos.com, we showcase only those casinos that hold valid licenses from reputable authorities. These platforms have demonstrated their commitment to fair play and player protection. By choosing a licensed casino, you can enjoy your favorite games with peace of mind. https://dub.sh/Tm2uIwS
I’m not sure where you’re getting your information, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for magnificent information I was looking for this info for my mission.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on %meta_keyword%. Regards
Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
Hola! I’ve been reading your site for a long time now and finally got the bravery to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx! Just wanted to say keep up the great job!
This blog was… how do I say it? Relevant!! Finally I have found something that helped me. Many thanks!
Very energetic article, I loved that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Howdy! This post couldn’t be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept chatting about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thank you for sharing!
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one! It’s on a entirely different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!
Great article! This is the kind of info that should be shared around the internet. Disgrace on Google for not positioning this post higher! Come on over and talk over with my site . Thanks =)
Superb post however I was wondering if you could write a litte more on this subject? I’d be very grateful if you could elaborate a little bit further. Bless you!
Appreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
You are so awesome! I don’t think I have read through anything like this before. So great to discover another person with some original thoughts on this issue. Seriously.. thank you for starting this up. This web site is one thing that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!
It’s genuinely very difficult in this active life to listen news on TV, so I just use the web for that purpose, and obtain the most recent information.
I think this is one of the most important info for me. And i am glad reading your article. But want to remark on some general things, The website style is great, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
Having read this I believed it was rather informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this content together. I once again find myself personally spending a lot of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my website thus i came to go back the prefer?.I am attempting to in finding things to enhance my website!I assume its ok to use some of your concepts!!
Hello! I know this is kind of off-topic but I had to ask. Does building a well-established website like yours require a lot of work? I’m completely new to writing a blog but I do write in my diary on a daily basis. I’d like to start a blog so I will be able to share my experience and thoughts online. Please let me know if you have any kind of suggestions or tips for brand new aspiring bloggers. Thankyou!
Hi! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new iphone 4! Just wanted to say I love reading through your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
Hello there, I think your website might be having browser compatibility problems. When I look at your site in Safari, it looks fine however, if opening in I.E., it’s got some overlapping issues. I simply wanted to give you a quick heads up! Other than that, wonderful site!
Wonderful beat ! I wish to apprentice while you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog website? The account helped me a acceptable deal. I have been a little bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright clear concept
Ahaa, its pleasant dialogue regarding this article here at this blog, I have read all that, so now me also commenting at this place.