Popping back in to say that this sentence:

voting starts tonight at midnight board time, and runs through the end of Friday

started out really well. But it ended really badly -- how about

voting starts tonight at midnight board time, and runs through to midnight Friday 28th, board time.

I'm really not kidding about not being able to figure this stuff out without specifics. In fact perhaps it would be better to say

voting starts tonight at midnight board time, and runs through to 11:59 PM Friday 28th, board time.

in order to get rid of any possible confusion about what "midnight" means.

Also to say that we're taking this so seriously that nobody's even fretting about the correct plural of "Quorum"? Not to mention the hours of fun inherent in the word Quorage?

I have now voted and got a little confused, in fact just didn't see the "your vote has been counted" thing the first couple of times I looked at the page. I'm guessing this means there might be multiple votes from confused people.

Hey, folks.

It's absurdly late at night, and I should've been in bed hours ago. But I was out this evening and wasn't around to help with the final push on getting this vote ready, so I wanted to be sure I said this before I faceplant in my keyboard:

Whatever the result of this vote, I want to thank Jon for the form (I just used it, and it was fucking great), Cindy for drafting the ballot, jengod the tallymistress for going where no Florida board of elections dares to tread, Sophia for general organizational godliness, and especially, everyone who's sustained a generally civil, thorough, well-reasoned, and always Buffista-worthy discussion about the deepest level of bureaucratic nitty-gritty. I can't remember another organization I've been in where this kind of stuff hasn't made me roll my eyes and want to throw pointy things at my fellow members.

I have no idea what'll happen when the votes are in. Maybe we'll go back to the way we've always done things; maybe we'll go on to other votes; maybe we'll call a constitutional convention and and then I'll want to throw things. Doesn't matter.

What matters is that right now, I'm happy as hell with this community. A lot of the vague ill-feeling I had before the WX break has dissipated. Even if it's just one vote, we've done something right.

Thanks, y'all.

(And now I'm going to go to bed before I have to re-read how maudlin I've just been.)

John H, dude, how's married life?

in order to get rid of any possible confusion about what "midnight" means.

John H - Did you look at the final proposal as written in Press?

Voting starts Tuesday night (Feb. 25, 2003) at midnight and closes Sunday night (Mar. 2, 2003) at midnight (that's "Board Time", i.e. EST).

...is much more clear, no?

Wow - you all did a lot while I watched Buffy and dropped a fresh batch of brownies (unfortunately a batch that was in one of those disposable, and so very bendable pans) on the floor and then dissolved into a heap of tears.

Sophia - you rock. Jon, the form is amazing. jengod - thank you.

Trudy: I hear you about voting on voting when we don't even vote. I just spent the weekend reading all of the discussion, and had no idea how we were going to reach a consensus on this particular issue, because not only were there a lot of posts, a lot of us waffled during the discussion. We could have used a less formal poll - like Mr. Poll - but frankly, Mr. Poll lets a single user cast multiple votes.

Even though I'm voting yes on voting - because it's easier on my brain if I'm sure of an outcome, I want to encourage every person who doesn't want the Buffistas to start voting on big issues, to get out this one time, hold your nose, and vote a resounding "no".

Jon - to echo Hec and a few others from last night, when I submitted my ballot (just this morning) and then clicked on the message center link, it took a really long time (in terms of regular Phoenix load time) for the message center page to load. I have no problem with this, but wanted to let you know, in case it indicates some sort of technical problem.

it took a really long time (in terms of regular Phoenix load time) for the message center page to load.

Happens occasionally. I doubt it's anything to do with the poll, but thanks for pointing it out.

2 more really important points:

Betsy proposes a closed decisions thread: [link]

Allyson proposes a way to vote: [link]

Thanks Cindy and Jon and jengod for really great work! and everyone who participated in the thread by reading or talking.

Trudy: I hear you about voting on voting when we don't even vote. I just spent the weekend reading all of the discussion, and had no idea how we were going to reach a consensus on this particular issue, because not only were there a lot of posts, a lot of us waffled during the discussion. We could have used a less formal poll - like Mr. Poll - but frankly, Mr. Poll lets a single user cast multiple votes.

Even though I'm voting yes on voting - because it's easier on my brain if I'm sure of an outcome, I want to encourage every person who doesn't want the Buffistas to start voting on big issues, to get out this one time, hold your nose, and vote a resounding "no".

I just want to WROD both of these points! I don't want to end up voting becuase I am a loudmouth! And I just read the entire (500 posts) discussion of this. Man, was that hard to follow. And time consuming.

John H, dude, how's married life?

I really never know how to answer that. Except for that "any fool can get married, buying property together, now that's serious" gag.

Did you look at the final proposal as written in Press?

Yes I did, sorry for the crossover. It was very clear, even for timezone-challenged people like me.