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.

No worries, John. Nice to hear from you!

Expressions of gratitude directed to all of you involved in the process the last few days, including those who made the effort to read all these posts! It’s all good.

Dude! John! Good to see you, and yes, habitat seeking can be very stressful and fun. Mostly stressful.

Hey Laura, nice to see you again too. We've seen lots of nice places, and lots of places we can afford ... but they're never the same place.

Hey John, how's things? Tell me Sydney's beautiful.

Welcome back John.

Okay, this is the first time I've ever had to threadsuck bureaucracy.

I think I voted right, but I didn't get a ballot confirmation so jengod, could you let me know that I did it right when you get a chance?

I have to admit that after reading items 2 & 3 regarding quorum, majority and simple majority, I am a little confused as to the synergy of these two items. But maybe that's just me.

YAY you guys! What great stuff to wake up to! (Seriously, I love process.)

And no, even if I think it's important, I bail if it goes on too long, or comes around too often. Because, really, it stops being worth it, when you tally time and effort and sometimes blood pressure.

I'm with ita on this one. And I do hope that if a lot of people think we don't need to vote, they will vote this one time, and then we'll know.

And to repeat most of what amych said:

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.