Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: CHILL (10/29/15)
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TITLE: Stone Cold | Previous Challenge Entry
By D. Michael Newell
11/02/15 -
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The chill in the room was caused by more than the sub-zero temperature outside on this winter night. If Santa could hear what was going on, he would skip Owensboro Vermont this year. How in the world did this group get put on the same committee, thought Jack?
He was here because his best friend since grade school, Don Swift, now Mayor, had asked Jack to serve on the Monument Committee. The committee’s job was to come up with the design and a location for the monument to the Green Mountain Boys. Now it might start a new revolutionary war.
Tonight was the fourth meeting and so far the only thing they could agree upon was to disagree about everything: where to put the monument; what kind of a monument; design by a local or a world-class designer?
The town wanted a monument, but that is where agreement stopped. It took all the skill Jack had to keep a fight from breaking out. He wished a couple of people would resign from the committee and their replacements had more diplomacy.
Yes, there is a chill in the room, and even a cup of hot coffee won’t help thaw it out. But the coffee would be nice. “Maybe we should take a short break for coffee before we resume this meeting,” said Jack. “Let’s take a fifteen-minute break.”
The chill was still in the room when the meeting resumed. “If we could agree on the type of monument first, it would make it easier to find the right spot,” suggested Jack.
“That’s going at it backwards” replied Tony. “We need to find the spot and then pick something to fit the spot”.
Yes, this is going to be another cold meeting.
An hour later, there was still no agreement on how to proceed. But at least they were being civil to each other. If only we could agree on the type of monument I would feel that we were making progress. But no, three for a sculpture and three for a mural. If I break the tie, then there will be a war. At least a cold war. Where do I find a common ground where we might be able to compromise? The only thing that they agree on is that we need a monument to the Green Mountain Boys. Already suggested was two smaller ones. But no, it had to befitting and two smaller ones won’t do. It is icy in here. And almost midnight, where has the time gone? What have we accomplished?
Jack said “Let’s call it quits for tonight and try again next week. Talk to some of the town folks and see what they think. I’ll see you all next Tuesday.”
Don Swift and Jack had not only been best friends for a long time but were in the same unit during Desert Storm. Otherwise this could have ended a long friendship.
They met for lunch the next day. Don asked how things were progressing on the monument.
“Too bad this isn’t summer. With the chill in our meeting last night, we would not have had to use the air conditioner. So far about the only thing we have done is to give a new definition to the term ’cold war.’ I have asked both sides to talk with the town’s citizens, see what they want. This morning I prepared a survey that I will use. I know the committee is polarized: one side ‘mural,’ the other ‘sculpture.’ By the time they are through you would think everybody in town wants the same as the person who asked them.
“Hopefully, my survey will shed light on the subject and we can have a thaw in this cold war.”
Tuesday evening when the committee met, sure enough, Jack was right. Everyone who wanted a mural found only people who wanted a mural. Likewise, those supporting a sculpture, found only people who wanted a sculpture. The chill just got worse.
Then Jack told of his survey. When the data was tallied, there was silence in the room. As the committee looked at the charts that Jack had made, slowly the two sides came to realize that they were pushing their own agenda, not looking at what the town wanted. This was to be a town monument, not a personal one. Slowly the chill began to thaw.
Yes, the town got a monument that made them proud.
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Well written showing the futility of no organization in the committee.
Nice work.
A committee of one would have been the perfect solution. I am glad the town received,their monument.