Making Dilemmonade out of a Dilemma (Pt.7 of 7)

As Where and When finished, What stood forth and called for any remaining viewpoints to be expressed. But the animals felt that all had been said. So What proceeded. “I can see that this is a set of issues that are not going to be resolved easily by the Forest Council, and most likely this cannot happen today.

“Therefore,” What continued, “I am going to appoint an ad hoc Council of Charities to study this matter and report back to the Forest Council. Their job is to study current patterns of service and see where there is duplication. They are to study the economics of all this charitable work and of the fundraising efforts involved. Then they will make recommendations to the Forest Council about what degree of consolidation, cooperation, or merger would be best for all the animals.

“There should be three alternative solutions prepared and the Forest Council will place these on a referendum so that all the animals can vote on their favorite solution to the problem. In the meantime, I’m going to ask all the animals of our forest community to pledge their support for the solution as determined in the referendum vote.”

At first, there was some resistance from the various animals who represented the separate charities of the forest. Fleur grumbled that she had done a lot without having others around. Big Red said nobody could do Research and Development the way bears can. Who was a little argumentative about What’s ability to care for needs better than anyone else.

But then some voices began to be heard on the other side of the issue as more resistance mounted in the community to the idea of having all these charities around. Gradually some of the animals began to speak in support of the idea of the referendum. Morgaine the Dog said that what What had proposed by way of process was a fair and just solution and she would back whatever came of that process. Gaston Bear, in his French accent, said that as long as everyone agreed to abide by the decision of the voters, it was a good way to proceed. His brother, Emile Bear, said he thought the idea of a referendum was better than just having the Forest Council make a decision. Not wanting to be absent from the developing “bear caucus,” Squeeze-me Bear chimed in that so long as he could play music at the election tally, he was content. And then one of the more silent creatures of the forest, Garfield the Cheshire Cat, smiled his big, broad smile and gave his symbolic blessing to the proceedings.

At that point What called for an end to the commentary and asked for a consensus. “Is there anyone who has a better, more fair, just or more workable solution to this problem of the proliferation of charities?”

When there were no speeches in disagreement, What then said, “I’d like to request a nod of approval from all the animals gathered in this fair clearing today,” and everyone proceeded to give their nod. Some nodded off to sleep in the corner, others couldn’t stop nodding. But everyone basically agreed that this was the best way to find a solution to the problem of too many charities.

And so it was that the Forest Council studied the situation thoroughly and created three possible alternative ways for the animal community to proceed. On the Fourth of Martense, the anniversary of the creation of the forest clearing for the community assemblies, there was an election in which ninety-three percent of the forest animals participated. Only those who were sick an unable to vote were unrepresented. When the results were announced, everyone was satisfied that they had made a community decision that would stand the test of time.

The next day, in the Forest Café, Dr. Greyson Bear, back in his usual corner, dunked his donut in his coffee and said to Greyson Bear Jr., “That’s the best decision we’ve ever made as a community. It may be the first and only one so far, but I would definitely have to say, it was our best, and it will no doubt stand the test of time.”

THE END