(Orig Post 8-16-2006) : Dateline Normal, Mn.: "The Quiet"--the tale

(Ed.note: Due to popular request I have republished this classic post from the tales from Normal. The tales from Normal are now available on podcast---at no charge in the Itunes store. Kick back and listen at your leisure, while running etc., or email them to your friends. Stay up to date on the latest from Herman and the gang from Normal.)

Recently just to get a little break from the hectic growth pace of Evansville, I broke away and drove up to northern Minnesota, up Hwy 10, to the now famous Normal, Mn., to visit my old friend, Herman, the country boy lawyer.

After a good night's rest at the Spruce Goose Motel, I settled in at the local diner with a large, black, no sugar coffee but with lots of whipped cream in the Minnesota Viking mug, and asked Herman a question that has been bothering me for a long time:

"Herman, How do you handle all the public meetings up here in Normal? Is anything actually recorded for the public record up here?

"Shucks Wolfman, (that's what he always called me), we've been recording all public meetings in DIGITAL AUDIO for almost a decade now. It's just NORMAL. It's the natural way to operate up here in God's country. In fact, it's almost a religious experience!"

"HUH?", I responded.

"Well," he went on, "If you could see all those large hulking fisherman types in these meetings. They just like to whisper real soft so the audio cannot pick up what they say. It's like a bunch of pious worshippers in church. It is really almost a religious experience. A real moving event.

"Wow," I thought. "Thank goodness I don't live in Normal. Thank goodness all the folks in Evansville speak up nice and loud so we can hear and record the items of public interest.

It sure is good to be back home.

"The Quiet--a tale from Normal, Mn. about digital recording of public meetings--about the open meeting law and much, much more...


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