b'C H A P T E R S E V E Ndeserve respect for their ideas -they know their town and love it. These ideas may work. Solutions to the litany of problems were to be augmented at the final meeting in September 1998.Concentration on a SynthesisIt was one of those late-summer mornings on the Lower Cape, with a perfection of blue sky and waves dancing offshore that would hold the eye in a Travel magazine photo spread. By 8:30, more than 125 men and women had congregated in CBIs meeting hall. They included natives and wash-ashores, present and former selectmen, realtors and store owners, people from the Non-Voting Taxpayers Advisory Committee, Town Manager Tom Groux and department heads, and individuals like the Chief of Police, who read an apt quotation from Somerset Maugham to explain how much Chatham appealed to him.The meeting never stopped moving. By the time it ended at 1:30 P. M., 48 different individuals had spoken out- almost 40 percent. If there was discord, it was not rancorous. And at the end, several praised the long mornings exchanges. Realtor Norman Howes, a seasoned public servant, observed, Any committee in the world would give its eye teeth to have the input that can be given to the committees from this meeting as representatives of different parts of the community. Marina Zellner, a League of Women Voters volunteer, voiced a strong appeal. It would be a very sad day for Chatham if we all left here, she said, and went on about our business. I hope you wont.Do something with all this information! I think its very important for Chatham.What was the spectrum of this informa One of those speaking at the tion? It had two basic fractions: one cited manySeptember wrap-up to the ways in which the towns quality of life was inQOL project, Marina Zellner, jeopardy, the other, a wide span of possible cures. appealed to the 125 or more Early on, 87-year-old Francesca Stone remindedon hand.Do something the audience that, we waste so much water inwith all this information!Its Chatham. For one thing, she stated firmly, very important for Chatham. People dont fix leaks.Every woman should learn Gordon Zellnerhow to put a new washer into a faucet. If you dont know how, Ill be glad to come and teach you.Its small wonder that people were openly appreciative.122'