[vcf-midatlantic] Ken Thompson video

[Dean Notarnicola]

One note:
" *...**but a lot of that effort has been forgotten as if all of a sudden*

*there was this club Evan made magically and you guys rescued it from
Evanand now it's great*."

To my knowledge, no one currently involved in VCF-MA has ever said or
implied that, though it was inferred several times by Evan. We've often
acknowledged past accomplishments and contributions. But we need to live in
the present, and that means communicating changes that will lead to the
growth and development of VCF. I think most members see it as a continuum,
not a radical change.  It didn't happen the way some thought it should, but
hopefully through everyone's best efforts and greater involvement from the
membership, it will continue to grow and improve.

On Wed, Nov 11, 2020 at 9:09 AM Bill Degnan via vcf-midatlantic <
vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:

> I respect both Mike and Tony's statements and corrections.  Some of them
> are misunderstandings to what I said or meant, but I dont debate what you
> said and I can take a punch anyway.  I still think Evan was kind of
> manipulated.  I have a huge respect for everyone you mentioned for what
> they contributed to bring things to the next level.  You are correct that I
> have been rock throwing,.sorry and accept my apology.  You are correct that
> I made it sound like it's too much of a business and not about the hobby,
> perhaps, but I witnessed the changes and evolution and *at times* it was
> that way.  Perhaps less so now but some questions about governance remain.
>  A lot of this evolution had to happen no doubt or the club would stay
> small and unorganized .  Corey fixed a lot of structural problems.
>
> Of course there are other clubs out your way Mike, I am just saying that
> the life of vcfed flows though what was MARCH and there is nothing like
> that managed by vcfed in the west or midwest because these events did not
> evolve that way  The new west coast shows were not generated by local
> groups.
>
> There was a time before the new MidAtlantic steering committee that
> priorities were out of balance and it was too much about control and less
> about the hobby.  The pendulum swung back.  Also, the new steering
> committee brought back some balance.  I never implied that the huge
> personal donations of effort and money were anything but selfless acts of
> service for the benefit of everyone.  I am not claiming I or past members
> did more, but a lot of that effort has been forgotten as if all of a sudden
> there was this club Evan made magically and you guys rescued it from Evan
> and now it's great.
>
> As far as kennett Classic goes, my original offer proposed to the board was
> to set it up as a new satellite office within vcfed for media and
> communications. I did not have a show to run and I felt bad that I lived
> too far away from wall, nj to be there and volunteer more often.  Sometimes
> it seemed like that was all we ever talked about when I was with the board,
> running shows and tshirt sales.  Nothing about curation, nothing about the
> needs of the original membership.  It seemed like these things were Evan's
> to deal with and not the concern of the board at all.
>
> I wanted to set up a media center for the group and host it in Kennett to
> inject new life into my involvement with this group.  My offer was rejected
> so I quit the board and started kennett Classic anyway.  There was a time
> when I put in as much into MARCH as some of you now put into aspects of
> vcfed.  But I dint care to compare my involvement and effort other than to
> say I earned then right to say what I am saying, throw a few rocks
> perhaps.  I also admit that it sure *seems* like I am just complaining
> here, and a lot of you did not know how much personal.time I put into MARCH
> before most of you joined this group.  By then, and due to health problems
> for about three years, my involvement was a shell of what it had once
> been.  I am sorry that I dropped off.
>
> I am empathic and loyal to Evan here, despite his mouthing off and temper.
> I counseled him two days ago about using this whole Ken Thimpson thing as
> an opportunity to apologize for how the talk was handled before it blew up,
> but it balloned into this!  I also see why you all have issues with him.  I
> totally see his perspective though,.have a little mercy publically.  I am
> just trying to set the record straight.
>
> The whole profit/non profit thing is a tax thing dont be self righteous
> about one or the other structure, it's still business. KC simply represents
> my vision of what I wanted to work on at VCF next, in was going to be my
> way to get more involved, not make a profit for myself.  My offer was
> basically ignored.
>
> I still think having no vcfed board elections is concerning and I still
> dont see why the MAtlantic group should report to anyone but that's just
> me.
>
>
> Bill
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 11, 2020, 5:43 AM Tony Bogan via vcf-midatlantic <
> vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
>
> > Bill, I won’t speak to before I was involved with MARCH/VCF, only since I
> > got involved.
> >
> > You and I BOTH told Evan at Festivus that he was “giving up his power”
> > with the transition to VCF, a national Board, his paid position etc. You
> > and I even talked to each other about it. Evan said “no I’m not. I’m not
> > giving up anything.”
> >
> > You and I talked about that as well and we agreed he did not grasp the
> > implications of the changes being made despite our comments to him.
> >
> > There was no conspiracy at the SC level (I can’t speak for the Board
> since
> > I wasn’t then and am not now involved with the Board)
> >
> > I know, I was there. Evan cleary states, to more than one person, that he
> > “won” his argument with the board about Jeff and oversight. Told a whole
> > bunch of us at Festivus. He gave the Board an ultimatum, he gets his way
> or
> > he walks (I have the emails to prove it and my response telling him that
> > was a dick maneuver)
> >
> > So the Board gave him what he wanted and created the Steering Committee.
> >
> > It was THE STEERING COMMITTEE that argued Evan should be part of it even
> > though he held a paid Executive Director position. We all agreed even
> > though it was not appropriate for a paid executive director to sit on the
> > SC Evan was the man that did most of the work and so should be directly
> > involved in the direction of VCF as dictated by the SC.
> >
> > I know, I was there and I have the emails to prove it.
> >
> > Evan didn’t have an issue until he realized he couldn’t just dictate to
> > the SC what to do and that he was one voice of five,  or one voice over
> top
> > of everyone else. As we made motions to vote on things he did or didn not
> > want his response, amongst other things, was to tell an SC member to
> “shove
> > his motions up his ass.” (I paraphrase without pulling the email up, he
> did
> > say shove, might have said “you know where”)
> >
> > I have the emails to prove it.
> >
> > The person he most blames for this supposed conspiracy is the very person
> > who FOUGHT THE HARDEST AND SPOKE THE LOUDEST to put Evan and keep Evan on
> > the SC.
> >
> > He refuses to believe this even though I’ve told him more than once when
> > we Have discussed it.
> >
> > Evan refuses to get involved until certain people “give him an apology.”
> > That’s a direct quote.
> >
> > I suggested back in the spring that maybe he stop fire shots across our
> > bow to help calm things down and then talk about it later as time passes.
> >
> > You see how well that worked out.
> >
> > The day before Evan bolted... the day before.....my last conversation
> with
> > him when he was still saying he was going to leave after vcf East was
> “why
> > leave? Just become joe member who can sit in the cheap seats and watch
> > others Do the heavy lifting like you’ve had to do all these years. But if
> > you do go, don’t burn any bridges on your way. Because a week, a month, a
> > year from now you might miss it too much and want to come back.” That’s a
> > direct quote.
> >
> > Next day he nuked his bridges.
> >
> > Last point.
> >
> > I’ve dumped thousands of dollars of my own money into the museum and
> > warehouse. I do it because I can, when I can. I’ve spent countless hours
> > there over the past six+ years, and hope to spend countless more. I’ve
> > donated machines, both to vcf and other groups now too, and I am just an
> > amateur compared to what others have given, including you. So many people
> > both past and present making this group what it is. A shame you feel the
> > need to knock it down now that you’ve “left” of your own volition.
> >
> > Vcfed is a non profit. What’s Kennett Classic? (Which I love by the way
> > and has no need to be anything but what you want it to be, but you
> > mentioned a business.....more than once..... when discussing vcf)
> >
> > Tony
>