Bob Messersmith wrote: > > I am one of those silent non-expert birders Steve talked about; I > bird, read the list daily and volunteer to do my shift at the state > fair each year. I enjoy looking at birds. Plain and simple. > > When I read Mike's first message I felt he was over reacting by > threaten to quit as the trip organizer but respected his right to > petition the group to rectify what he believed was a injustice. The > threat was a little heavy but I also felt the e-mail must have been > written with emotion overcoming his common sense and people would > understand that and forgive him for being too passionate. > > As President, I am sure Mark has the right to terminate-ask for the > resignation - of any committee chair but I have to ask myself was that > the best way to handle this situation? Are we better off without Mike > then with him? I think not but that is my opinion as an outsider > looking in. > > As an outsider reading this list, I believe some of us take bird > watching way too seriously. This is a hobby to me and a form of > recreation. When people get hurt (emotionally or otherwise) over a > hobby, I think we have to think again about our priorities. > > I support Marks right to fire a committee chair but I do not believe > that was the proper course to take to take in this case. > > Bob > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Steve Morrison <mailto:[email protected]> > *To:* MOU-Net <mailto:[email protected]> > *Sent:* Friday, February 24, 2006 10:04 AM > *Subject:* RE: [mou] Today and tomorrow > > Mike doesn't know me but since this was all made public I feel > it's okay to comment. Ban me if you will. > Ok, yeah Mike probably overreacted by threatening to step down and > Mark Alt probably overreacted by delivering his ultimatum. I think > things could have been dealt with in a manner where the MOU didn't > lose a dedicated volunteer with some chutzpah and Mike didn't lose > one (I assume fun) outlet for his dedication to MN birding. > This got me to thinking about the MOU and my opinions concerning > it. As is the case with any organization It does some things well > and others not so well. > The good things include: > > * The basic birding info and a superb website > * An overall good "rare" bird list serve (see below) > * Decent selection of field trips > * Good publications > > The poor things include: > > * Handling it's image ( sorry people it comes off as a rather > stodgy, corporate, elitist organization) Hey if I want to > worry about protocol all the time I can go to work. > * Being accepting of and encouraging non-expert birders (I've > heard people are reluctant to post as they are unsure of the > worthiness of their sighting). > * Being essentially a non-voice in the conservation arena- > (The MOU doesn't have to and doesn't even want to be another > Audubon but glorifying driving buku miles to see buku birds > in one year while being silent on so many other things > affecting MN birds is in my view ethically questionable) > > So I am disappointed because I think the MOU lost a good > enthusiastic trip leader. I am also disappointed about the way > leadership allegedly handled things. The MOU isn't corporate > America and things would be better if people put things in > perspective, talked and patched things up. > Steve Morrison > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] *On Behalf Of > *[email protected] > *Sent:* Friday, February 24, 2006 8:31 AM > *To:* MOU-Net > *Subject:* Re: [mou] Today and tomorrow > > I think BOTH of you are behaving rather childishly. If Mark is > threatened by Mike's threat, you are no different than two boys on > a playground - one blustering and one bullying - all because *they > can*. > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Mike Hendrickson <mailto:[email protected]> > *To:* MOU-Net <mailto:[email protected]> > *Sent:* Friday, February 24, 2006 12:54 AM > *Subject:* [mou] Today and tomorrow > > Today I stood up for a friend name Leo Lantz who was banned > from the MOU-Net listserv for an honest mistake he made. Leo > since been added back on the listserv and Leo credited me for > doing so. The MOU president Mark Alt called me this morning > and ask that I step down as the MOU field trip position > because I threaten to quit if Leo did not get apology and put > back on the listserv. I know that was immature of me in doing > so but I did not want to be part of an organization that > refuses to forgive people over simple mistakes such as the one > Leo committed. Leo nor should anyone be place on a moderator's > list because the poster accidentally sent a non bird topic to > the listserv. > I refused to quit and Mark gave me two options 1. go thru a > transition and step down quietly or 2) be immediately > released. I told Mark " I am not quitting". So Mark Alt told > me he is going to approach the MOU board an advise them to > remove me from my position. A few minutes ago Mark Alt told me > tonight he has basically removed me from my position and as > president he can do so - I guess. > So I am not the MOU field trip chairman anymore. Remember 3 or > 4 years ago all the MOU trips I created and how happy everyone > was with these trips? All this was taken away from me because > I stood up for a friend. Some say I am to emotional or to > quick with my anger. Maybe they are right about that. I defend > my friends, I am not afraid to speak out on matters that mean > a lot to me such as the logging going on in Sax Zim Bog. I am > not afraid to speak out when others are spinning the truth. I > call a spade a spade when I see one! That is who I am. I got > some emails today encouraging me to hang in there and some > agreeing with me. I got an email from Rick Hoyme telling me to > "grow up". Maybe so but not defending a friend who made an > honest mistake and standing by doing nothing is more grown up? > Should I act childish and rant and rave to everyone about all > the logging going on in Sax Zim Bog or should act mature or " > grown up" and hush up about what is going up there? > What now? > The Lake Superior Pelagic Trips belong to me and I will > continue to run these trips. Mark Alt during our phone > conversation agree that if I get removed from the board these > trips are mind to run and to organized. All other trips are up > in the air and I think Al Shirmacher is going to replace me. > Al is a great guy and should do a great job for the MOU and I > ask that you all support him if he is asked by Mark Alt to > take that position. Mark was already talking to Al about field > trips after he phoned me and notified my future with the MOU. > Me? Going to do what some of my critics have been telling me > -- " disappear" or " go away" and that is what I am going to do. > Michael Hendrickson > Duluth, Minnesota > Minnesota Birding Treks > http://webpages.charter.net/mmhendrickson/ > > > --- USFamily.Net <http://www.usfamily.net/dialup.html> - > *$8.25/mo!* -- Highspeed <http://www.usfamily.net/dsl.html> - > *$19.99/mo!* --- > > ************Privacy Statement************ > > This email and accompanying documents, if any, may contain > confidential information which is legally privileged. If you are > not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any > disclosure, copying, distribution, or the taking of any action in > reliance on the contents of this emailed information is strictly > prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please > notify us immediately by telephone at 612-676-6500 or email at > [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> and destroy the > original message and all copies. > > Thank you. > I would certainly second that.
Rick -- Rick Serious Error. All Shortcuts Have Disappeared. Screen, Mind Both are Blank.
