"If any of this is what you like to do ... contact your representatives and
they'll hook you in. (Psst! I'm not your rep.)"
You really get off on this in your face bullying. Folks know that you have the
power in your little FOCP gang. Folks know that anyone whom pisses off the
inner circle will be excluded from future "community decisions" and "community
discussions" under your thumb.
There are no "representatives" in the FOCP inner gang. There is no process to
approach FOCP like a mini government. Those of us who have tried to work as
mature adults with the UCD anointed civic associations all share the same sets
of experiences.
Those of us who don't accept a hierarchy of ass kissing experience a series of
tricks while our character is attacked. You clowns act like a gang of grade
school bullies.
There are lots of people whom would like to work with groups like the FOCP and
SHCA pretend to be. I explained this to some of the more reasonable members of
your gang. If they want your groups to be respected, they need to stop
allowing neighborhood bullies to rule the groups in this way.
I've pleaded numerous times with some of them to put safegaurds in place.
Codes like an ethics rule need to be written into the by-laws and a set of
written guiding principals adopted to reaffirm that it is the duty of the group
to hold its leaders accountable. To state that FOCP will conduct itself
honorably and operate openly and inclusively as a neighborhood association
would be expected to do. I can't stop you from bringing shame to the FOCP,
but they can.
Your groups act exactly like UCD using secrecy, exclusion, and evasive crap
like your posts. Our neighbors are getting more hip to these processes thanks
to our beloved UCD and Partner Penn. It's not the same as when your gang mates
first started attacking my character almost 10 years ago.
By the way dude, who the hell is my "representative" on the board of FOCP?
You write: "Smoothing the way for this year's festivals..."
I read in the UC Review that folks from the Best Fest rallied at your elections
because they had been bullied at their event. Some of the actors change but
the process remains the same.
Not fooled,
The Wanker
----- Original Message -----
From: Anthony West
To: UnivCity listserv
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2008 8:20 PM
Subject: Re: [UC] MLK Jr projects in Clark park
Good heavens, Liz, I'm sorry you took my remarks that way!
Anybody is welcome to volunteer in any park at any time. But I am personally
unaware of any outdoor volunteer work that the officers of either FoCP or any
other group have scheduled in Clark Park this winter. In my experience, seldom
has such work been organized. That's why I can't imagine what projects people
might join on 24 hours' notice -- there aren't any that I know of. Good
volunteer projects take beaucoup advance planning most of the time.
I was thrilled to death to hear Andrew and Greg and the gang over at Malcolm
X Park did have something going. You rule, Greg and Andrew! You're a model for
Clark Park to follow.
Liz, if you want to lead a winter work project in the park, you know you'll
have FoCP behind you all the way. Contact one of your officers and get
something going. You know how to do that! You are a truly incredible Lifetime
Supporter of the park.
I honestly reported what park volunteers are working on in the winter season,
that I know of. They are smoothing the way for this year's festivals and soccer
leagues. They are planning complex rehabilitation work. They are also working
on Charles Dickens' Birthday Party and figuring out how to raise the money
needed to maintain the park come spring. If any of this is what you like to do
... contact your representatives and they'll hook you in. (Psst! I'm not your
rep.)
FoCP is far from the only game in Clark Park. You can volunteer there
directly through a host of other cool neighborhood groups. Most of them have
cross-membership with FoCP, though.
-- Tony West
I appreciate lots of what volunteers, (including Tony, but NOT limited to
the FoCP), do in and for Clark Park and other contributory work that
strengthens are people and improves this environment we call home-neighborhood.
I disliked a few points in Tony's response.
1. No one should be told,
"I can't imagine what useful work you could do..."
I can imagine lots of things that can be done now, by both organized groups
and by concerned individuals.
For Example:
I walked through the park today, as I do every other day, and noticed
a. what appears to be a killing amount of salt dumped on the grass
and near a tree, on the 45th street perimeter of the park at the base of Regent
Street.
b. wind blown litter
c. wind swept twigs and limbs that could become trip and fall
hazards
This salt should be cleaned up.
I mean to do it, but forget to load tools in my car.
Maybe someone nearby can walk a bag, brush and dust pan over?
The twigs and litter would make a good, private project for an individual
or family.
There are times when a better planned event brings the benefit of building
community or providing cheer leading for good deeds, but as individuals, we can
we can learn, and train our children, in the quiet satisfactions of doing what
is right, without public notice. I've found this type of private volunteer
excursion lets me teach (and learn from) my kids and their friends. Added
benefits include fresh air, exercise and intra-family bonding.
2. FoCP is not the only game in Clark Park.
I like most of the FoCP volunteers, but I recognize many are suspect to
others.
I believe FoCP will grow better through inclusivity, and through creating
and posting community generated "Wish lists" and seeking out and empowering
more Volunteers to do, and lead others to do, approved items which are on the
"wish" list.
When I volunteer, nothing chases me away faster than micro management or
hearing criticism before thanks.
Volunteers should be invited to tackle any number of self directed,
maintenance or non permanent improvements.
It would be so easy to design tasks such as aerate around one tree, mulch
around one hedge row, pick up one full bag of litter.
3. Statements such as, "All true park-lovers are busy now on the
devilishly-difficult redesign of the beloved but deteriorated North Park...
raise my hackles.
It stinks of old time patrimony and competitive narcissism.
I consider myself a "true park-lover".
I even have FoCP bona fides.
(My family was the FIRST money donor at the "Lifetime" membership rate.)
I am busy using the park, but volunteer in other areas in our community.
I want FoCP to trust that I am doing good somewhere else, and
I want to trust the people who volunteer for the park.
But FoCP, like Spruce Hill Community Association and a recent board of the
University City Swim Club has made TOO MANY moves that seem to come from too
far outside of our community and which seem poised to disengage long time
neighbors and center power in the hands of those with deeper wallets and better
keyboarding skills.
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