[mou] Today and tomorrow
Rick
fholbrook@cableone.net
Sat, 25 Feb 2006 14:26:10 -0600
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 Mark’s 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:SMORRISON@ucare.org>
> *To:* MOU-Net <mailto:mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>
> *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:* mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu
> [mailto:mou-net-admin@cbs.umn.edu] *On Behalf Of
> *jbaumann@usfamily.net
> *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:smithville4@charter.net>
> *To:* MOU-Net <mailto:mou-net@cbs.umn.edu>
> *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/
>
>
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I would certainly second that.
Rick
--
Rick
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