[*BCM*] Opinions on move by MassBike

[Anne Wolfe]

Tom,
Quite frankly I left you out of it for as long as I could as I didn't see the personal issues between us as being truly relevant.
 
We have met, and several times, during my stint as a member and volunteer at MassBike.  I chose not to bring it up previously as my issues were much more substantive than that.  I honestly couldn't remember whether it was you or Tim who was at the BNB event, but I've met you both any number of times, which is why it didn't stick out in my mind as to who was there.  I was hoping the description would jog your memory - I am very memorable in person.  You, too, are sadly very memorable, and not for positive reasons.  But to counter your points:


In my first message in this thread, I let people know who I was in the very 
first paragraph. Yes, I am the Vice President of the Board of 
Directors. I was first elected to the Board in 1999, and I was re-elected 
in the most competitive election MassBike has had in its history in 
2002. In December 2005 my current term will expire, and due to the term 
limits specified by the MassBike Constitution, I will not be eligible for 
re-election.

> This is a prominent position, and given both his personal interactions 
> with me while I was a member of MassBike

This message was posted on Thursday:


I was not at that BNB event. Tim was, and he went to law school. You 
apparently have us confused, and so, I don't know what these "personal 
interactions" consisted of. Nor did you, apparently, until today.
 
Oh, trust me little man, I remember your interactions pretty damn clearly.  You're hard to miss.  Or forget.  Or not want to slug in the jaw before just walking away.

> I have heard from Dorie Clark, the ED of MassBike, to clarify the 
> exactly who is or isn't on the staff of MassBike, and that helped. She 
> also was the first and so far the only person to invite me to come back 
> to MassBike

It's because we are our membership that we want to start a chapter in the 
Metro Boston area that will energize city cyclists to continue and expand 
on these successes. I hope you will participate with us and join MassBike 
if you're not already a member. You do this us at
http://www.active.com/donations/campaign_public.cfm?key=massbike .
--------

I invited you to join us then.
Yeah, in between calling me a troll, yelling at me for not reading newsletters for a group I didn't belong to, and generally ranting and raving the way you usually do.  YOu're a big reason why I left, and you're now currently a massive cause of resistence to wanting to join again.

I'm glad you had a positive interaction with Dorie. She's great. Did you 
tell her that you think it's a waste of money for her to attend the 
National Bike Summit, and that she should spend her time calling on our US 
Senators at their Louisburg Square and Hyannisport residences, instead?
 
Since she'd read the thread, I didn't need to.   I do think it is a waste of money for her to attend the conference, and that the time is better spent getting an appointment with our national senators here in their home legislative districts.  Or, since the majority of the road design and control and considerable funding is under the auspices of the Commonwealth legislature, it would be even better spent lobbying for funding and passage of bills right here on Beacon Hill.

Here is an excerpt from a message by Thomas John Vitolo, posted on Friday, 
January 28. Mr. Vitolo is not a member of the MassBike staff or Board of 
Directors, and I don't know him.
 
The point isn't and wasn't whether or not Mr. Vitolo was a member of the staff, board or even group of MassBike - I don't believe I ever alleged that he was.  He engaged in this discussion, and as other people here contributed, he had every right to do.  He wasn't the only one to express such a sentiment, but was the one to express it the clearest.  There is a point though to be made that the person who was a) the most lengthy poster, and b) the most prominent and out and out member of MassBike to engage me on any issues was you, and presumptively you were speaking for the organization.  One line about how I should come back, paragraphs and paragraphs of reactionary vitriol.  You were democratically elected, which says to me a) you understand that one  line against many means that many wins, and b) if the people who elected you want you and your conduct to represent them, I'm galled, appalled, and not coming back.

Nobody in the MassBike Board of Directors or staff used this forum to tell 
you what you claim. You were challenged by someone who's a CM-list reader, 
and this guy even asked you to contribute "your passion and your 
experience." I wish you would.
 
I did try, and you profoundly put me off and turned me away. You honestly think that your actions here, even in this message make me want to come back?  Or the fact that you're VP of this organization make me think that the organization has changed any better?  

Anyway, I'm glad you like Dorie. Maybe now you agree with my praise of 
her. Enjoy your trip.
 
I don't think I ever disagreed with your praise of her.  What I disagreed with was your assertion that since she was nice, she deserved a paid vacation at MassBike expense, and that the only way she could meet with the Mass Congressional delegation was by heading to DC.
 
Anne

..............................Tom


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