Re: MCM - Digest V1 #403

["Mary McCaw" <marymccaw@mediaone.net>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "MCM - Digest" <owner-aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com>
To: <aga-mcm-digest@thekrib.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 18, 2000 6:12 AM
Subject: MCM - Digest V1 #403


> Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:24:18 -0800 (PST)
> From: Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>
> Subject: Re: MCM - Digest V1 #402
>
> > From: "Mary McCaw" <marymccaw@mediaone.net>
>
> > I thought TAG would have the first coverage of the contest.
>
> Actually, TAG *doesn't* have first coverage of the event.  Not by a long
shot.  The first coverage of the event, as James mentioned, will be on the
APD and the website.  TAG will be 2-3 months behind this.

I know that.  You are playing semantics with me. We had agreed that TAG was
to get the first magazine coverage of the event.
>
> Second point: What is "coverage?"  I have already announced the
> availability of the winners in my article for TAG which I just submitted.
> There's some coverage right there.

But that doesn't constitute an article.
>
> > It is, after all, an AGA sponsored event.  The above suggestion seems
> > to me to compromise what I thought we had already agreed to.
> ..
> > No way!!!  Erik, after all the hard work I put into TAG, I think you we
me  the courtesy of running these offers by me before you talk to Dave about
them.
>
> Mary, that's exactly what I'm doing right now.

I'm not going to run this into the ground, but Eric, you did make an offer
to him without even telling me that you were going to do so.

 I have not agreed to anything.  I've shared in ALMOST REAL TIME the
discussions with the MC (almost to a fault). If you've read the replies,
I've said in EVERY ONE "No go without buy-in from Mary and James."  What
more can I do?

Run things by me and the MC BEFORE making an offer to Dave.  By doing things
the way you did them you are creating a certain momentum which works in your
favor, pressuring others to comply.
>
> > I am tired of Dave's abrasive tactics.  I've said it before, and I'll
> > say it again:  Dave needs us a lot more than we need him.
>
> In my opinion, this point has little relevance.

I think it does.  Dave's tactics are to use aggressive manipulation to get
what he wants.  He stirs up more broohahas than Carter's has Little Liver
Pills.  I think it is a cost benefit issue.  Is the little bit of publicity
we would get from PAM (considering its limited readership) worth all the
crap he puts us through?  I don't think so.  But if others don't agree, I am
willing to accept this.

YOU do not have to deal directly with Dave.

Neither do you.  You have made this choice.
>
> This is a hobby.  And the showcase has a LOT of material, more
> material than we could ever cover in a year of TAG.  I am trying to come
up with a way in which WE can use the advantage of a two-page spread in PAM
to promote our contest and have some pictures that would otherwise not see
the page, printed!  I have tried very hard to come up with a scheme that
does NOT compromise anything cool we will do in TAG 2 months later, but
gives Dave something interesting for his readers.

If the issue is getting more publicity for the contest and printing some
pictures that would not be otherwise printed, you could give him something
for PAM 5 and keep our original agreement.  The heck with his deadlines.  As
you and others have pointed out, there is plenty of material aside from a
news approach.
>
> And it's really frustrating to me that every idea I seem to come up with
> now is either shot down in petty bickering over trivialities, or only is
> agreed to over much pain. This is the third such case now.  I cannot take
much more of this.  I, and we, need SUPPORT.

I don't know what you are referring to, but in this case you are making
something which is not personal into a personal issue.  I do support you,
Eric, and do not take your contributions for granted.  I can appreciate your
frustration, but hey, you did make an offer to Dave before consulting
anyone.
>
> Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 19:18:20 -0500
> From: "Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>
> Subject: Enough is enough.

Mary, if you can do the whole job in TAG, and use enough
> material that there's not enough left for PAM, you should say so now, then
do the job so thoroughly that people are sated with showcase info.

 I am not the one who will be writing the articles.  I have been busy
putting together n. 4, and James, Erik and I have talked about contest
coverage in TAG, but haven't worked out the details.  Their suggestion was
one big color issue for V. 14 n. n and black and white pictures for
follow-up issues.  Next week David L. is going to send me copies of the TAG
bills for the last two years, and then I can start working on a budget.  I
think we can do better than color in one issue.  James will be the one
writing the articles unless someone else wants to help him out.



> I for that matter) I think it is very important for AGA, PAM and _MOST
IMPORTANTLY_ the HOBBY that the AGA MC not continue to drive a wedge between
AGA and Dave, when Dave is bending over backwards to support AGA.

That's not entirely true.

James said:
> > I'm not trying to limit Dave in any of this, but I did this as an AGA
member for the AGA - not for PAM.  Dave isn't paying the bills to cover the
cost of the event, he failed to print the event announcment that I submitted
to him well in advance of his publication deadline, he didn't respond to my
request that he donate a subscription to PAM as a prize.

.....In fact, after the work he has done for AGA for a number of years and
the cold shoulder he has received by some members of this committee, I think
it takes a pretty big person to continue_ to want to support this
organization.

The AGA MC is not driving a wedge between the AGA and Dave.  He's doing it
on his own by his behavior.
>
> Dave can be abrupt, and his E-mails come through with a sharp edge.
> Sometimes his enthusiasm can be a bit overwhelming.  But his motives are
honorable.

.....We need to get back to working with each other as a TEAM.  This
divisivness and competitive behavior is not only unbecoming of an
organization of this stature, but it's bad for the hobby.

Karen, if his motives are so honorable, why did he ask for the pick of the
contest CD's?  DAVE is the one creating the devisiveness because of his
personal style.  I can't believe that you are saying that I'm not playing
nice after what he put you through over the contest ad in PAM.  Okay,
according to your perception, I am not playing nice, but he was an out and
out bully and you're defending him!

Personal feelings aside,   I have suggested a compromise of giving him some
material for PAM 5.  I am willing to go along with giving him some material
on this basis.

 I will say for the record right here and now that I consider Dave a
personal friend, and a friend of this hobby.  And I don't like being put in
the position of being in the middle between a person I care about and an
organization that I care about.  No matter what others may think, Dave is
doing this for the love of the hobby, just like the rest of us.

I have expressed a willingness to compromise regardless of my personal
opinion of Dave to which I am entitled.  No one is putting you in the
middle. You have named your feelings about Dave.  Now you need to own them.
YOU feel the way you because of your personal feelings for Dave.  I ask that
you respect my feelings and opinions as I try to respect
yours.

Mary
>