Re: AGA uncommittment

["Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>]

Hi Gary,

First, let me thank you for sending this to us privately rather than
continuing to fan the flames on one of the public lists.  We are currently
checking with an attorney to see what we can and cannot safely say and do in
this situation.  I am sure I am not the only one of the MC/SC members who is
seething over this law suit.  I have publicly made my personal position
known, and have been quite heavily involved in the debate with Novak's idiot
employee(s) on the Fishnet forum.  However, as strongly as I feel about
this, and as much as I support the defendants in this case (especially
Cynthia) I had to respect the decision of the rest of the SC when the
decision was made that we couldn't afford to stick our necks out on this
one.

There is no question that Novak is wrong.  And there is no question that in
the end, the defendants will prevail.  As individuals, we have the
opportunity to stand up and help them, and even take our chances arguing
with the PSW hoodlums on line.  BUT if our actions caused AGA to be named in
the suit, it could, no, probably would be the end of the organization just
because of the financial blow.

We would not be acting in the best interests of our members if we allowed
one very misguided person to destroy the AGA.  And unfortunately, Novak can
be completely wrong, could resoundingly lose this suit, and still bring
financial ruin to the AGA in the process.

I know that you've stuck your neck out personally for the defense fund, and
I am very proud of how many of my friends have.  But would you endanger the
RSG and the funds of its membership?  It's one thing to take a risk
personally.  It's quite another to take a risk, even a small one, with
someone else's money.

Karen

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Lange" <gwlange@mindspring.com>
To: "Jack O'Leary" <jdo@world.std.com>; "Erik Olson" <erik@thekrib.com>;
"Karen Randall" <krandall@world.std.com>; "Mike Hellweg"
<MichaelAngelaH@aol.com>
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2001 5:51 PM
Subject: AGA uncommittment


> You know I see the AGA not wanting to get drawn into this suit because it
> would be a big drain on the resources and possibly negate all that's been
> done, especially in the last 2 years.  BUT isn't there some way that you
can
> even think about putting up a banner that points to some of these URL's?
> Something at least minimally should be said in the magazine too with the
> appropriate URL's.  Acting like it doesn't exist doesn't seem to be
sitting
> too well with some members.  I really wish you can find something that
will
> show a little middle ground.  Otherwise this moron that started the
lawsuit
> has already won.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Gary Lange
> gwlange@mindspring.com
>
> APD snippet below
> ---------------------------------------------------
> Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 19:22:20 -0600
> From: "Roger S. Miller" <rgrmill@rt66.com>
> Subject: Re: AGA stance on the defense fund.
>
> Erik Olson wrote:
>
> > The AGA steering committee deliberated over whether to
> > take an official stance on this about a month ago. Irregardless of how
we
> > feel as individuals in the case, it was decided that it would be
> > inappropriate for the AGA as an organization to take an official stance
on
> > this issue.
>
>
> Thanks for the news, Erik
>
> It think it's like Eldridge Cleaver said so long ago.  You're either
> part of the problem or you're part of the solution.  I guess we know
> where AGA is.
>
> > Thus, the article in _The Aquatic Gardener_ will be informational
> > reporting, there is no link to the defense (or Pets Warehouse, for that
> > matter) on our website, and most likely we could not have any official
> > activities at the convention.
>
> Yeah.  Just ignore the problem and it will go away.
>
>
> Roger Miller
>
>

  ------------------
  To unsubscribe from this list, e-mail majordomo@thekrib.com
  with "unsubscribe aga-sc" in the body of the message.
  Old messages are available at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-sc
  When asked, log in as username is "aga-sc", and password "showy".