Wheres The Ark?

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Is it me or have the posts about The Ark gone silent?  While some of the responses were brash...the Cadillac convos were cool.  What happened?

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The owner of the Ark decided to depart from the CLC, both the Club, and Forums, including Facebook.

Laurie would not tone down her brash remarks, and following the instigating of a ban from the Administrators, after sending disgusting correspondence to all, even the President of the CLC, she decided to completely sever her Membership and part ways.

Bruce.

[bcroe]

Well that is a loss.  I enjoyed hearing someone that
worldly telling it like it is.  I never detected
distortions of the truth, we have lived with
plenty of that lately.  Bruce Roe

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Well that doesnt surprise me considering her comments.  Oh well.  Shame it got ugly.

[Series75]

Etta James said it best.....At Last.

[Lexi]

Disappointed to learn that Laurie left under such circumstances. The Club and CLC Administrators did not deserve what Bruce reported. I always liked Laurie's passion for Cadillac, but to say she has some issues that are incompatible with the CLC is an understatement. Hope she is happy in her new endeavours. Clay/Lexi

[Carfreak]

Yes, Laurie had strong opinions and lots of them but a huge part of Laurie's recent angst was based on a particular moderator, how at times he comes across as biased in how Forum Rules are administered - or not enforced.  I've had it happen to me too. 

We are down a few Forum Moderators due to death (Bill Hedge), another sold his Cadillac and didn't renew his Club membership (Dan LeBlanc) and at least one other moderator is not always active on a regular basis sometimes being absent for weeks or longer.

Speaking with the CLC President, he will likely being reaching out to some of the regulars here or perhaps in his President's Message asking for one or more volunteers to step up and join as a new Moderator.   

[Cadillac Jack 82]

I'd love to volunteer but sadly work and life might not be the best for helping.  I can attest that locally I've connected with 10 other Cadillac owners and have preached the club/forum.  Even last night there was a beautiful 64 Deville drop top that I've never seen before.  Crazy to think there's that many mid century Cads here.

[Bryan J Moran]

99% of the problem is that no one involved in this was face to face.  Forums and e communication create these disfunctions. 

Responses here are compromised by time, responsibility and motive. 

Bruce will never meet Laurie.  If they did - and there was also a group in the meeting, I doubt Laurie would drop f bombs and inappropriate words. 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

99% of the problem is that no one involved in this was face to face.  Forums and e communication create these disfunctions. 

Responses here are compromised by time, responsibility and motive. 

Bruce will never meet Laurie.  If they did - and there was also a group in the meeting, I doubt Laurie would drop f bombs and inappropriate words. 

One of the biggest problems with corresponding over the internet as against face to face is the lack of inflections in ones' voice.   Even though a lot of us speak English, the biggest problems is that in some countries, writing a word can have many different meanings.   Plus, words in one dialect can mean totally the opposite in another, which is why English Language is one of the hardest languages to understand, and to learn from a non-english-speaking area.

Heck, even in USA, a lot of people couldn't understand what I was saying, because I didn't realise that I had an accent.   Never had a problem at home.

Plus, some words in one place can mean something really derogatory, but in others, a term of endearment.   It is just how it is said, as against written.

Bruce.

[Cadillac Jack 82]

Again her posts with her car were cool but not her attitude towards other members.  Nobody should ever berate another member.  Its like the American Legion...leave your troubles at the door and enjoy!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Ad first, I was looking at the posts from Laurie. After a while, I skept them because it was garbage for me. As a French speaking guy, I had difficulties to understand what she wrote.

[billyoung]

I guess I am a guy that tries to imagine walking in another's shoes. I belong to a Christian Prison Ministry called KAIROS and we go into a Prison every month and do Church with the prisoners and twice a year we go in for 4 days and teach them about Christ. In listening to their stories of their childhoods and lives it explains much of their behaviors but does not excuse them. Laurie is a Veteran, she has endured much in that service that has severely damaged her health and will curtail her life expectancy. I take these things into consideration. Again each of us may have aspects of our personalities that may be harder for others to understand and accept. One Mans Opinion.

[James Landi]

Being a member of this club and especially this forum is one of the joys of my old age. The  challenges and issues as stated above and the analysis are spot on... I add my bit of experience as a headmOnster in several college preparatory, private schools with volunteer boards spanning nearly 40 years, as follows: This organization likely receives an "A" from its members. But a solid "A" grade leaves out 5% who are dissatisfied. Most of these folks are either uncompromising or suffer from personality disorders.  I say this not to cast aspersions on those who are not well served or have been  slighted, but only to point out that in a not-for-profit organized and headed by a self perpetuating board of trustees and run by volunteers,  there are bound to be folks who are unhappy. It's just a sad truth that negatively affects volunteerism and good cheer. 

[Carfreak]

Plus, some words in one place can mean something really derogatory, but in others, a term of endearment.   It is just how it is said, as against written.

Bruce.

Hopefully you eventually learned calling someone the B-word is not friendly in the US.

[Lexi]

Being a member of this club and especially this forum is one of the joys of my old age. The  challenges and issues as stated above and the analysis are spot on... I add my bit of experience as a headmOnster in several college preparatory, private schools with volunteer boards spanning nearly 40 years, as follows: This organization likely receives an "A" from its members. But a solid "A" grade leaves out 5% who are dissatisfied. Most of these folks are either uncompromising or suffer from personality disorders.  I say this not to cast aspersions on those who are not well served or have been  slighted, but only to point out that in a not-for-profit organized and headed by a self perpetuating board of trustees and run by volunteers,  there are bound to be folks who are unhappy. It's just a sad truth that negatively affects volunteerism and good cheer.

Spot on James. We can't please all of the people all of the time. Clay/Lexi

[Carfreak]

I say this not to cast aspersions on those who are not well served or have been  slighted, but only to point out that in a not-for-profit organized and headed by a self perpetuating board of trustees and run by volunteers,  there are bound to be folks who are unhappy. It's just a sad truth that negatively affects volunteerism and good cheer.
 

LOL, every two years the self-perpetuating Board is up for reelection. There is usually at least one mention suggesting members who were interested to become involved submit their names to be put on the ballot.

This year I heard some longer-term Board members were asked to consider stepping back in case people were being reelected due to name familiarity as a way to help get some new people involved. 

The ballot and candidate profiles for this year's election were in the March Self Starter.  For the first time, votes can be submitted on the paper ballot by mail or members can vote online. 

Historically only a small percentage of members actually bother to vote. When I looked at the ballot there were several new names including Forum participant Eric DeVirgilis, Frank Nicodemus JR, Nick Manole, Dr Joe Roglieri, Dan Graziadei, Jim Jordan and Bill Levy. 

Mr. Landi - have you returned your ballot yet? Granted there are 20 names for the 20 open positions (plus the option for Write In Candidate) but there is also a Constitutional Amendment being considered also. 

[James Landi]

"Mr. Landi - have you returned your ballot yet? Granted there are 20 names for the 20 open positions (plus the option for Write In Candidate) but there is also a Constitutional Amendment being considered also."

No--- I'm a laggard-- I enjoy the club, read the forum every day, have fun weighing-in, I haven't donated, I haven't voted. If I sound like I'm preaching, please accept my apologies. Yep, I'm one of the selfish  folks who should be very actively involved, but I'm not and I've no excuses.

I appreciate your challenging me and my personal observations regarding not-for-profit organizations . In my experience, on average, somewhere around 5% of those in a not-for-profit like CLC are volunteers and donors, so they are a small group of dedicated and passionate folks who will take on the task and responsibilities that, in the commercial, for profit world,  are paid positions. And I entirely agree with you that engaging membership to take on these responsibilites is a challenging part of their task,that is,  finding like minded volunteers to keep the organization running. The nominating committee of the board is essential--- thus  "self-perpetuating element for not-for-profit boards."     

[skinny_tom]

I come here for the knowledge. I pay my dues because this kind of stuff doesn't come for free and I recognize that. I don't vote because I don't know anything about anyone in the club- but I may one day drive my ratty-caddy to a club event just to see what's up. Most of what I've learned about the various mechanicals I've learned here. What a great place!

The stories about the Ark were always entertaining. What a character!

[klinebau]

As a '70 owner, I will really miss hearing about updates to the Ark and the associated color.  I do understand that a line was crossed and that there are consequences, but I appreciate and support the hard work of our moderators.