Another OFS point of view

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Another OFS point of view

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 3:01pm.

Deleted for sharing alternate points of view

Merwyn Haskett's blog
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I'm still waiting on clarification or confirmation on

Submitted by Guglielmo on Tue, 09/04/2007 - 3:15pm.

the composition of the board at the time of the vote. The OFS letter did not address that at all.

This smacks of sour grapes

Submitted by cupric oxide on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 9:32am.

I've pondered any response to this letter since I saw it released, as I think it is so ridiculous it barely deserves recognition. Unfortunately for me, the unsubstantiated claim of anti-semitism is far too outrageous for me to let it stand without rebuttal. And so, a response:

Are we really being expected to believe by this (inflammatory) letter that the OFS BOD of 2005 was "intolerant, ignorant, and anti-semitic, disrespectful, disregarding, hostile, vicious," and my favorite "defiantly boring"? I think in this case, the BOD showed excellent judgement by not confirming Mr. Jones to the position of live events coordinator. (There is a difference between firing and not being confirmed after the initial three month term, and subsequent performance review required of all applicants to the staff.) I find the letter above to be a case in point for non-confirmation. Any resemblance to a person of level temperament is glaringly absent. I also find it very difficult to believe that any "enthusiasm" would be met with "fear and hostility" by any staff or board member. Why would this be the case?

The intent of this letter is clear: agitation. No facts are represented. The tone is aggressive, hostile, and counter productive. This is a essentially a call to arms against the OFS BOD, whom from what I read in their latest letter, seem committed to bettering the organization by opening the lines of communication.

This, in my opinion, is not an "us against them" situation. War and revolution will not solve the problem at hand. An environment of positive cooperation between all members, volunteers, staff and the Board of Directors seems the only realistic solution. I love OFS and want very much for it to continue.

PS - And hey, if it takes a few crappy flicks and a few pints of beer to help monetarily sustain it...drink up and enjoy the pap, kiddies!

I'm curious

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 11:12am.

What's your take on Audrey? Seems to me she's the one causing most of the strife, the Bartone stuff aside.

A little insight into her style:
A very popular local night spot was getting ready for it's grand opening. It had just finished a remodel of the building and they were putting the final touches on the place and scheduling talent for the big night. The owner was able to book Jonathan Richman to play. Audrey caught wind of the news that Richman was playing and got mad because she was going to try to book him at the Capitol. She ended up calling Jonathan Richman's management and saying something like, "Why is he playing at ----, they don't even have a stage." Well, it was true, but only because they hadn't built it yet.

I too am curious

Submitted by cupric oxide on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 12:31pm.

as to why you are asking me my opinion of Audrey, on a thread that neither mentions her, nor has a thing to do with her. I guess if you want to make a correlation, her being the current live events coordinator would suffice. Nor do I understand why my opinion of her would matter, and what would lead you to believe that I even have one to begin with. But, what the heck, I'll play along.

First of all, what strife besides the Bartone situation are you referring to?

Your insight into her "style" is vague, and therefore I hesitate to give it credence. The nightspot in question, and its' ownership is unknown by me. Once again, pretty vague. By my recollection, Jonathan Richman performed at The China Clipper, and I didn't attend. This is the extent of my information. I am not in contact with JR's management, so I feel unqualified to comment on any supposed conversations. I guess that, in a nutshell, I don't have an opinion. I only know that I've enjoyed a heck of a lot of great performances and events at the theater in recent years, no matter who was the live event coordinator at the time.

She's the theater manager of

Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 12:37pm.

She's the theater manager of Capitol Theater. She's the one representing OFS in the olympian. I would say this thread does too have a thing to do with her. Andras Jones had a difficult time working with OFS, the point of his letter which Merwyn reprinted.

Everythng about the Bartone story is vague to me

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 12:47pm.

but I give it credence because I assume people are acting in good faith. You have no reason to think otherwise of Rob.

answers, and a clarification

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 4:54pm.

First, when the Richman situation took place Audrey worked at the Clipper not the Capitol Theater.

I asked your opinion because you seem involved and I thought maybe you had some insight. Maybe you are her, then I'd just feel silly. As someone I assume is somewhat closely involved with the theater, your opinion is more valuable to me than just some shmoe.

The strife of which I speak includes movie selection and the prices charged to groups who want to have events/fundraisers/etc at the theater. Since Audrey came on, from what I've heard from multiple sources, she has pushed to make the theater more "high class" by raising prices and has also led the push to show movies that you could go to the megaplex to see, like "28 days later", or "Sicko". I've also heard that member input is no longer taken in making these decisions. I have heard that Audrey is a very dynamic person who is driven to succeed and will step on you if you get in her way. I don't know her, haven't even met her, just relaying what multiple sources have described to me.

I was vague about the location and ownership of said night spot because it doesn't matter to this conversation. I have no reason to make this up, neither did the person who told me, and that's what's important.

I get the sense that you think I'm trying to rouse rabble here, and I'm really not, I'm just trying to get all sides of the story. It's the journalist coming out in me.

Audrey actually is not

Submitted by sophielou on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 9:20pm.

Audrey actually is not responsible for the film selection; they have a whole other staff member in charge of film programming. I would also hesitate to blame her or any individual for raising prices; that's just what happens as the years go by. It's still the cheapest theatre in town. And if the move toward more "mainstream" films has in fact been a conscious one, it's my suspicion that it was more of an an attempt to gain attendance, rather than to change the spirit or the "class" of the theatre. the theatre is a nonprofit, and has to stay alive. If it's a choice between the occasional (or even more than occasional) Hollywood film and the theatre having to shut its doors (or even just cut back on its minuscule budget even further), I would hope that we'd all prefer the former. Having met and worked with Audrey, I have nothing but positive things to say. She is friendly, committed, and cares passionately for keeping the theatre running, and that's pretty important in my book.

more second hand ignorance to add to the pile

Submitted by enpen on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 1:01pm.

I haven't gotten to work with Audrey at all yet, but I have heard from several different people around town that she's an excellent person to work with. And that's all I know about that...

I don't get it Merwyn

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 2:16pm.

What is it about this thread that prompted you to delete you original post? Or are you just making a point about Olyblog browbeating in general? It would be helpful to know.

I'm just doing some Fall

Submitted by Merwyn Haskett on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 2:21pm.

I'm just doing some Fall Cleaning. I'm about halfway done.

I see.

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 2:29pm.

Deleted for no reason whatsoever.

Where'd you go?

Submitted by blagoblag on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 3:50pm.

Your link suddenly doesn't work for me. Is it a glitch, or did you disappear?

My God...

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 3:53pm.

Is it possible to...gulp...delete yourself? It's like a Twilight Zone episode. Is poor Merwyn is going to spend eternity among every thng ever deleted from Olyblog?

From the docent discussion list

Submitted by blagoblag on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 4:21pm.

I don't want to get in trouble for quoting it, but here is what Rick said about temporarily blocking the account.

Personally I was rather enjoying the theatrics of the "fall cleaning" but maybe it was seen as too rebellious and sassy.

edit: fixed link

I wonder how long

Submitted by blagoblag on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 4:52pm.

the account will stay frozen? The other docents who replied to Rick didn't seem to object to Merwyn's deletions.

It seems awfully silly to me

Submitted by OperaGirl on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 5:05pm.

It seems awfully silly to me (to freeze the account over that) and seeing that it's is own personal blog, you would think Merwyn would be entitled to delete what he wants.

It's very confusing...

Submitted by Rick on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 6:55pm.

...when there are comments, but no original post.

When you think of the long and gloomy history of man, you will find more hideous crimes have been committed in the name of obedience than have ever been committed in the name of rebellion. -C.P. Snow

Confusing, yes

Submitted by blagoblag on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 7:01pm.

but they're his words and it seems to me that he's entitled to remove them.

That's not how community works

Submitted by Rick on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 7:05pm.

If you give it away, you don't get to take it back.

I don't know, Rick.

Submitted by Ehver Green on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 7:09pm.

I don't know, Rick. Docents can make changes or remove inappropriate material. Individual posters can alter comments after the fact to change the scope of the comment or change their minds altogether (I did this today). How is this different other than he was taking away all of his thoughts? I'm with OG and BoB on this one... I wish you'd reconsider.

It's not up to me.

Submitted by Rick on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 7:27pm.

It seems that the rest of the docents are fine with it, so, so be it.

I can count on one hand the number of times...

Submitted by Rick on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 8:34pm.

...that anyone's had their post changed (not counting nazis).

I was talking more about the

Submitted by Ehver Green on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 9:22am.

I was talking more about the ability to edit, not that it is a regular occurance. I should have more clear.

If that's how you feel

Submitted by blagoblag on Fri, 09/07/2007 - 1:00am.

Maybe you should put up a legal notice to the effect that all posts become the property of OlyBlog.

You might think I'm being facetious or putting forward a simplistic and extreme position, but I see it as a real option, an alternative to being perceived as arbitrary or personal in cases like this.

It would be better to be explicit about it up front if you consider deleting posts to be offensive or potentially bannable behavior.

They were actually Andras

Submitted by cupric oxide on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 7:10pm.

They were actually Andras Jones' words that Merwyn had been given permission to post.

Andras Jones Post

Submitted by Sarah on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 9:43am.

Got the letter back up here

Merwyn

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 09/05/2007 - 8:44pm.

Why are you doing this?

I think it is called

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 7:11am.

Spite.

Not to be contrary

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 9:42am.

Gug, I see another reason. As a musician I know that silence is a sound. I see Merwyn is making a semi-silent protest.

Think about Sally Field hold up the sign that said "Union" in Norma Rae

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

Just what is he protesting exactly?

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 9:49am.

People don't agree with him or buy his anecdotal critiques of male privilege?

I think he feels unheard,

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 9:59am.

I think he feels unheard, unvalidated.

Have you ever visited his website?

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:04am.

Anyway, you are stepping dreadfully close to psycho-analytical territory.

=P

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:13am.

Not my intention. I'm sure Merwyn will smack me upside the head if he feels psycho-analyzed by my comment.

If he did that he would need

Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:16am.

If he did that he would need to go to anger management

Or quite possibly

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:17am.

Or quite possibly Norm-management, which I heard is a VERY tough course.

Visualizing Three Stooges

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:21am.

Throw Larry in the mix with Norm and Merwyn for head smacking, eye poking, eye poke blocking (my personal favorite) and the ever faithful slap across two faces by the third.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

Oh, my...

Submitted by Guglielmo on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:35am.

You really shouldn't have made that connection Larry. I'm afraid it's going to stick. Larry, Merwyn, and Norm.

Soitenly!

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 09/06/2007 - 10:38am.

woob woob woob woob!!

Larry is Larry, obviously,

Submitted by Mary Baker Eddy on Fri, 09/07/2007 - 9:51am.

Larry is Larry, obviously, but who gets to be Moe and Curly? I think Norm and Merwyn should be Daryl and Daryl.

I'm obviously Moe. If you

Submitted by Norm on Fri, 09/07/2007 - 10:55am.

I'm obviously Moe. If you could see how overly sexy I am with a bowl-cut there would be no doubt in your mind.

Well.....I did cut my fro, long ago

Submitted by Anonymously Larry on Fri, 09/07/2007 - 11:35am.

But I'm definitely bald enough on top to fit the bill.

"There is only one race, the human race" - The Neville Brothers

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