First off Jim, did you read my e-mail to you last week or so? I ansewred to your e-mail to me. I thought I made myself clear, but obviously I didn't, or maybe you didn't read it.
Jim, in no way do I want FR to be gone, and I have never charged you or anyone else with fraud. Show me where I've called FR fraudulent an I'll send you $100 bucks. What I suggested to you was my opinion that full disclosure of the FR funds is the best way to shut up the Af'ers. It would also in my opinion bring in more funds from those who are undecided or afraid to donate. It's also just good business. I don't believe the lawsuits make any difference as all funds are solicited publicly here. They know how much money is raised, Joe posts it as it comes in.
Claims that I've turned into an AF'er is just plain wrong Jim. If you've read my posts over there, you would see that I have stood up for FR in most every instance. I have tried to fill those guys in on some facts about my knowledge of FR activities. I have also stated some of my displeasure with FR, it's a free country Jim, anyone can post on any internet site they want. Just because they do doesn't make them AF'ers. You know that right before Callahan was banned he was sort of warned by Bob J to quit posting on AF boards. A short while later, boom, he's banned from FR. I found that to be troubling.
Now, about this cruise business. Bob stated correctly that I was on the original cruise committee. As you probably know, the committee had had it's own secret site for committee members to plan the cruise on. It was on this site that Bob posted a thread one night titled "Don't mention the Travel Agent Fee Split". Apparently some people had asked Seeking the Truth some questions about the cruise raising money. As a member of the committee I could not in good consciense continue to serve if the fact that raising funds was going to be concealed. Call me goofy or what ever, thats just the way I am. After 6 or so cruise threads on FR, I urged Diotima to make this public, she did, but not completly to my satisfaction. All the thread said was "Proceeds to benefit FRN". No mention of the travel agent fee split. No mention of how funds were being raised. No accounting of how they were to be spent. So yesterday, about 6 weeks after the cruise, I ask Dio how much was raised. The standard answer of it's none of your business came back. Then I was slammed as an AF'er trolling for dirt. Nothing could be further from the truth. An accouting is owed to those who went on the cruise, and to the forum. At least you provide some idea where the FR money is used. So far, nothing from the cruise. I would also mention that 2 other FAB members requested of Bob to make the fundraising public, they were told to go to hell.
I was also troubled that Joe made my donation status available to Bob. I thought this was supposed to be confidential information. I refinanced my home and used some extra cash to close out my credit cards. I ask Joe to please stop my donation, fully intending to start back up as soon as I closed on my new loan. But I get a late night phone call from Bob asking me why I quit giving money to FR. This also troubled me. As you know there were/are some internal conflicts among some FAB members and I felt like Bob was trying to get me to align myself with him against Connie. I just wasn't into playing those silly games, so I left the FAB, and FR except for reading the news.
I see that Bob weighed in earlier and he thinks I want an accounting for me, not true, I think all Freepers deserve an accounting of some sort, just MHO. If it ain't coming so be it. Others are free to do as they wish. I helped this site raise alot of money and I decided not to be party anymore without full disclosure, thats my right. You have your rights as well, use em as you see fit. No hard feelings from me. I hope you raise a million bucks.
Best Wishes
chuck
ps, thanks Topaz for the kind words, you're right on the mark.
Chuck Allen - "It was on this site that Bob posted a thread one night titled "Don't mention the Travel Agent Fee Split". Apparently some people had asked Seeking the Truth some questions about the cruise raising money. As a member of the committee I could not in good consciense continue to serve if the fact that raising funds was going to be concealed. Call me goofy or what ever, thats just the way I am."
Ok, you're goofy. Here are my comments to the cruise committee DIRECTLY from the thread you cite.
"Passengers DO NOT GET THIS REBATE on their room! This is OUR commission for booking the group! Gene mentioned that some people are expecting this to be applied to their room charges! BAD BAD BAD! If someone asks how we are making money on this, it is Ok to tell them that we are getting a bulk room booking rebate, but that this rebate goes to the NETWORK!"
So much for your quest for the truth and bringing it to the other passengers and Forum. What did you do Chuck, read the title, assume the worst and move on? There was never ANY intention to hide that this was a FUNDRAISER to help defray start up expenses for the Network. It was one of the 3 goals we set prior to embarking on it, and the fact is we thought it was so self evident (hundreds of groups have cruises to raise money)we didn't even think it about it. When it was brought to our attention, we added that phrase to the ad so people would know we were expecting to raise money. We also raised money through t shirt sales and a drawing for packages to next years CPAC. Are you telling me that under the sign where passengers bought tickets for the drawing, you would have insisted we add "BEWARE! THIS DRAWING IS A FUNDRAISER! IF YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS TO THE NETWORK RAISING MONEY IN THIS FASHION, PLEASE DO NOT BUY A TICKET AS WE DO NOT WANT OFFEND ANYONE!
The rest of your accusations are as equally ridiculous and unfounded. Everyone going on the cruise knew this was a fundraiser to help defray expenses in launching the FR Network. No one paid a dime more than they would have booking with RCCL separately. We don't have any final figures yet because we have not received a final accounting from the cruise line. When we do, a report will be made to the Network Board of Directors and then they will decide where and when to best use the money to the advantage of the Network and further the goals of FReepers in general. Your assertions that these summaries need to be made to anyone else is simply absurd.
I am deeply insulted and angry that you would accuse these people, people have been your friends and worked alongside you and NEVER ONCE HAVE GIVEN YOU REASON TO QUESTION THEIR MOTIVES OR THEIR HONESTY. You owe EACH AND EVERYONE of them a apology.
The Cruise Committee
Badjoe (Chief FR Fundrasier)
diotima (Chicago Chapter President)
Commonsense (South Carolina Chapter President)
Ms.AntiFeminazi (Dallas Chapter President)
Seeking the Truth (Florida Chapter President and winner of last years "Chapter of the Year" Eagle Award)
LurkerNoMore! - (Dallas Chapter Leader and about the sweetest girl you would ever meet!)
Ironjack (Tireless volunteer helping to make the FR dream come true)
MinuteGal - (Florida Chapter leader and tireless volunteer for FR)
abner - (Another wonderful girl and tireless volunteer for FR)
Syncro - (All around great guy and team member!)
BTW - I can't believe you're trying to mischaracterize my concerned call to you. In case you don't remember (which would really shock me at this point) there were some upheavels and bad feelings on FR and the FAB around that time. A couple people got angry and bolted (I think they've all returned now). When Joe saw you cancel your monthly, he called me knowing that you and I were friends and thought it may be best to give you call and find out what was wrong. You know as well as I do the only reason I called was to check on your welfare and see if there was anything I could do or explain. This additonal mischaracterization is just too much for me. I don't know what happened to you Chuck, but I sure stinks.