From: Walter Miles <walter at nova.org>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
Date: Wed, 25 Oct 2006 01:23:33 -0400
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Gilliland Fliers
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>

Hello WSFA

TW> "Last night the Gillilands showed up at the RavenCon party and passed
TW> out fliers giving their side of the WSFA changes...

I think I just got the thing in the mail, from Alexis and Lee.  I
assume that most of the rest of you did too.

I could probably write enough about it to block the intestines of
all your mailservers, but I'll confine myself to commenting on the
four passages that mention me.

One mention is plainly incorrect:

  "October 6, 2005.  "Keith Lynch and Walter Miles submit Ted White's
  application for membership..."

  I did NOT submit Ted's application, nor was I involved with it in
  any other way.  Keith told me on the 4th that Ted would be renewed
  but would not attend the meeting.  I recall not seeing a point to
  this, but I did not voice an opinion on it.

  I HAD inquired of Bob MacIntosh, shortly before, about renewing MY
  OWN lapsed membership, because I wanted to vote in support of
  Keith's performance as Secretary etc.  I paid my dues to him just
  before the meeting.  Perhaps Alexis thought I was paying for Ted.

  I certainly should have corrected this at the time of Alexis'
  letter in File 770.  If you don't beat a dead horse, somebody
  else'll do it for ya, I spose.

The other three passages describe my involvement poorly:

  "October 2, 2005.  Ted White and Walter Miles flame Lee in tandem..."

  "October 21, 2005.  ...Ted White was attacking Lee with the
  assistance of ...Walter Miles..."

  "January 6, 2006.  ...Walter Miles... [others] formed a small clique
  of WSFAns refusing to attend first Fridays at the Gillalands..."

  The tone of these suggest that I conspired with or acted on the
  instruction of others.  I did and said the things that my conscience
  required.  I came to these decisions on my own.  I did exchange
  email with some WSFAns at the time, expressing sympathy and shock,
  inquiring about my membership, etc.  I also argued, to the officers,
  that a strong apology was needed.  I suspected that the meetings
  might ultimately move if Lee would not make amends, but I did not
  feel that that would be a good outcome.

About the rest of the flier:  I wonder if anyone on this list feels
that half of the details are correct?  Or that a quarter of the
characterizations of personalities or motivations are remotely
reasonable?

Finally, I feel kinda left out that Alexis did not see fit to
include to a paragraph explaining MY characterological defects
and moral weaknesses!

Be seeing you,
--
===========================================================
Walter A. Miles, Jr.    walter at nova.org      (301) 891-2815
217 Spring Avenue, Takoma Park, MD  20912