An Apology

Not to the Observers of course but a good step.

John, thank you for that and I was not concerned with any anonymous observer types regarding what they might construe or misconstrue.
I agree we should not take things too seriously, but money is not one of them, especially when you are put in charge of watching it- regardless of how much it is. And even though "this is simply a bunch of guys sitting around the cracker barrel shootin' the breeze about their favorite toys" I don't want even one verifiable member having concerns, not in this day and age.
I am sure I can find other ways to express levity.
Steve A


The “history” of the Association should be looked at closely and not forgotten. Steve’s joke went right to the heart of the issues that came close to destroying the Association.

Now if he would consider that the Association Forum does not and cannot serve all the members who pay dues that he is responsible for.

Steve Auerbach - Piseas

Just a heads up.
The C25-Observer is disappointed with Steve Auerbach's relentless efforts to reduce the Assoc. to the forum and disenfranchise the members who do not use the forum. As a forum moderator we (yes there is a "we") find this to be detrimental to the Assoc.
His recent cavalier attitude toward the use of member’s dues will be the focus of the C25-Observers posts on the forum and the C25-Observer blog.
We look forward to a change in his attitude so a prolonged confrontation is not necessary.
Other wise stay tuned.
C25-Observer

Revisionist History

Self serving revisionist history does no one any good and in the long run tears at the very structure of the Catalina 25-250 & Capri International Association.
Steve Milby has an agenda that includes whitewashing a history of the Association that he had a major part in, namely the way the Nationals were held and how officers, he served as Commodore from 1984 – 1985, were elected.
The Nationals have long been a small clique that has not served the best interests of the Association
It is telling that when our current Commodore Jim Baumgart
raised a reasonable alternative to the “Nationals” a long string of diatribes came flooding out of the Milby’s corner.
Steve knows the history of the Association and what he and the officers that followed him did to tear the Assoc apart.
When Frank Hopper, Former Commodore chimes in on a post crowing about the great work that Duane Wolff did, you just have to look at the state of the Assoc. today.
Frank did his best to reduce the Assoc. to the Forum, stating that anyone who didn’t use and post on the forum had no business being a member. He came close to stopping participation in the Mainsheet, the only communication that reaches every paying member and presided over the destruction of the Fleet structure.
The forum is an asset but asking hundreds of members to pay for a forum and a “Nations” is not a healthy sailing Assoc.
Revisionist history sweeps the current state of the Assoc. under the rug.
Jim Baumgart’s attempt to revise the racing structure from a single ill attended “Nationals” to regional sanctioned races could go a long way towards reviving the fleet structure and bring members together in real life not just in the confines of the forum.

Comments that are free of obscenities will be published, pro or con.

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John Gisondi
4/3/2009

Provocation

In his first post after becoming Commodore Jim Baumgart took the occasion to rekindle an old fight that he started with an oft stated falsehood.
It’s disappointing and worrying that his tenure is started with such a provocation.
We'll watch without responding and see how he intends to steer the Association.

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Enjoying Bristle – “Bristle”

Of course Dave Bristle is not the only non-catalina owner to rail against opening up the governance of the Catalina 25-250 Association to ALL the PAYING members. Steve Milby is desperately fighting to keep the past under the rug.
Neither one of them has owned a Catalina for years.

Steve, who boasts of his “Nationals” prowess would rather not have the membership know that he was a big part of the period when only attendees of the “Nationals” could vote for officers. Catalina 25-250 Association business was determined by those few racers.
It was that arrogance of the officers and “old guard” that almost destroyed the Catalina 25-250 Association.
The fight went on for a few years until Ed Jacubas managed to become Commodore.
Arlyn Stewart set up the Association Forum that we use today. And it seemed like the Association would flourish.
But there has been an erosion of the ability of the members to be informed and participate in Catalina 25-250 Association business and elections.
Frank Hopper, Former Commodore pushed through a change in the Association Bylaws that makes it unnecessary to inform ALL the PAYING members of elections or any other Catalina 25-250 Association business.


So, to watch the two fight tooth and nail to bury the past and keep the Catalina 25-250 Association members contributions to a minimum is, in it self, fascinating and slightly repellent.
It appears that the Catalina 25-250 Association will continue on this path.

It’s amazing to watch as Dave Bristle “bristles” and Steve Milby flails away, ultimately diminishing the very Catalina 25-250 Association they claim to protect.

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Strange Game

Commodore Meinert has decided to walk a very perilous line in the current elections.
I was attacked on a thread and before I could respond he locked the thread so...
The attacks stand but I am unable to defend myself.
As a nominee this gets very close to manipulation of the elections.
Meinert used the term “fiduciary duty” in the last meeting of the Officers. Using his power over the forum to allow attacks and not allow responses is very questionable. I hope they have “director insurance”.
I decided to use a thread that J.B. Manley started to answer the attacks and Meinert deleted the entire thread. WOW!!
I guess he really can’t help himself.
Anyway here is the response.

Oooo….
The long knives are out.
Well good!
No better time to discuss the governance of the Assoc. and how it serves All the Paying members.
Steve Milby, how about you starting things off?
While going back through the Mainsheet I see an article by you in the Feb 2002 issue, at that time Jim Meier was Commodore.
By the following issue May 2002, Ed Jacubas was Commodore.
Could/would you inform the members as to what changes the Assoc. went through during that time, why the changes happened and how officers were elected before Commodore Jacubas’ tenure?
BTW Steve Milby served as Commodore in 1984-85 (a good thing).
Whew you’re older than me!

Thanks
John Gisondi
Peregrine - #4762
Mainsheet Editor 2004-2006*
*10 Featured articles & 3 Side Bar articles published for our members.

Posted By Peregrine

The Bare Minimum

One look at the Catalina 25-250 & Capri International Association page, yes that’s right ONE PAGE in the Mainsheet Magazine tells you everything you need to know about how the current leadership feels about the Mainsheet Magazine and communication with the membership.
Two small articles, no mention of the Association Fleets in fact no listing of the local Fleets at all.
The Mainsheet Magazine is the only guaranteed way to communicate with ALL the PAYING members.
It appears that Bill Mienert only wants meet the bare minimum of the Officers “fiduciary” duty and nothing more.

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Serving the Association

There is quite a buzz around John Gisondi “Peregrine” running for office on the Association Forum

The comments are for the most part very supportive including a post by “Britinusa” saying he would step aside so John can serve as Secretary.
Here are some samples.


I am sorry that I must decline John's kind nomination for Commodore at this time. I do, however, strongly support his bid for Secretary.
L.Caricchio
ZINGARA – Sail #4222
C25 Fleet Captain-Fleet#3


Bravo, John!
This move from governance critic to active governance volunteer is exactly what you and the association need to amend the past and to move the association forward into a healthier and more sustainable future. And, I have no doubt that with you in office that the call for nominations will finally be considered in time (late April to early May) in order to make it into the June issue of the Mainsheet. Thereby, bringing the entire membership back into the fold...whether they choose to participate or not.

If I still qualified as a voting member, I would second your nomination for Secretary.
J.B. Manley s/v Sea Trac Allied Seawind II #65
DPO s/v Antares Catalina 25 #4849
Association Treasurer 2002 - 2006
Association Bookkeeper 2002 - 2008
Association Quartermaster 2004 - 2008


Glad you added a smiley face to that one John.
I had not followed this thread prior to my putting my hat in the ring for Secretary. I would bow out and be in favor of John taking that position.
Paul – “Britinusa”

John I agree with JB.
…
I nominate you for Commodore.
Knotty Cat
1997 WK/TR, #321
Belhaven, NC.


There is nothing in the bylaws about running or serving in two positions so we will see how this plays out.

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