{Moderators... I felt this was more appropriate here than the Talkboard Issues forum, but move if you feel it is placed in the wrong forum}

Dear Community,

It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that I have resigned from the Talkboard.

I have already informed the current board members and Randy of my decision.

I have come to the decision that I can no longer support the leadership style of the Talkboard and have chosen to resign rather than continue to fight. I feel that I have become a disruption on the Talkboard and have no desire to continue being a disruption.

Randy asked me over two years ago to accept a position on the Talkboard after the slew of resignations that occurred in the early formation of the Board. I accepted his offer with the expectation it was going to be a one year term. I chose to stay on through the past elections and now have been on the board for over two years.

This has been a tough decision that I have been debating for a few months. I am very proud of some of the work that TalkBoard has done. The creation of the GLBT Travelers forum is probably my greatest accomplishment... it got created in spite of some very heated opposition. And I believe that forum is a model for how our community can treat each other and be inclusive if given a chance. However, I have to say I have been very disappointed in our active involvement in the community over the past year. I have to admit... I have also been disturbed by the attacks on the board during that same time.

So, I am resigning from the TalkBoard BUT I am not resigning from this community... it has become an extended family to me. I call many of you friends and have been fortunate to meet some of the most interesting characters I know (Catman, Premex, Wingless, MRLimo, MrStarAlliance, Spiff, Fran Jelley, Doc and Jan_AZ to just name a few) and I hope to grow the list in the many years to come.

Depending on the future direction of the TalkBoard you may see me yet again asking to serve and represent your interests.

I appreciate the support many of you have provided to me and the trust you placed in me to represent you to the best of my ability.

Now, come visit me in Chat.... I seem to visit every evening... and that will not change! I still want to know what you think and how I can help improve this Community that I like to call HOME!

Respectfully,


William

I, for one, appreciate ALL of your efforts William. You are truly a class act! I am sorry to see you resign, but thrilled that you are not quitting the community itself! Thank you for all of your hard work and efforts.

William,

I was honored to serve with you; when I was on Talk Board. Volunteering for the Flyertalk community is often a thankless job; appreciated by many, and knocked by a few.
After serving for 2 years, I believe that you served well. Your heart was/is, in the right place.
While I don't have an inkling of how the current Talk Board members discussed the business of Flyertalk, I trust it wasn't business as usual. It's never business as usual. There is always something to discuss...light issues, and involved issues.


On behalf of 'the many' who appreciate what you did for Flyertalk, allow me to say .

Dan

Thank you for your service, William.

Here, Here. I did ask William to serve on the TalkBoard as I thought (and still do) that his contributions would and have been apreciated on behalf of all members. And since he represented the Community, this is an excellent place to post this news. All members are properly informed and William can now resume as a private citizen on FlyerTalk.

And while we may all joke from time to time and the 'thankless' efforts of many, I for one really can't allow that to be our 'business as usual' as a community.

William - thank you.

Randy Petersen

[This message has been edited by flyertalk (edited Feb 12, 2004).]

Thank you for your service!!!

Thanks William

It is a pleasure knowing you both virtually and in "real life"

Jan

William - Thank you for all you have done for Flyertalk (and for your support of our GLBT forum of course)

Thank you William for all of your time and hard work. Especially the Secret Santa this past year. My first and hopefully one of many more to come. Glad to hear that you are sticking around FT.

Thanks for your service to the Flyertalk community.

Wow... I couldn't even crack the list!

Time to turn up my "interesting" volume!

Thanks for serving FlyerTalk and the community. Also, thanks for the conversation on Chat. I certainly appreciate chatting with you. See you on chat.

Best regards,

Sam

Consider this post of mine to be filled with lots of Aloha and the beautiful essence of the plumeria flower.

I for one have deep respect for you here on FT...

Mahalo nui loa...

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Patrick A. Inouye, LMT
volunteer trip reports moderator

Sorry to hear this William.

You are not the first to leave TalkBoard under the "Presidency" of cigarman -the list is pretty long actually. Sad to see. Some superb folks have left the Talk Board.

cigarman has somehow declared himself "Presidente for Life" despite all the published rules of TB re election of a new President.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum...ML/000161.html

Randy seems unfussed with that situation, so that is how things will remain it seems.



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Try and make it down to SYD for "OZ FEST 2004" - May 21-23

~ Glen ~ sipping bubbly from UA 747-400 exit row 15A near you SOON!

Hey, I could not include EVERYONE!!!

You are certainly part of that list Chexfan, as is GK, Newself, Tinkybelle, Beaubo and many others...

Of course, I seem to remember not making your list last year either... <sticking out tongue in jest>

WIlliam