Resignation
 

Dear friends on Flyertalk,

I have just tendered my resignation as a member of the TalkBoard (as well as my other formal positions here).

As some have heard, Randy Petersen is getting back into the travel community space, I've decided to put my energies and online attentions to joining in building his new community.

But my post here isn't about that effort, and it's not my intention to advertise for it here. It's just to share with you why I've decided it's time for me to step down.

I've been a moderator for 8 years, a senior moderator since the beginning of that program, a TalkBoard member for 7 and TalkBoard President for the past 5. It was a difficult decision because of what Flyertalk has meant to me, and continues to mean to me, but I'm excited by the prospect of joining Randy's new site.

I've appreciated the opportunity to work with all of you, to serve this community, and to learn a tremendous amount along the way. But with a limited amount of time I don't think I would do the TalkBoard any good, nor the members as their elected representative.

I do still hope to remain a member of Flyertalk because people still ask questions that I can answer, and it's really always been about making the travel experience better.

Fortunately, I leave with no doubt that there are others in the community who can step into my place. In fact, there is a process in place both for replacing me on the TalkBoard and for the transition in TalkBoard leadership.

Whether here on Flyertalk, or on Randy's new Milepoint site, or at DOs or by email, I look forward to keeping in touch with you all.

And thank you for allowing me to represent you for the past 7 years. I truly appreciate it.

Best,
Gary

Gary, it is no secret that I opposed your re-election to TB solely because I oppose anyone serving a third consecutive term, but I do respect your decision to step down now. It is unquestionably the honorable thing to do.

Randy's new site will be in competition to FlyerTalk and while many (myself included) hope to post on both of them it will be a conflict of interests to represent them both.

Thank you for your years of dedicated service & leadership to FlyerTalk, Gary. You'll be missed - best wishes.

Good luck Gary and thanks for everything all these years.

I look forward to the new site and seeing you there!

Thanks for all your hard work Gary. ^

Thanks for everything Gary. Very much looking forward to the new site. In my opinion, there can't be enough frequent flyer/travel sites!

Gary, your commitment to FT and its members through everything you've done over the past many years has been truly remarkable. Thank you for everything you've done to make FT stronger and our travel lives so much richer.

Cheers! ^

Gary, thank you for your tireless efforts over the years. I wish you the best and look forward to checking out Randy's new site. Take good care.

gigi

Gary, I enjoyed working with you when I was on TB - I think the continuity you've provided has been very valuable and I'll always be grateful to you that you accepted and published the motion to withdraw the MTW motion for reasons that should best remain private.

Thanks for your efforts :)

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Gary thanks for everything, especially your almost single handed beating of UA to the point that we all got those extra miles ;)

Thanks, gleff. I owe you a personal debt by introducing me to FT (via a mutual friend) and I look forward to your (and Randy's) future ventures. Best of luck!

What's this about a new site? What's the URL?

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Try www.google.com. ;)

Thanks Gary. I look forward to seeing your new activities.

I got my answer. Thanks to those who PM'd me with the information.

It was referenced in gleff's post (be creative, just put the parts together), but it is not active yet.

Good luck with the new endeavor and thanks for your contributions to FT.
:D ;)

Best of luck! See you on the other side (and also, most likely, on this side).

Credit where credit is due, I believe you're talking about something gfowler-ord-1k accomplished..

http://genefowler.com/MPW004/

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Oops. I got my Genes and Garys mixed up. Sorry and thanks for the clarification. But none the less thanks for you contributions here.

Gary, you've been incredible with your devotion to FlyerTalk and the travel community. I have learned a lot from you as you have always been generous in sharing information. We will miss your leadership on FlyerTalk. You were one of the initial four moderators. You've been part of initiative after initiative on this site. Randy will benefit enormously from your work to launch his new site. Best wishes as you follow this new passion.

Gary, thanks for your dedicated effort to the FT and good luck for your future plan.

I understand your reason for resigning. You have influenced the community heavily as a major member of the TalkBoard. The best to you with Randy's new site.

Thanks Gleff ! See you on your new site ^

Good luck, gleff, and I'll 'see' you on the new site! ^

So long and thanks for all the fish!

Have fun in your new, hopefully more responsive, flexible and user-responsive playground!

Keep in mind some lessons you learned here, like stagnation leads to death and mega-threads suck!

xoxo

Thanks, see you over there ;).

Thanks for your many years of service to the Flyertalk community, gleff. Good luck in following your new direction.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Gary, thank for your your great posts and advise here. looking forward to see you again in both sites.

gleff - Thank you for your leadership and years of service to FlyerTalk. Best wishes. :)

gleff - best wishes and I look forward to spending time at the new site.

gleff, Thank you for everything you have done for this site. I hope you the best. :)

I really must add that Gary was a very fair guy in my term onTalkboard, and no matter how heated and crazy any debate got in there (and that was pretty often!) he was always calm and reasonable and even handed.

Great qualities, and will stand him in good stead on boards, in business, and in life!

And let's face it, this is hardly the end of the world as we know it.

In the words of Chairman Kokonutz ............. lets not forget ....

IJAFIBB :)

Thanks for everything you've dome, Gary^ I've enjoyed reading your posts over the time that I have been a member. See you on the other side.

Cheers

Reading both your posts and blog have been an inspiration for me to want to see more of the world. I thank you for what you have taught me.

Yeah, what she said! And still hope to see you on FT as well.

Cheers.

Gary,

Thank you so much for your helpful insights, years of devotion, dedication and overall leadership here on FT! Your daily presence will be sorely missed but I'll continue following your blog & will definitely be checking out your new endeavor with Randy. Good luck & fortune in all that you do.

Thanks, Gary, for your lengthy commitment, all your smart comments and answers and sharing your insights with the FT community in general. Much appreciated!

Gary - thank you for all of your time and devotion to FlyerTalk!

I would like to second this post. gleff always had my respect for the fair and calm manner in which he handled things. He also genuinely listened to people's arguments and never gave me the impression that he acted out of spite.