I was going to present my views on the recent questions about the FlyerTalk Cares program here on FlyerTalk earlier, but with a week's vacation staring me in the face (starting today) I decided it best to postpone posting my thoughts for a few specific reasons and hope that you'll understand.

Because the recent issue was of some concern, I didn't want to post my comments and then disappear, in case any of you had follow-up questions or wanted to exchange some dialogue with me personally or in private. As well, it didn't seem fair to our volunteers to leave them to explain, manage or edit any responses because even they know they don't speak for me. So I hope this makes sense.

I will leave you with a few basic thoughts. First and foremost, this recent single FlyerTalk Cares situation in no way underminds the value that FlyerTalk has, can and will serve for our members in support of their worthy causes. For those of you who have met me, they should be little doubt that my last act, my last penny and my last thoughts will be about what I can do for others and along the way, I've met plenty of our members who feel the very same way. While I do not see FlyerTalk ever becoming a fundraiser center, it has and will continue to be available at times to our members to seek support from others with like reasons of support - sometimes medical missions, sometimes popular and totally responsible cause like Race-For-The-Cure, sometimes very personal causes elated to our life experiences and then sometimes for the aid of our world citizens as FlyerTalk has exhibited in America, the Middle East and even on the shores of Asia. So I'd like to make clear that the program will certainly continue. I also applaud and commend the recent TalkBoard to support that.

But one of the most important things to come out of this is the role of responsibility. I have stepped forward to take all responsibility of any recent decisions by the TalkBoard for FlyerTalk Cares. I do think that any member that feels that this Board should be abolished or abandoned or punished should re-direct that emotion toward me. While there's a few things that might have been done differently in this latest action, it often does come down to a judgment call and for those TalkBoard members who have ever had any qualms about just how difficult it can be at times to be a volunteer, I think they might just now appreciate a bit more the role of our moderators who function with making judgment calls all the time. Now, having said that, what might make this whole thing work better is that I will be taking back the decision making of the FlyerTalk Cares. Not that I can make any better judgments, but because at the end of the day, I wholly can and will accept the responsibilities of those decisions. For those members who even hinted at any legal responsibility of the TalkBoard for their decisions, I''m disappointed. The facts, if you will, seem to indicate that the Board actions are always as a prelude to my overview and my responsibility. While I have individually disagreed with each member of the TalkBoard at various times on various issues, I can't see that any of you should go as far as has been done by some to blame them if that decision was contrary to the position you hold. That's simply not fair to them. Given a chance by me to review and clarify this situation, I won't think that I can change all of your views, but I do hope to at least gain your respect in that I have totally read every comment on every post related to the recent issue about FlyerTalk Cares. This took a long time, but I have that respect for you as members and will ask that you return the same respect as I put forth my view - a different set of eyes, likely different sets of values, but it will be with a similar set of concerns and care - What is right for FlyerTalk today ... and tomorrow.

Thanks for understanding and I do hope you understand the reasons for when I will write my overview of this.

Enjoy your vacation and leave the worries of the world (both cyber and brick and mortar) behind.

Wholly in reflection of my sentiments.

Excellent and as it should be. There needs to be a bit of common sense applied in deciding what goes and what doesn't - but I don't doubt that either you or TB members have that common sense.

I think it probably will. For you FT is very much 'the real world' and I have little doubt that you will adopt a practical, sensible and pragmatic approach to things (aka common sense). For me, having viewed all of the threads relating to TB's involvement in the FlyerTalk Cares thing, the one thing that has struck me is that TB seem more interested in playing politics than in applying common sense.

Randy, many thanks for the update. I think this is the perfect solution, or at least as perfect of a solution as we'll get.^

Randy,
Thanks so much for all you do! Have a great vacation! You certainly deserve one.
Patsy

Thanks very much for the explanation of the delay. I too think the whole legal threat business was an unnecessary shibboleth.

While I believe your explanation above is more than sufficient to keep us all patient for another week or two, I just wish to emphasize my gut feeling that this is not an issue where time alone will heal all wounds. I suspect I am not alone in still eagerly awaiting your views.

I am pleased that the TB corrected their (and the original poster's) doubtless unwitting error, but by taking over the entire area, it now falls on you to state your position as well. This remains an important enough issue to so many folks on FT that it is only fair to provide us all with a clear and unequivocal statement of what will happen going forward.

Bravo, Randy, and thanks! ^

Sounds like a resolution is in the making, with no further responsibility being put on the TB for vetting or approving FlyerTalk Cares requests; it's back on Randy now.

Sometimes I think this whole recent brouhaha is an example of "no good deed going unpunished." I know the requester personally, and am convinced of her and her daughter's good intentions. Furthermore, I'm convinced that the TalkBoard members all meant well, yet got excoriated ruthlessly for their actions.

Anyhow, enough of that. Have a great vacation, Randy.

You're not alone! My own position is that TB have fixed things themselves - but with Randy having stepped in there is a bit of a question mark over how valid TB's 'fix' is. We really need Randy's specific comments as to whether the motions that TB have passed have been acccepted or not, and his comments generally.

I think we need to await Randy's comments before getting into this debate (or even better not getting into this debate! ), but for me the issue was never about either jan_az or her daughter who I have no doubt have good intentions - it was about the motion as worded which made no reference at all to jan_az and her daughter.

Absolutely correct on all counts. My personal view is that it's best to let this sleeping dog lie, but FT is and always has been Randy's creation and it is he that has the unquestioned right to decide what FT should do.

I can add nothing to this, other than to say, as with your other comments, I agree completely. I think there is no need for more debate -- everyone who wanted to has had their say, I think. FlyerTalk and Randy's other ventures aren't successes by accident and I'm certain he will have good, sound and well-considered reasons for whatever he decides is best for the FT community.

And what is everyone doing up so late, anyway?

It's obvious you have put a lot of time and thought into this issue. Thank you for always giving your all. Have a super vacation.

Bobette

FlyerTalk Cares, can and should work given the right causes. Who decides what is the "right" cause is up for debate. I believe that their are enough people on this site that care enough about others that it can work, and work well. Given the recent issues it must be looked at very carefully, however. I thank you for your time and consideration into the matter.

I agree that TB did fix this specific issue on it's own. I eagerly await two pieces of information though. One, whether Randy agrees with the "takeback", if you will, and two - and this is the more important one - even though Randy is taking back control of FTC, will there be a general policy outlined that will govern which causes are acceptable for the program? It would be nice to have an idea regarding his thought process, even though he definitely doesn't owe us that insight if he chooses not to.

I'm hopeful that we'll have these two questions answered after Randy's vacation! Hope this week is stress-free and fun!

I am still wondering why we need a whole "FlyerTalk Cares" thing - after all, this is supposed to a site devoted to how to obtain the most from our travels, whether how to maximise the benefits we receive (mileage/status/whatever) or how to maximise our experiences (the general travel forums).

The very idea of "FlyerTalk Approved Charities" does not sit well with me - it seems to be going against the core aim of the site - maximising the benefits/opportunities of travel.

Now, I am not against the idea of assisting charities. I contribute a large amount annually, across a broad spectrum of causes.

But the FlyerTalk community is so diverse that there are bound to be causes which, whilst popular with some, will be repugnant to others, and this will only serve to alienate some members of the FT community, and those members who have been alienated my be highly respected members, often the source of highly worthwhile and beneficial information, members we can't afford to lose. And all for the sake of "endorsing" a few charities? I don't think it is worth it.

Again, the main aim of FlyerTalk is to foster travel, to maximise the benefits and/or experiences of our travel.

IMNSHO, we would be best served leaving the idea of endorsing charities behind us and concentrating on our core aim.

Dave

Completely agree and have asked in the recent past whether FT is wandering too far from its core mission in this and in other ways such as continued non-travel forum creation. The answer that usually comes back, to paraphrase, is that FT has grown into a large community that encompasses enough folks who want to make FT their one stop shop for other many interests including the philanthropic. I'm not fully in agreement with this 'mission creep' but given the clear support for keeping TB Cares from TB and RP it's now more a matter of refining the process for future charitable submissions not whether there should be any at all. And to that extent I would recommend moving to exclude religious charities from future inclusion, though as some have mentioned it's not always easy to see black & white in what can be a very gray world at times and in some cases.

As always, RP, I appreciate the fact you are listening to input on this matter.

Perhaps I don't venture outside the Air Canada Forum nearly enough... but is there a link somewhere that will explain what is going on?
I'm totally lost.