This message is from: "Catherine lassesen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Please find below a message Mark McGinley wanted me to post to the Fjord List. Thank you, Catherine Lassesen ------- Dear list members, Please find below a couple of posts that I had written to Steve in response to his comments to the list regarding a board member leaving the list. I had hoped Steve would have forwarded them to the list to answer some of your concerns as well. I have asked Catherine to do this for me now. I'm only sending my end of the correspondence since I haven't asked Steve's permission to posts his end. Thanks, Mark Dear Steve, Please find below my reply to your recent post regarding your list and the fact that it has experienced a "diminished voice" by my not receiving it anymore. I'd like to comment on why I chose to cease my subscription to your list since it was publicly released that I'm not on it anymore. First off, the list is not an official NFHR list. I'm sure this is obvious to you but I'm not sure it's as obvious to the list members. In fact one doesn't have to be an NFHR member or even own a Fjord for that matter to participate in the list. I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, I'm just pointing out that as a way to disperse information about NFHR business it's not the ideal format. We (the NFHR) should be talking to our members only when discussing NFHR business. Since I am an NFHR official, anything I say on your list can be taken as official business when in fact it should be considered only my point of view. Over the last year we have discussed (at the Board level) different ways of getting info out to the members and ways of responding to them as well, and how Board members really shouldn't be using this list officially, or at all. There is a possibility in the future of the NFHR having a more direct means of communication with our membership. Although we aren't sure what the format would be at this time. Secondly, as I'm sure you were aware, some of the list responses to recent discussions regarding NFHR matters were unnecessarily mean spirited and seemed to include snide remarks, conspiracy theories, conjecture, and mistruths. I did take offense to some of what was said but mostly just didn't want to be part of a conversation where people just talk and don't listen. This seems to happen on these lists and we can chose to be a part of it or not. I chose not to. I am more than happy to talk to anyone regarding NFHR business or Fjord horses in general. By not being a member of your list I'm not retreating from NFHR members or Fjord owners. I am online everyday and also carry a cell phone. I can be reached and I am very interested in what people have to say. My email address is [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and my phone # is 715-373-2906. Feel free to post this to the list. I'm sure it came across that I asked to be taken off the list because I didn't enjoy the criticism that I had received. While that may be true to some extent it had more to do with the following: If I am not on the list I won't feel compelled to "officially" answer subjects about the NFHR thus almost guaranteeing a battle with the same 2 or 3 list members who use the list as almost a soapbox. This is the main reason I left. To avoid the possibility of the "feeding frenzy" that they seem to enjoy creating. If that's considered thin skinned so be it. I do feel that the list shouldn't be censored in regards to NFHR matters. The list should be a place where people can all state their views and hopefully listen to other opinions as well. When we don't listen that is the sad part. Finally, The archives are still available to me if I want to see what's up with this list. I confess I have looked at it over the last couple of days to see what responses, if any, members had towards your post. I did get the chance to read your comment to Fred Pack asking if he would sign off the list if he is elected to the Board. This statement was uncalled for I thought and basically more of the same stuff that motivated me to drop the list. Sour grapes on your part? NFHR members -If you really want to know you got the attention of a Board member please write or call them directly. I guarantee you will be listened to. Thank you, Mark K. McGinley NFHR Board Vice President Mariposa Farm Washburn, WI Hello Steve, When I first joined the Board I also thought that the list should be monitored (and answered) by a Board member. I felt that it was important to respond to our members. After a while I realized that almost all of the NFHR concerns brought forward on the list were generated by a very small group of people and many times the discussions deteriorated quickly into individual agendas. While I agree that the list has a large number of members, the vocal ones really only represent a small percentage of actual NFHR membership. It's not an accurate sampling group of NFHR concerns and certainly not the only way to have a finger on the pulse of our organization. I have much more meaningful contact with a much larger cross section of people by going to the Blue Earth show each year, the MWFHC's winter meeting and the Minnesota Horse Expo. It would be nice to have some direct contact with the coasts as well but I'm sure the Board members from those areas can convey their thoughts to the rest of the Board. While I also agree that there is nothing wrong with monitoring the list I do disagree with the statement that there is much to be gained. I think the value of the information on NFHR membership views is much smaller than you are making it out to be. I actually think that the information gleaned from the list could be considered in error do to the size of the of the "pool". Much like an elected official acting only on the information he or she receives via mail. Of course the only views you will receive are the most vocal ones. Once again thanks for taking the time to write to us at the Board (and me in particular). I'm sure I'll check in occasionally with the Archives when I have the time and as long as the password doesn't change others can too. Mark McGinley
