Former Editor Speaks!

Well Susan, like many concerned members of the NSNA I have monitored this site quietly for some time and now have been provoked again into active participation. I am surprised that you continue to profess to know so much of the actions that occured prior to your involvement on the current board, so I will educate you regarding my ''ungracious'' departure from volunteer servitude.

To begin, I successfully edited ten monthly editions of a 10-12 page newsletter, not six. During my tenure I received no participation from a majority of the board. The fact is, in many cases I met with negative reactions to any request for informational submittals outlining each board members activites and/or (lack of)deliverables to the membership.

Also, during my tenure as editor I became aware of routine critiques and personal attacks by several members of ''my'' board both directly and through rumor and innuendo.

Another expectation surfaced by several very vocal board members that my voluntary position as editor existed to ''serve'' the board.

In spite of this negative atmosphere,and in a way because of it, I submitted the newsletter for award consideration by the City of St. Pete. To the obvious chagrin of several board members - it WON neighborhood newsletter of the year!

Your statement that I was ''ungracious'' in reference to prior notice and a lack of a transition period regarding my departure is completely accurate, and at the same time very incomplete. I resigned formally, in writing to the board with a FULL explaination of the attitudes and actions of the BOD that provoked my departure. This focused on the ''newest'' prevaling attitude that my personal opinions regarding CVS, voiced completely outside of the newletter should be censored. These were demands I would not except, and thus resigned.

In closing, regardless of all the effort and time that might have gone into it, the quality of the recent edition of the newsletter further validates my belief that the newsletter was an easily readable,informative,timely,accurate, and award-winning publication that in the past represented North Shore very well!

The whole truth postings

Susan,

I can not tell if you are a glutton for punishment or simply cognitively confused and trying desperately to defend a weak position. I will assume confusion is the case. Your defense is filled with holes. You have viciously attacked my posting in such great haste and anger that you again failed to see reality. Let me try to explain this to you. First, truth is not necessarily the province of those who identify themselves. There have been many instances of people (some presidents) appearing publicly making statements, swearing they are truthful, but it turns out they are not telling the truth. Courtrooms are filled with this type of action. So, if you claim to hold the truth simply because you identify yourself Susan, you are on extremely shaky ground besides being too self-righteous for your own good. I believe you can now see the error of your logic, (everyone else can) but I will continue in the hope that you will read this and be enlightened.

You claim that I have underestimated the intelligence of NSNA. I assume you mean the collective intelligence of the board. Is that correct? Tell me your estimate and I'll tell you mine. (To put you at ease though, I believe it is low and sinking fast.)

You claim that the newsletter omitted any mention of the only ousting of a President in neighborhood history because the Editor was new! Now Susan, who is underestimating whose intelligence? If you have the time to write these postings, I'm certain you have the time to write a little newsletter article or two.

You say , ''Mr. Lange was not terminated as President out of ''spite'' or ''personal vengeance'', nor due to a conspiracy by people who opposed the CVS proposal.'' But you leave me hanging. Why was he terminated then. You see, you cannot rebutt a statement with this kind of stupidity.

Please Susan, think before you write. Get counseling. Take some mood elevators. Go shopping. Eat Italian. Have a martini. But don't just sit there and blah-blah-blah. In this time of turmoil, we need cool, logical minds that will provide us with color, amusement, things we can all laugh about when we get old. You are standing on the shore, in utter confusion; again, entirely missing the boat and listrening to your own rhetoric.

Announcing fall classes

TYRONE MALL SCHOOL OF NEWSLETTER JOURNALISM ANNOUNCES ITS FALL SEMESTER

Now your neighborhood association can publish a top quality newsletter without the expense of hiring outside editors. Your own volunteers can learn from the best in a dog-eat-dog business. Graduate, Tim Baker says, ''Yesterday I couldn't spell editer, now I is one.''

Our top notch faculty includes John Mitrovka, Dean of the School of Editorship and winner of the St Petersburg Newsletter of the Year. His award-winning know-how has helped millions of neighborhoods move from letters with one or two articles and page after page of ads, to hard-hitting newsletters filled with informative, up to the minute stories. One reader has commented,

''Last month I was so confused. I thought they had changed the day of our association meeting from Monday to Wednesday. Well, if it wasn't for that nice Louise, I would have shown up on the wrong night and my daughter would have been so upset because I usually watch my grandchild
that night so she can play bridge with her friends at work. She's a lap dancer at a family resturant on Central Avenue. Land sakes alive, how I go on, but with the new newsletter, I get all the news I need, when I need it.''

Courses offered this term include:
What to do when your board members want free ads
How to quote shrieking women accurately
How to avoid writing articles that may embarrass your friends on the board and still have stories
An article on boardsmanship: Honesty is not for everyone
Layout tips for the grand opening of a CVS store
How to describe run down shacks so they sound like historic landmarks
What to do and not to do when no one writes articles
Secrets of layout so that 15 ads alone can make a newsletter
What to do if your board throws off the only person who ever contributes articles

You can learn these things and more. Visit our website at e-neighborhoodewsletters.com to learn even more about our school and educational opportunities.

Disclaimer: However, writing of a newsletter should only be done by trained professionals, do not attempt it in your home.




By Tyrone School Of Journalism