Re: (erielack) RE: ELHS Members and Sorry

[Njricky2_@_aol.com]

Will and Schuyler,

I think this is indeed the appropriate place to discuss such matters. 
Speaking offlist about Society matters does not include the rest of us. That is 
extremely unfair and not in keeping with us being an organization as a whole. Keep 
it out and in the open. If one is concerned with open response, then there is 
a reason to not speak openly.

In the last few weeks, I've found much to comment on, much more than I will 
do in one email. But I will in this and in other emails to follow. 

I joined this organization for one reason and one reason only, and that is to 
assist in whatever way I can to preserve the history of Erie Lackawanna.

Having been and still involved with various organizations, I do understand 
when things have to be discussed. To me the only way to do so is openly with no 
judgements cast. I see that such discussions here are necessary and within 
that, there will be arguements. So let it be. Let's get it all out in the open 
and be together in the end.

But Schuyler, to you, openly, I must say that when I commented on the by-laws 
not allowing non-members to contribute, I was very nicely corrected and stand 
corrected. It was unnecessary for you to call my comments "silly". But you 
did and that's "water under the bridge" as far as I'm concerned. Please don't do 
that again. All have the right to speak and the right to learn.

Such a response could turn others off but not me. I don't have the knowledge 
that you and others have but I'm learning and doing very well and have much to 
contribute.

I do think and will share in other emails that if ELHS is going to be what it 
can be, then change must start from within. It's obviously time for change 
and that change can start by having meetings where the majority can find it 
easier to attend. I do think that Jamestown, NY and Parsippany, NJ  were not the 
best choices to be made. 

While I might be one of the few members from Southeast New York, then I sure 
understand. But to get to Jamestown, I have to spend bucks to get to JFK to 
fly to Buffalo, hire a car, drive to Jamestown and back to Buffalo, then fly 
back to JFK and spend more money to get home to Manhattan.

Parsippany, NJ is just as bad for people like us who live down here. There is 
no NJT rail connection, only NJT bus and on a Sunday they are few and far 
between.

From what I've learned so far about ELHS, the majority of members live in NY, 
NJ, PA. My thought is to keep meetings close enough to where the majority can 
travel, Newark, Hoboken, Scranton, Binghamton, Syracuse, to give a few 
examples. There are more places to look at, but Jamestown and Parsippany?

I'd very much like to attend and contribute and I know I'm in the minority 
when it comes to driving. To me the Board has the responsibility to accommodate 
all as best you can. Jamestown and Parsippany don't make the grade.

There are more things that I will comment on, including open elections, 
by-laws not being distributed to members upon joining, an open accounting of funds 
in the ELHS treasury and why the Board and those who support open elections 
haven't gone to the election site and stated their cases.

I and others want to know.

All the best,

Rick Sedlisky,
New York, NY

------------------------------