[Seattle-editorial] Re: [imc-seattle-announce] Open Letter from an IMC Editor to the community

[Gentry]

Hear, hear.

I believe this Golden Finger for Life issue is the crux of the problem.

When is this meeting?

Gentry

Joseph Eisenschmidt wrote:

>Friends, 
>
>The upcoming community meeting regarding the SEAIMC is an important
>event. Gaining input from the community is the first step in
>understanding the media related needs of underserved constituencies.
>This type of interaction is to be continued if we seek to grow in
>the directions required by those most in need of honest, accurate
>reporting in the press.
>
>While some folks seek to extend the hiatus, that is seen by those of
>us doing enormous amounts of work to be disrespectful of our
>efforts. It also ignores the fact that huge numbers of folks want to
>get involved with us, but are not allowed due to the suspension of
>all volunteerism efforts.
>
>The bottem line for me is that while the concept of membership is
>somewhat nebulous at this time, I will not consider important votes
>taken at the community meeting to be binding upon Members of the
>SEAIMC who are actively working. 
>
>We are 4 1/2 years old, and have had literally hundreds of Members,
>all good folks with virtually no exceptions. The respect that I hold
>for the many foks who have contributed over the years is
>unimaginable. And I consider many of the original founders of the
>IMC to be my heros. And I respect them. And I love them. 
>
>To think that folks who have been putting hundreds of hours of
>volunteer time into the Seattle Independent Media Center this year
>and last, and who have done so consistantly, should have to answer
>to past participants is unwise, irrational, and destructive to our
>very founding principles. 
>
>I joined the collective 3 years ago, and was happy to sweep the
>floors because that is what was needed from me. I loved the Space,
>as you all know, and was an incredible shepherd of our extraordinary
>community asset if I do say so myself. And I do.
>
>By sweeping, and answering phones, and interacting with our
>vouluteers, and assisting enormous numbers of progressive community
>leaders in using our resources, I learned the value of myself. 
>
>I am an IMC Member because I do the work. As I did more, I gained
>respect and consideration from the Membership, a feeling the likes
>of which which I'd never felt before in any endevour except in
>college perhaps. And I deserved it - because I did the work. My
>hands were dirty, I was tired from the labor. It felt good. It still
>does.
>
>The community needs the IMC more than it realizes. Things are pretty
>lousy now with regards to media responsibility - hey even the NY
>Times did a page 10 story on the lousy job it did with regards to
>the Iraq war. The nations newspaper of record totally blew the
>biggest story of the year on an issue which led us to war on the
>basis of lies and they put the retraction on page 10!
>
>So, let's get together and tell the community what we know and do,
>and listen for what the comunity needs and wants. But watch that
>finger wagging. Having been a founder of the IMC does not get you a
>golden finger for life. Having done enormous amounts of work in the
>distant past (More than a year ago) doesn't either. 
>
>To hold a formal meeting where votes will be taken that affect the
>whole body without determining who is a voting Member is not
>functional. The results of such an action if taken will result in
>extreme animosity at best, and the loss of the small core of
>existing hard working members once and for all at worst.
>
>Also, while moving on is a great slogan, unless we recognize and
>deal with our issues, and interpersonal conflict is the biggest by
>far with the possible exception of non-existant or outdated
>proceedural rules, we will be doing ourselves a disfavor.
>
>Looking forward to making a report-back to the community with
>regards to the fine and difficult work at Editorial, and listening
>with my best ear to my friends and adversaries alike,
>
>most sincerely, and just speaking for myself,  
>
>Joseph
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>
>  
>