[MidOHasp]

Suffice it to say I think we are all revolving back to the CF thing. I don't think anyone had a huge problem with that, despite how some peoples' comments have been taken out of context. Fine. CF. Let's rev 'er back up and do it again. I have no issue with that.

Let's focus this, gentlemen. Let's cut the crap. Let's cease the discussion of the charity. Let's cease the discussion of who is worthy of posting here. We all are.

Here are the unanswered questions/issues:

1 - Accountability. We NEED accountability. 300 adults will not sit around one more year, watching many tens of thousands of dollars change hands, some of these people having contributed significantly to that kitty, without knowing where every dollar went. I DO want to donate to CF (and/or others). I DO NOT want to line ANYONE'S POCKETS. I'm not making an accusation there before anyone gets defensive for no reason. I'd feel a LOT better about donating $1,000 and knowing that it is all ending up in the right hands than I would about donating $50.00 and not knowing anything. Just throwing numbers out, they're not significant, other than one is 20 times bigger than the other, and THAT is the one with which I'd be more comfortable.

2 - Whose ideas mold the party. Ed can swear up and down until he is blue in the face that this is HIS party to US. Whatever. Fact is, it is run his way without much further discussion. Maybe the name tags or the AutoX came about because of other peoples' ideas, but the only time my opinion mattered last year was during crunch time when I was asked to procure stop watches, cones, find a parking lot, find volunteers for a poker run, etc... I'm fine with all of that, but I wouldn't mind being asked a few months earlier perhaps what it is people are talking about this year, what they want to do this year. I can answer that already for this year. I played as active of a role in DVSF IV as I was allowed. I talked to Ed a dozen or so times on the phone, and was always willing to step up. Even took a day off work to meet with some officials at an airport so we could use it for AutoX. That meeting was canceled, unfortunately. People are willing, you just have to expand the circle and make people feel WELCOME.

That's it. 2 things. If anyone wants to add to that because I missed something big, go for it. But I don't think I did. I think those are the only two things out on the table that anyone is really questioning. Not too much to ask, now, is it? We're not asking to move the venue, change the charity, remove Ed from "office", execute a full takeover, get other makes of cars involved, steal Jay's tequila, or anything of the like.

Just those two things.

Can we please focus here, now that we've all had ample time to be whining b!tches? We've all had our chance to vent. Let's cut it out and get on track. With any luck, we can realize Mike Braatz's dream of the "best Fling yet" . . . I think it's realistic.