Thanks for the thoughtful response to Jim. I wrote a similar response and I
hope we can converge on a common plan. I would like that to be via MVPA, but
they have to cooperate. If not, the next election for MVPA will have to deal
with this situation.
chuck
=====================================
Heh Jim,
Thanks again for your cool head and sound advice. I got'a tell you though,
it's the very paragraph you illustrated, that makes the MVPA actions so
dishonorable. There may not even be a problem, only COULD be, and MVPA
abandons a "small number of members".
I will bet this would be a dead issue within MVPA, if it weren't for all the
" negative bitches and gripes", at least not so lively an issue. Come on
Jim, you weren't born yesterday, Cleveland says they spent a great deal of
time in open discusion and meetings to come to their conclusion. They
weren't going to come up with another permanent solution later, they were
finished, next issue.
You are right also in that , now is the time for action. However, suppling
proof of ownership to the MVPA is not addressing the problem, they
abbandoned everyone in possession of the vehicles in question, without
questioning ownership.
What we need to do is investigate and act. Stay members of, or join MVPA,
and vote for individuals that will not abandon "any number" of our
membership because of fear or intimidation.
I will write the MVPA and request the name and title of the Government
official that indicated there COULD be a problem. We need to let his\her
bosses know of our collective displeasure. Additionally, I will request the
names of the MVPA board members involved in the decision as well as, how
they voted. We need to know which of them feel as Jerry Cleveland does, "let
this small number of members go and, keep-them-rolling.
I will then post all of the above information in this forum, if ti is not
deemed a "flippant" request, and they do respond. Then we can vote for, call
or visit those that support all the members.
Thank you,
David DeChambeau
At 09:38 PM 3/4/97 -0600, you wrote:
>The MVPA was informed by federal government officials many months ago
>that possession of ex-U.S. military M151A2s, Gama Goats, and HMMWVs
>COULD present problems for our members. The government maintains that
>none of these vehicles have ever been released to the civilian market
>through legitimate channels.
>
>Now, before you begin to flame me and the MVPA, did you really read the
>paragraph above? Notice, it said COULD present problems. It did not
>say absolutely will present problems. I honestly believe the government
>is way off the mark on NONE having ever been released. This is where
>all you guys with the DOCUMENTED CASES of government legal and
>legitimate releases need to step forward and provide the MVPA with
>certified copies of your Form 97. Help the association to help you and
>others. If we can prove that some were legally sold or released, it
>will make the case that much harder for the government to win. If yours
>was legally released, then why couldn't some others, but the paper trail
>has simply not been maintained. Also, it proves that they are in fact
>legal for private use so that if someone has put one together from
>parts, they don't have anything that the US Government hasn't themselves
>legally put on the street.
>
>Everyone needs to quit their bitching and complaining and worrying about
>how the MVPA has screwed them and their fellow MV owners and start
>looking how to fix the problem. Sitting at your computer making snide
>little remarks isn't going to fix anything. From this point forward, if
>you don't have something CONSTRUCTIVE to add, you think twice about how
>serious you are about helping to save the hobby. Simply grousing and
>complaining isn't going to do anything except create hard feelings
>amongst the membership.
>
>Again, if you have some proof of a documented legal release, namely in
>the form of a Form 97 from the government, put it to use. These are the
>tools and ammo the MVPA needs.
>
>I posted this because the MVPA folks are not going to get down in the
>weeds and tell you this. They are trying to maintain a degree of
>professionalism and decorum. I don't have to do that. This was not
>written by their solicitation. It was written because all most of the
>comments I have seen are negative bitches and gripes that have yet to
>present any possible solutions. If you don't have a suggested fix or
>solution, save your breath and our time. I will admit, a couple of
>constructive comments have been made, but most are simply hot air.
>
>By the way, I am active duty Army and don't really care if you decide to
>unload on me. Ass chewings are part of the Army life. If I don't have
>someone chew my butt on a daily basis, I feel the day hasn't been
>successful nor complete.
>
>Jim Rice
>MVPA #16814
>
>