Thank you for taking the time to reply to my request for further info from
MVPA. Unfortunately I find your memo to be less than fully responsive to my
questions.
1. You are right that I have not been present at past board meetings or other
MVPA venues. I wish I had time to be more active, but I don't. But that is
not a reason for you to refuse to provide information at this time. As far as
press coverage of seizures, the only press I have seen involves the vehicle
thefts from Ft. McCoy. Since this was apparently an intentional criminal act,
I don't think there is any connection to the issue of intimidation of
legitimate owners.
2. Some of the mil-veh mail traffic may have been "inflamatory", but that is
not the character of my query nor of most of the current postings. We are
seeking reasonable information and help from MVPA, an organization which is
supposed to be offering exactly that. You say "MVPA is on top of this".
Oh? How do we know that, other than your assertion and the "temporary policy"
which so many find objectionable? Is that supposed to give us confidence in
your new "reasonable policy"? You want us to believe that you are working "for
the protection of legitimate owners of the vehicles currently under scrutiny by
the government." On what basis?
3. You say, "I WILL NOT provide names of our official contacts: Deluging them
with rabid hate mail like that I have received from subscribers to the MIL-VEH
List will surely cause them to back away from contact with concerned
hobbyists." You still insist on keeping secrets about this matter. No one
gets any information but the chosen few. Only the chosen few can possibly
maintain the relationship. The "official contacts" require your protection
from "rabid hate mail". Give me a break! You attitude on this point is what
has caused the loss of confidence in MVPA.
4. No, I have not been called a Nazi. I have been called other things. My
relatives were inside the barbed wire, not outside with the guards.
Again, I appreciate your time and I know you have many other responsibilities,
but I am far from satisfied by the response.
Chuck Chriss
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Hi, Chuck;
There has been nothing "secret" about this as you allege. Where were you
during the past six or so Board Meetings or at the open discussions at
the MVPA International Conventions and other events. Why haven't you
been following the press coverage of seizures of vehicles in states like
Colorado, Arizona and Wisconsin, and the Eastern Seaboard?
We've been telling people not to panic about this situation but now, as
a result of inflamatory posts on the MIL-VEH List, it looks like this is
out of control. That is not the case: The MVPA is on top of this and is
nearly ready to put a reasonable policy in place for the benefit of all
members.
We have been stressing that our moves are temporary and for the
protection of legitimate owners of the vehicles currently under scrutiny
by the government.
The MVPA is in contact with government officials in a attempt for both
sides to communicate and inform. I WILL NOT provide names of our
official contacts: Deluging them with rabid hate mail like that I have
received from subscribers to the MIL-VEH List will surely cause them to
back away from contact with concerned hobbyists.
Have you ever been called a Nazi, Chuck? Have you ever been accused of
participating in a Holocaust? I don't need that crap and neither do the
people who are cooperating with us in resolving this issue.
Keep this in mind: Every hour I spend responding to E-mail like yours
makes your next issue of SUPPLY LINE an hour later.
-- Jerry Cleveland #105CL, SUPPLY LINE Editor Military Vehicle Preservation Association www.mvpa.org