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Any books being sold at the Convention are most likely stolen books. You can read the story here: https://lindaraymondisathief.blogspot.com/
I am hearing that many members want my accusations to be investigated. I am
also hearing that there is a cover-up in process. Here is why the BOD do not
want any investigation to take place.
This
is the letter sent to me by Kim Knight who was President of the GG BOD.
Oct 11, 2007
Dear John,
The Board of Directors of Golden Glow of Christmas Past
(GGCP) has received various complaints detailing events involving you.
Specifically, members have complained of threats, verbal abuse, and harassment,
as well as
unprofessional dealings involving antique Christmas merchandise. Members of the Board have experienced some of
this conduct first-hand. The Board has
determined that these actions violate the GGCP’s Code of Ethics.
As you know, the Code of Ethics sets forth standards of
conduct for GGCP members, including the following:
-
to conduct myself so as to bring no reproach
or discredit to the Club, or impair the prestige of the membership therin.
-
to base all my dealings on the highest plane
of justice, fairness and morality
-
to fulfill all contracts made by me, either
oral or written, to make prompt payment upon delivery and to return immediately
any item that is not satisfactory.
The
Code of Ethics begins by stating that membership in the GGCP is a privilege,
not a right. Both the Code of Ethics and
the GGCP bylaws state that a member violating the Code of Ethics may be removed
by the Board.
The
Board takes these complaints against you very seriously, and as a result, the
Board does not plan to continue your membership in the GGCP. Since your membership term is close to
finishing, this will take effect starting January 1, 2008. In addition, as of January 1, 2008 you will
not be able to participate in any GGCP sponsored activities, including the
yearly convention and the on-line discussion group. Given the importance of this matter, the
Board considered this issue extensive (I assume she meant extensively), and
carefully. The Board’s determination was not based on any single event, but
rather the cumulative effect of various events in the prior few years.
If
you wish to provide any information for the GGCP board to consider before
making this decision final, please provide a written response to the above
address postmarked no later than October 31, 2007. The Board will consider your written submission
and communicate its final determination to you.
The Board cannot share any additional details regarding the complaints
made against you to protect confidentiality of those making the complaints.
Please
understand that the Board, acting in good faith, is striving to act in the best
interest of all the members of the GGCP.
Any harassment or threats directed at the Board members or general
membership of the GGCP related to this matter will not be tolerated.
Regards,
Kim
Knight, Chairperson
The
Golden Glow of Christmas Past
Cc:
Board of Directors
I replied by letter I had no idea what she was referring to and to please send me documentation of the accusastions. I got nothing in return.
This
of course is absolute rubbish. I said it before and will continue to say it:
This was a corrupt board making up bullshit. If I had been screwing members for
“years” as she says why were no letters sent to me?
It’s
very simple: They made this up to silence me. There were no complaints from any
members about merchandise. NONE. I never received any complaints from any member including any Board Member EVER prior
to receiving this letter. In 50 years of collecting NO ONE has ever complained about any transaction from me. No phone
calls, no emails, no letters, no nothing from anyone ever.
I
ask again any sane GG member if your
child got arrested and sent to jail with no charges given, no one present who
made a complaint, no jury trial, no defense, not allowed to face accusers are
you all ok with that because that is exactly what the BOD did to me.
They violated the club rules. There were never any warnings sent-nothing. There was no due process. I should have sued the club but I was in Asia.
David
Eppleheimer, may he RIP was a “lifetime” member of the club beloved by
everyone. He was not a special friend of mine but he respected me and I him.
When he heard about what happened he wrote a letter to the Board. Here it is:
fromelvesantiques@aol.com
totannese@optonline.net,
lghidiu@comcast.net,
mrhoads@chorus.net,
jackmaroski@msn.com,
kimknight1@earthlink.net,
greenridg@comcast.net
dateThu, Mar 6, 2008 at 12:30 AM
subjectWhat is this all about?
“Greetings,
Friends. I have recently received an
email from John Lightner. I have
forwarded portions of it to you below. I
had spoken to XXXXXXX regarding what happened to John. At that time I spoke to Lillie on the phone,
and hit a wall...she could not tell me anything due to it being BOD
business. I respected her stance,
although I disagreed with it at the time, and disagree with it even more in the
light of the current mood.
So you guys, what
is going on? I have a high regard for
you all. I sincerely do, and I assume I
don't need to even tell you that.
However, I hold XXX and John in high regard, too. I am aware of John's intense nature. I was
one of the first folks he spoke to at the last convention after his run in with
Steve and Jack. I have heard his side of
that story. I was pretty direct with him
at the time regarding proper respect for volunteers. He did not let me off easily for sticking up
for Convention hosts. I persevered,
however, and he agreed with me on the condition that had his concern been taken
seriously, his behavior might have been more tempered. He related that Jack had insinuated that
perhaps he, John, never had a feather tree in the first place. That would have made me bristle, too. I am not filling in all the details I was
told at the time, because I assume you all have discussed that situation, at
least the involved hosts' side of the story.
Obviously, that
discourse is not the reason for his membership being terminated. However, Lightner claims he does not know
why, and the BOD refuses to tell him. I
am inclined to side with him, because the Board member I spoke to would tell me
nothing, either. As a former Board
member, I do not believe I would NOT be willing to discuss my decisions WITHIN
the Board with concerned members NOT on the Board. Anyone who is elected to an elected position,
is answerable to those who elected them.
Besides, this is the Golden Glow, a club, not a clique, nor privileged
society. It is a community of folks with
a common benign interest. So, again,
what is this all about?
Please forward
this to any board member I omitted or other member you feel should receive
it.
Trying to remain
composed, compassionate, supportive, and respectfully yours, Dave Eppelheimer
Kim Knight sent him a reply.
Dave Eppelheimer
Dear Dave,
Thank you for your email to
the BOD.
This letter is in response
to your email. The BOD is striving for the
GGCP to thrive and to grow. Attracting
new members and retaining current members is critical to that goal. In order to achieve this goal, the GGCP must
foster an environment where all members find the club satisfying and enjoyable.
The BOD would prefer not to
have to take action against any GGCP member.
However, when the BOD is presented with a significant number of severe
and substantiated written complaints about behavior that is not consistent with
the GGCP Code of Ethics the Board will take action.
All the steps taken by the
Board were reviewed and approved by both the entire Board and its legal
counsel.
In response to your
question on sharing the specifics regarding the John Lightner situation, the
Board takes the privacy of all parties very seriously. While detailed feedback has been provided to
Mr Lightner (an utter and
absolute lie) as a result of specific actions, these details will not be shared
with the general membership to respect both John’s privacy and the privacy of
other’s involved. This is a right we
feel all members expect.
The incidents referenced in
your email and the attachment you included from Mr Lightner, as well as the
behaviors documented in the December 19, 2007 emailing from John
Lightner to the club members continue to be in conflict with or violate the
GGCP Code of Ethics.
Support of these
behaviors by other Golden Glow members will continue to reinforce to Mr
Lightner that these behaviors are acceptable.
The Board feels these behaviors are unacceptable and are not in the best
interest of the club.
Kim Knight
Cc: Board of Directors
So again, this was a con job by the
BOD. They Khasshogi'd me. And this is why the BOD will never do an investigation because they have
no “written complaints” from any member about “dealings of merchandise” and
that my criminal activity had been going on for years. Utter nonsense from Kim
Knight and the rest of the lemmings.
It is really unfortunate that there
isn’t a single person who has been a Board Member since 2007 that has any
integrity. Cowards all. A corrupt cabal. They can lie, cheat, steal and blackball anyone because they cover up for each other and are accountable to no one. good gig if you can get it.
They have a member who is a convicted felon, a sexual predator who is listed as a lifetime member in good standing. How is this possible? I on the other hand have been convicted of nothing but was expelled from the club. The GG Board is a cesspool of scum.
Dave Eppleheimer wrote back to me he
was sick of the lot of them. I have been
saying this for 12 years. This is a corrupt organization.
