Good Idea Chris----here's my group hug:
for those that may not see eye to eye with me, thats ok, but IMHO this is whats happening.
Several, actually MANY more than several, or our members have taken their time, and abilities, and brought forth some very interesting 'insights'. These insights, theories, pictures, charts, graphs, maps, speculations, whatever, have concieved excitement and enthusiasm from the membership. Whether factual or not, isnt the issue.
You have to ask yourself this question: what makes Tighar go? It isnt the members, although they play a major role. Its FUNDING. so what creates funding? lets see---excitement, enthusiasm. A sense of belonging to something larger than we are. We have a great group of members, and I'm pleased to know some of you personally. Alot of you have been in the background, doing your own research on your varied interests. Gary is one of these. my goodness---can you imagine the effort it takes to put all of that stuff together? makes me tired to just think about it. I respect Gary for his efforts. I may not agrre with all he has to say, and I am positive that he doesnt agree with me. But---we have a common ground. Richie, jeff Victor, and now john---whether there is anything on the reef or not, what you guys do is fascinating to me. Wish i have the talents you have. Jeff Nevill has given me a window into aircraft development that I would probably not have gotten, if not for TIGHAR, and meeting him.
Many others of you have done the same. My point is this: We all came together with excitement and enthusiasm to belong to the organiszation. Ric , Pat, Marty, and others have given us this medium to get together and discuss the possibilities. many of you have offered your own theories, but more important, your expertise, in helping TIGHAR get to this point. Many of you gave your free time to enhance this project, and for that I'm grateful.
Now for the bad news---its not my place to be a parlimentarian. I'll leave that to the administrators. But to impune the efforts of those with enthusiasm is deadly to an organization. When you kill the excitement, the membership slowly slips away, as well as the funding. Granted, our major sponsors have been VERY gracious with their help, and I for one appreciate it. Many of us had donated in our own ways. But to create hate and discontent by telling people they are seeing things in boxes drawn on a picture is not right. So what if Richie, Jeff and John see engines, props, verticals, wings, gear etc in the pictures. Frankly, I see some things too. But, not all of us do, and thats ok. Look at the numbers: the video thread has had 36000+ views! That, Malcolm, ( YES YOU) creates excitement and enthusiasm, which in turn got alot of people thinking, including Ric. Which led to Jeff Glickman's discovery, to The State Dept. press conference, to Discovery, Fed EX, Lockheed Martin, and all of our other major sponsors to come on board for the search.
So---unless you have a better vehicle to get funding, dont sit there and bad mouth someone because of their vision.
One day--perhaps very soon, I hope to see the fruits of their work. . I havent seen yours.
To our other members---my appologies for ranting----but chris is right---we need a group hug!