Even thougth I'm not a current Willistonite, I am someone who grew up there and has family there. I also still keep an open mind about the possiblility of moving back there should the right opportunity present itself, which is the reason I still read the Williston Herald daily and check into this message board often.
I grew up with Rick, and I have been nothing but impressed with seeing his views posted in community's public arenas, and I couldn't be more proud of seeing my former classmates stepping into the public eye. I would be happy to see Rick do more of this, and am glad to hear he is in some sort of leadership group. People have always rallied around Rick and I hope he continues to do so. Shake em' up Rick!
I don't want to hijack this thread, but as said earlier there is no good excuse to not get out and vote, unless you are stranded on voting day due to a storm, etc. Why in the world is Williston, and ND still having their elections ALL in person instead of mail in? It just makes sense to have all elections absentee, this is how we do it in Oregon and it definitely increases voter turn out and saves the state money.
My 2 cents.
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"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." -Dr. Johnson
Perhaps it's time to call on that giant Stay Puffed marshmallow man from Ghostbusters and start getting the city to sing along to "Your love! Is taking me higher!!"
If it happened in Williston it might well become the bigges s'more that ever was....
I could not agree with you more. I along with numerous people do not care about the history between Larry and Randy. There situation unfortunatly became part of the issue when it had absolutely nothing to do with us moving forward as a district. The fact is we as a community had a great opportunity to do so many posative things for all the people of Williston and we just let it slip by.
It makes me so sad when after the vote I talk to countless people who were so sad that it didnt pass but the next thing out of there mouth is " I didnt have time to vote." No offence to anyone but there is NO reason to not vote, yes or no. Go get an absentee ballot if you cant vote the day of the election, it is your duty to do so.
The saddest thing in this whole deal is the kids are the ones who pay for the adults decisions. Hopefully in the future people can put there personal lives aside and vote on the real issues. I have lived in Williston my whole life and I just wish ONE time we would be Proactive instead of Reactive.
Dave, what you say is entirely correct and what Steve says is entirely correct. I have had this conversation before. I have always tried to express my opinion in a reasonable, respectful, and entertaining manner, never crossing my own personal boundaries as to the correctness of a post or comment. On the few occasions where I have put my foot in my mouth and an apology has been warranted I have accepted the responsibility for those comments and never hesitated to apologize. I will continue to do so.
My position on this sales tax thing has not been connected to my relationship or lack of one with President Grondahl. In fact if I was still on the Board, my position would still be the same. This is not news, and I have held that position since day 1.
My issue is that bullies understand only bullying. They interpret civility and lack of aggressive reaction to their bullying as a sign of weakness. This is far from the truth.
In light of this recent unwarranted attack on not only me, but my family as well, I will continue to say that I have had enough of it.
It makes me sad too Dave, but the good part is that your constructive dialogue is exactly what was I was pointing out when I said the new generation is going to show a very strong ability to lead this community once many of us old guys get the heck out of the way, in every possible way.
Thanks for posting a mature, responsible and proactive comment. It is not too late for the the things you are talking to come to pass, about and I do not think this tax is dead. It just needs some CPR.
I could not agree with you more. I along with numerous people do not care about the history between Larry and Randy. There situation unfortunatly became part of the issue when it had absolutely nothing to do with us moving forward as a district. The fact is we as a community had a great opportunity to do so many posative things for all the people of Williston and we just let it slip by.
It makes me so sad when after the vote I talk to countless people who were so sad that it didnt pass but the next thing out of there mouth is " I didnt have time to vote." No offence to anyone but there is NO reason to not vote, yes or no. Go get an absentee ballot if you cant vote the day of the election, it is your duty to do so.
The saddest thing in this whole deal is the kids are the ones who pay for the adults decisions. Hopefully in the future people can put there personal lives aside and vote on the real issues. I have lived in Williston my whole life and I just wish ONE time we would be Proactive instead of Reactive.
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Today is a great day to be a Yankee........Yogi Berra
Yeah, I knew that...I was uhh....I was just seeing if everyone else was paying attention.
Gozer...ectoplasm.
Why is it I can see you with a proton pack on your back?
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Perhaps it's time to call on that giant Stay Puffed marshmallow man from Ghostbusters and start getting the city to sing along to "Your love! Is taking me higher!!"
That was the Statue of Liberty in Ghostbuster's 2, after the covered it in the psycho-reactive ectoplasm.
The Stay-Puft Marshmellow Man was the incarnation of Gozer the Gozarian from the first (and far superior) Ghostbusters that was formed from Ray's memories.
...What?!? I'm not a nerd!
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Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world. A world in which both can flourish.
Thank you for refraining, Randy. We've had that go-round before.
I think what's most important at this juncture is to figure out how to go about getting our playgrounds, pools, and other facilities upgraded in a positive way. There's been so much mud slinging and negativity around here in every area of public service.
I'm not trying to undermine your situation, Randy. Please don't think I'm poo poo-ing your conflict. I just have come to the conclusion that private conflicts made public don't do anything positive for anyone involved, including the community.
I do, however, hope and pray that you guys can straighten out your differences and at least find a little peace with each other some day.
Perhaps it's time to call on that giant Stay Puffed marshmallow man from Ghostbusters and start getting the city to sing along to "Your love! Is taking me higher!!"
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Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. – Philippians 2:3-4
Just curious if you're considering a run at the Park Board again. I'm not trying to be sarcastic or facetious, I'm genuinely curious.
Also, for the purposes of our own edification, will you consider posting the text of the email here? I can understand if you are reluctant, but on the other hand this is quite an accusation to make and one could reasonably wish to see the source material.
-- Edited by Sigma on Thursday 14th of April 2011 08:38:47 AM
-- Edited by Sigma on Thursday 14th of April 2011 08:39:03 AM
After serving for 12 years on the Board, the last two of those as President, I decided I would step aside and encourage fresh energy, and new blood to replace those of us who had already been in the trenches, to assume the task. Imagine my surprise when the current President, who quit, and walked off the job announced his intention to run again. In hindsight, had I known that, I might have stayed longer.
Since then, much water has passed under the bridge, and I believe my time has passed. I have often been a vocal voice of dissent, but although sometimes with light sarcasm, never disrespectful, and I have not been mean spirited in issues I care about. It is hard to continue in that spirit since it has never been reciprocated.
I think that with some small exception, there is considerable talent and young blood on the current board, and given the chance to actually lead us forward... they might very well excel. It is that "small exception" that needs to be revisited and encouraged to move on.
As much as I would enjoy sharing the text of the conversation I cannot in all good faith do so. However, if you ask the President of the Board if he would share it, you have my blessing to read any and all of it.
Just curious if you're considering a run at the Park Board again. I'm not trying to be sarcastic or facetious, I'm genuinely curious.
Also, for the purposes of our own edification, will you consider posting the text of the email here? I can understand if you are reluctant, but on the other hand this is quite an accusation to make and one could reasonably wish to see the source material.
-- Edited by Sigma on Thursday 14th of April 2011 09:46:08 AM
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Science can purify religion from error and superstition. Religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes. Each can draw the other into a wider world. A world in which both can flourish.
At 10:30 P.M. Tuesday night, after coming home from teaching classes, I opened an email from the President of the Williston Park Board. It was an attempted intimidation, a bullying note, and a sarcastic effort to somehow insinuate that I (and by association) Ricky, my younger son, were somehow singlehandedly responsible for torpedoing, the 1% tax measure which was not approved in the recent special election, nevermind all the other people (majority of them) who also had an interest in the outcome. This was not the first such email I have received, and will likely not be the last. Generally, I just laugh these off, and for the most part ignore them.
In this instance, on Wednesday, not only did several personal friends ask questions, pertaining to the subject material of this email, but two casual acquaintances also made allusion to this information. They did not get that information from me, but I guarantee you, I replied at that point.
Since Ricky is probably a bigger man than I, not only figuratively, but actually bigger, I doubt he will publicly respond. I will.
If you don't want to read what is fixing to be a lengthy post, then God Bless You. If you do, then feel free to share it. I am not going to go into lengthy detail of all the things I have witnessed over the years, but if this opens dialogue, I am all for it. I will try to keep it to my immediate response to the typical Chicago Gangster style of operations that have been a consistent pattern in this and other related issues for quite some time.
The one accusation, which in fact was truthful, albeit distorted was that Ricky "did not even bother to vote" on the issue he had so strongly advocated when he was against it before he was for it (paraphrasing here). According to the the President's email, at 7:05 PM "Staff at the Rec Center called all of us, to tell us that Ricky Waitman did not even bother to vote." My answer, is that it is nobody's dadgummed business whether your or I vote, and it is not their dadgummed business how we vote, unless you or I choose to share it. The more important issue is that apparently, the President has instructed paid P&R Staff to inform him, and the Park Board, who voted, and when they voted. Looks like a Black Panther Standing outside the doorway with a stick in his hand sort of thing. In fact, Ricky's wife had all four of her wisdom teeth surgically removed on Tuesday. They have two pre-schoolers at home and one infant. Normally there are plenty of people to help out in the extended family, but for one reason or another, Ricky was not able to head to the polls until near to closing, and as it turned out, he missed the deadline by a few minutes. Simple miscalcucation, not some mystical and planned political statement, and not some vast right wing conspiracy.
The second part is Ricky's stance on the Sales Tax Measure. He is a member of some sort of group for Leadership Change. I do not know who is in this group. I do not know what their actual platforms are except from what I have read in the paper, I am not a member, and Ricky has not shared much about who they are and what they do. I am going to ask them if I can join. Ricky, and the members of the group he is associated with, studied the information available to them, brainstormed collectively, formed a position, and proceeded to publicly advocate for their position, in a reasonable although arguably aggressive way. It was refreshing to see new voices, unafraid to publicly speak out, something that has been sorely lacking in Williston for a long time. I applaud their actions whether or not I agree with their position. Their initial position was resoundingly NO, at least until certain conditions were met. However, after the Public Forum on the weekend, members of the group pooled their perspectives on the information they received at this meeting and re-evaluated the merits or non merits of a NO vote on the issue. As a result of a logical thought process and a progressive understanding of the larger issues, Ricky announced his own intentions to reconsider his vote. He wrote a letter to the Editor of the Herald sharing his conclusions. This is not a flip-flop, this a persuasive change of perspective based upon additional information and review. It should be commended, not castigated, if only because it shows that Ricky, and I suppose other members of this group, are not locked into some single doctrine or political dogma.
For the life of me, I cannot understand how a "supposed" Leader elected as a Representative of this Community, can, time and time again, continue to resort to such strong-arm tactics, smoke and mirrors, obfuscation of the issues, and attempted character assasination as appears to be the case.
