Editor's Note: The thoughts below are mine and not the expressed views of GWRRA or CA1-D.

It has been almost a year since my family and I joined GWRRA. During that time, I have seen a number of things that I liked and some that I have not. CA1-D is very close to our house and the people are great. In the event that I needed help, I cannot think of anyone that would not come running. That is a very good feeling.

When I think of the GWRRA organization, I do not have the same feelings.  One thing about getting older is that I have become less tolerant towards corporate and upper management BS. It all started in February when GWRRA announced a newsletter contest. As I looked thru the rules and required information, it was noted that some things would have to change - one was an article from the District Directors, Anita and JR Alkire. Since I was not on her mailing list, I called to inform her of the change. At the end of our conversation, I mention that I was getting her articles late. She said she had been out of town and the articles were normally done by the fifteenth of the month. At that time, I informed her that our newsletter deadline is the twentieth. In the past five months, her article has been on time once. It usually arrives on or after the twenty fifth.

My second run-in was with the director of Region F, Neil Zack. According to the rules for the newsletter contest, I was required to send him a copy of our newsletter. Since his mailing address is not listed on the Region F webpage, I emailed him for the information. As I recall, it took more than two weeks for him to get back with me. I should have known it was going downhill from there....

While I waited to hear back from him, I decided to look up his information on zabasearch.com and get the info I was looking for. (I found out later that all I had to do was look in the back of the GWRRA magazine.) In his first email, he indicated to me that I did not need to send him a copy, as winning copies would be sent by Anita. I pulled out my copy of the rules for the newsletter contest and explained in another email exactly what the rules said.

The final email and insult came a while later. He abruptly stated that anyone trying to win the newsletter contest must have more accurate information, but he did not offer to tell me what information he was talking about.  This seemed odd to me since I had taken all the information directly from the GWRRA California or Region F websites. Also, I had three different newsletters from local chapters and all of them were different.  I later figure out that none of them were accurate.

So in conclusion, I have lost a lot faith in the GWRRA leadership. This is why there has been no editorial in the last several newsletters. I get depressed when each month articles are constantly late. I know everybody is busy... and so am I. My father always told me, if you are going to do a job, do it right the first time and to the best of your ability.

And just when I thought I had joined one happy family, I now realize that perhaps I have merely joined another dysfunctional family, where the rules only apply to a select few.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Tom and Linda