That is correct. There is no pressure to join FTE. You only join if you want to. As far as FTE is concerned you do not have to be a member of FTE to be a member of the Kansas chapter.

Mark, have your questions been answered? I noticed you said that you spent two years at the other site. FTE has been around much longer than that and is not going anywhere (except up, the site has changed a lot in the past years).

 

All this talk has left me a bit confused to say the least. I'd like to clerify member statisÉ What is member statis? Be specific!
Am I a member? Is a good question. I registered, and I am posting, does that make me a member of just an enthusiast?
I know where Mark is coming fromÉI don't feel like us form ex_______ are welcome here, i am not speaking for any one else. just my feeling about this Chapter stuff. Mark was a corner stone and perfect example for others to follow, as a leader and earned everyones friendship and respect. My heart tells me Mark is the best choice for President, hands down. However if he has reservations, I fully understand, I say Mark go with your heart, don't let your mind keep you from getting what you want! Also don't let any one else decied for you, if you want to just go with the flow and be a active member, we will love you all the same buddy!

 

all good points!

the only way to get from here to there is to keep the discussion going.

Mark, I know you feel pretty burned about the whole past situation, but I feel you did a great job at the other place, no reason you cant pick it up and run with it here, but I understand if you cant, Time will hopefully heal the wounds, and I feel that one way to speed the process is to start getting organized and have plenty of meets, so we can meet all our new friends!

 

You are a enthusiast and there is nothing wrong with that.

Why do you feel that you are not welcome? It is because of you and your friends that the Kansas chapter is up and running

Before, there were only a few Kansas members here. Thanks to the people here in the Kansas Chapter we have moved into the top 6 most active chapter (as far as posting goes) if this keeps up we will be #1 here in no time. The activities that are planned will only make the chapter better. So don't be shy, step in and take the reins!

It will become what you make of it.

 

Well, since we are being open and discussing these things. When you new guys first came in from whatever site it was that you were on, I thought there was a little too much bluster. All the "we are here" and "we have taken this place over" talk kind of turned me off. I wasn't impressed. Then it was, we need to elect a President and Mark will be it. I didn't see the need for a president, so I was against it and I had no idea who Mark was and why he was going to be president. Just because he was president at the other place and you guys said so? I thought the attitude was crass, low class and didn't fit the FTE image.

After the dust settled a little bit, I saw that I was wrong, for the most part. After a time of adjustment, I see that we all fit in here. I have even had email exchanges with some of the new guys and see that you are all okay people. I have no problem with Mark being the president, in fact, I would welcome it. I would like to see the Kansas chapter grow into the best chapter at FTE. I think Mark has the experience and ideas to get it kicked off. So, since he's been nominated, I second it. What say Mark? Are you up for it?

By the way, the opinions I stated above, were to my knowledge, mine alone. My point is, it started off kind of shaky in my mind but I think we come together well in this group. I think we have a good chemistry and make a good team. It was nothing more than growing pains. No offense intended.

 

I think every team needs a leader. I am new here and was also new at the other place. From the short time I've been around and the few people I've met. I believe that Mark fits the bill.

Just my 2 cents

 

You guys are welcome here. However, the reasons for leaving the other site are, well.... suspect. I'm sure it wasn't because someone sang off-key in church. Give the old-timers here a break if they're a bit cautious - you can't blame anyone for feeling that way.

 

I appericiate your cander and you honestly, I really believe you wont be dissappointed in Mark should he accept the challenge. hopefully well all grow together and enjoy the reason we are all here which is too celebrate the best Passenger truck ever made right? The FORD rules the road we all know it, Now we can go out and be proud once again to be a part of our little family!

 

I think the idea of elected officers is a good idea and will help promote the club and gives us better chances at more and exciting GTG's. I was at first a little worried that all us new members (I am one) that came in a big group might be giving the wrong impression and some of the existing members would take it wrong. We all felt alittle lost and wanted to get things closer to what we were used to (it's a little scary moving to a new home). None of us meant any disrespect to the existing members we just gathered and moved towards the ones we knew. Now that I have been here awhile I feel better and have enjoyed meeting all the new (to me) members. This will be a great fit for all of us and there are some great ideas floating around. Now is the time to relax and get to know this community as a whole. I feel welcome here and as has been said, we are already making one hell of a chapter so lets keep building and make it even better.

 

I wouldn't call it suspect. That is assuming the worse. Partial stories are never right. I'm sure any of us new guys would be more than happy to explain the reason for leaving. We were a strong chapter on site x. We all wouldn't have left if the reasoning wasn't true.

Don't question our motives. They are the same as every other person on this site. We are here because we love our trucks and enjoy having friends with the same likes. I have made some dear friends thru these clubs.

Jon

 

I guess you can't tell us here because of the rules about trashing another site. I am curious though. Did you all decide as a group to leave? Was it that one left and the rest followed, one by one? Not that it really matters, I am just interested in the dynamics of it. Were you asked, or told to go?

 

Hang10,

Going into that would probably lead to some trash talking on the other site. If you want to know the details feel free to email me and I would be happy to discuss it with you.

Jon

 

I know from experience on the Internet (dating all the way back to the late 80s in newsgroups) and BBS's in prior years that no one leaves when things are going well. And I saw on a thread over there that someone broke a rule knowing it would get them kicked off. This person had a large following and they left with him. Given this I think the oldtimers and I have every right to question motives.

The point being how do any of us know what the motives, good or bad, are? Do you want us to lie and say everyone is 100% comfortable, or would you rather start things off with honesty?

The old-timers here have been around a while, they put out the welcome mat and that should be respected. Suddenly there's a huge effort by a bunch of newcomers to elect their guy as president. You'd feel uncomfortable if the situation were reversed. From what I've seen over at X hell would be raised if it happened there, wouldn't it?

Understand those who want to take things a bit more slowly --- they understand your wanting to move fast. I'm sure there's a middle ground.

Thank you to the person who contacted me this morning letting me know what happened.

Let's move on, and realize that we have a lot of individuals who have been here a long time who are used to things being one way and another close knit group who are used to things being another way. Everyone needs to be 100% honest and we can all find a middle ground that suits the needs of everyone, okay?

 

Ken,

Very valid points. But don't believe everything you read...LOL. Like I said, that is one side of the story. We didn't mean to come in so strong and take over. We just all wanted to be in the same place. We've all become good friends. I guess the reason we assumed that Mark as Chapter president would be the best Idea is because there wasn't a KS chapter here when we came. So we thought we were the only ones here.

No offense was meant to anyone. We were just trying to make FTE our home and a place to feel comfortable.

Sorry if we stepped on toes. That wasn't our intention. We have the best of intentions and hope to grow the KS chapter. Please don't judge any of us by what you read on that site. That is the story they are giving people. Not the true story.

You are also welcome to email me if you want the whole story. I will gladly discuss it with you. I am the reason this all started. I am the one they are refering to that broke the rules. I didn't do that. They just used that excuse to get rid of me.

Thanks,
jon

 

Like I said in a previous post, it has just taken some time to get comfortable with you all. We asked for a Kansas chapter a little while ago, we didn't get it. Apparently there weren't enough of us, to open one. Then in one day, you guys came in, the chapter was opened. The prevailing attitude seemed to be that it was opened FOR YOU. Then all the bravado started about how you (I use you in general terms, as in some of you guys) ran this place, etc. When ultramagdan was named moderator, he was told if he needed help keeping you guys in line, let one of the guys from 'brand x' site know. It seemed like you guys not only thought that Kansas was open for you but you were going to jump in, take over and run it how you did over there. Elect your president, do it your way. That irritated me personally. You all didn't come in quietly and get a feel for the surroundings, you came in and started electing a president, you seemed to be saying that the moderator was powerless without your help.

I think things are better. I believe we have grown more comfortable with eachother. There are still a few rough spots here and there. It seems things are kind of decided without any input from any of the regular guys. You guys are used to your 'GTGs', personally, I don't feel comfortable enough yet to attend one, that's just me though. I email with some of the older guys, we have discussed these things. Some feel the same, some don't. I get a feeling though that most all feel like they are not really a part of your group and wouldn't feel comfortable yet either.

That being said. As I said in a previous post, I don't mind a president, I don't mind Mark being president. I think though that some of us 'older' guys should have a place in the "government". To strike a balance. If it will enhance the image of FTE as a whole and further the Kansas chapter, it's okay with me. Again, I hope no one takes offense, these are MY thoughts alone. Don't get mad at anyone else but me for expressing these.

Jon, you have email (if you don't know already).