Re: May I Represent You?

Michael,

 I know my voice doesn't carry much weight in PTP, but I think you are
the right candidate for the position. 

You have the gift of gab, and for the title "spokesperson" that is a
critical requirement. You also have the ability to address the press in
a "non-threatening" way that many of us do no have. You have the fire
inside that many of us have, and the skill set to put that in writing,
and  to make your voice very well heard and understood.   

We do all have to face the fact that many of us are angry, dejected by
the press' handling of many things wireless in this town. Your letter
to the spokesperson at MetroFi was a shining example of how a scathing
letter should be written.

I would hope that the next president of PTP has the foresight and
courage to put a PTP spokesperson in place. 

Regards,

Thomas Fitzgerald 

> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ptp-general] May I Represent You?
> From: Michael Weinberg <[email protected]>
> Date: Tue, May 08, 2007 8:51 am
> To: [email protected]
> 
> Recently, a press inquiry came to me, regarding wireless in Portland.  
> Over the last few years I have answered many, press inquiries on  
> behalf of Personal Telco, insisting on being quoted as a volunteer,  
> and not a spokesperson or officer of the group. I expect that this  
> has lessened the impact of some of those statements, as they did not  
> carry the weight of the group behind them.
> 
> Regarding this most recent inquiry, I presented to the board of  
> directors that I would be glad to answer it as "a spokesperson for  
> Personal Telco" but that I had no interest in continuing to answer  
> these as simply a volunteer. My reasons for this are two-fold:
> 
> For one thing, I think it makes the group stronger if the press  
> quotes a spokesperson, because it suggests that there is a body of  
> expert geeks behind our criticisms or advice, rather than a lone  
> enthusiast.
> 
> Additionally, and this is purely personal, I have put a lot of time  
> into answering press inquiries in order to keep Personal Telco in the  
> public eye and yet I have not been rewarded with a title that  
> provides internal recognition or that I can place on my resume.
> 
> PTP President Don Park, expressed his concern that: "a spokesperson  
> would be someone who has regular conversations with the officers  
> about public-facing PTP issues, when there is and when there is not a  
> story to fill."
> 
> I believe my many years of involvement, and my frequent discussions  
> with other members and officers fully qualify me, if this is to be  
> the litmus test. I'm asking for your popular support in this request.  
> If you feel I am qualified and you would like me to represent PTP to  
> the press, please say so. If you think I'm wrong-headed and full of  
> myself, please let me know as well.
> 
> Thanks for your time,
> 
> Michael
> 
> -- 
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-- 
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Donate to PTP: http://www.personaltelco.net/donate
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