보낸사람: debbie and charlie tucker
받는사람: members08@bmta.org


to the BMTA (its board and members) :

we are relatively new to the benton mackaye trail association and are shocked and
disquieted by this disturbing news of bill ristom's "expulsion" from his position with the
bmta!..

our initial connection with the association has been through bill and diana ristom, who
have been such an extraordinary pleasure to work with as they served to help and
encourage us along every step of the "trail".......

only recently have we signed on as volunteer maintainers for part of section 11, and
were excited to follow in the footsteps (if that's possible) of the ristoms whom we have
witnessed hard at work even BEYOND their assigned section on big frog!....we also
completed a thruhike of the bmt in november, but are convinced this would not have
been possible without the ristoms.....the beautiful and very professional little guidebook
itself ( of which bill spent innumerable hours researching and compiling) was a VAST
help to us along the way!.....but bill and diana exceeded expectations of merely making
sure the book and maps were in our hands!.....they coached and helped us often to
make sure our experience on the trail was a good one!....(i must be candid here upon
reflection and say a sincere 'welcome' to the bmta, for us, has been expressed SOLELY
through this warm and cordial couple!)

and we are not the only ones to receive this kind of royal ristom benevolence!....other
hikers (most recently "billy goat" and "captain america" of pacific crest trail fame) have
received help as well....when hikers arrive at the rather difficult resupply point at the
ocoee river, guess who comes to the rescue with maildrops, shuttles and, yes, even
a pot of hot coffee and homemade danish!....you've got it!....bill and diana ristom!.....

these folks are selfless, knowledgable, hard-working, talented professionals.....and we
really have to SERIOUSLY question the organization that would "expel" such a great
leader as bill ristom!

which brings me to one question in particular (for which i think perhaps most of the
membership would probably appreciate an answer) :
"IS THE BMTA AN ORGANIZATION THAT CAN BE EXPECTED
IN THE FUTURE TO MERELY 'QUENCH' DISSENTING OPINION,
OR IS THERE ROOM FOR ACTUAL WORK TOWARD BUILDING
A TEAM FOR THE GOOD OF HIKERS EVERYWHERE?
(according to the stated mission to 'maintain, protect, and improve'...)

that mission is spelled out on your membership page where the reader is asked, "WHY
would you join or renew your membership?"....the stated answer is obvious! : "to be
PART OF the trail effort"!.......that means PEOPLE! (and the interaction thereof) ....but
if we as members can be expected to be no more than "machines" doling out dues or
occasionally wielding a polaski, then we are not PART of anything!....and if our trusted
leaders THEMSELVES cannot perform their duties with integrity toward partnership (no
matter WHAT the obstacles) then we have no "membership" at all!......we realize that
'growth' can mean different things to different people, but if we can't expect that our
opinions will at least be heard without fear of "expulsion", then what is the point?....
good leaders are important to any good organization (and members can feel secure
in the direction an organization is taking when their leaders are fair, honest and hard
working)..... but to retain "membership" in the midst of such obscured vision and seem-
ingly rather underhanded parliamentary tactics seems irresponsible and fruitless.....

perhaps every single scrap of "board business" is not intended as public domain (though
i assume there are perhaps transcripts of meeting minutes that can be accessed?)....
still.....we find it bizarre that more information was not included with this seemingly
sudden news of bill's "expulsion"....the unfortunate secretive nature of this
announcement infers some wrong-doing (of which we are CERTAIN could not be further
from the truth!).....it is defaming to a character that has proved to be as "spotless" as is
humanly possible!.....we are personally embarrassed that the leadership would so
mishandle this situation!....WHY, for instance, were certain people not contacted for "the
vote"?.....and WHY was a more courteous informing of the expulsion not made available
to bill (who had to learn of the "deed" by casually opening an e-mail?......this is highly
unprofessional (not to mention just plain cruel!) ....we hope to hear from the bmta
(and/or other members) for answers and/or comments regarding these questions....
in the meantime, we will sadly have to say we are considering renouncing our
membership.....

for us, the benton mackaye trail was able to uphold its mission ONLY by the tireless
efforts of two very real, very warm PEOPLE :bill and diana ristom.....our connection to
the organization became what it should be through THEM : the HUMAN connection!....
because of these two wonderful people, the bmt became SOOOO much more than the
mere "setting of feet upon a treadway" or the "accumulation of volunteer hours"! (which
is the "more" that any trail community should be).....and we are utterly AMAZED that this
organization could let such a fine TREASURE slip through its fingertips!

we look forward to your prompt response....

charlie and deb tucker






Betty J Petty wrote:
All BMTA members:

In our club bylaws, Article IV, Section 9 which specifically addresses the expulsion of
a board member states 'Any member of the Board may be removed by a majority vote
of the entire Board of Directors.' At present the entire board consists of 16 members.
A total of 9 members of the board voted for the expulsion of Bill Ristom from the board,
two voted against explusion and there was one abstention. The four unacountted for
votes, if submitted, probably would have been against expulsion or abstensions.
The board regrets having to make this decision as Bill has long been a valuable and
hard-working member. It is important to note that Bill is still a member of the BMTA
and may still address the board via email or in person at the next regularly scheduled
board meeting regarding this action.

--
Betty J Petty , President
PO Box 447
Ooltewah, TN 37363
bjpetty1@bellsouth.net