the Paris event, a statement from Gwen, co-host L&N in Paris 1
We send the letter to Marie,(letter: http://juliadw.livejournal.com/14732.html#cutid1) the organiser of the first and second event. She didnt give us the respect to reply to it. That is why we ....
send the same letter to Gwen, who co-organised the first event and was equally responsible for the money that was raised.
Gwen did respect us enough to write a formal reply.
Julia wrote to me and asked me to issue an official statement as the former co-organizer of the Luke and Noah event in Paris. She received messages complaining that it wasn’t fair to ask all the questions to Marie since I was highly involved in the first edition.
Since I resigned from MGC events almost 9 months ago, I've stayed silent and never made any public comment about this year or last year’s event. To be honest I wish it could have stayed that way, 'cause I've moved on without any regrets. As wonderful as the L&N1 experience was I realize I never took a wiser decision than to leave MGC events.
I don’t know all the details of what is happening right now but I read the petition and the official statement on the MGC website.
First I’d like to state that I have absolutely no responsibilities in the 2nd event’s organization. I didn’t stay in touch with Marie, nor have I been involved in any part of the organization. I heard it was a success. Well it’s all Marie’s. I don’t take any credit for that, so I won’t take any blame either.
As for the 1st event I take full responsibility along with Marie in neglecting to inform ILGA beforehand that we intended to give them our benefits. That was a mistake. The first event was a big risk for us money-wise and even though we were hopeful it would go well, it could also have been a disaster, not enabling us to make a donation. It was more to prevent ILGA from getting their hopes up than a malicious move on our part. But I’m very sorry about that.
Now about the “outcome” of the 1st event Julia asked me specific questions:
1. was there a positive amount after the first event?
2. was the money from the first event used to fund the second event?
3. if there was no positive amount after the first event, why the decision to do a second event?
After the books were closed, we talked on the phone to assess the event. From that conversation I understood that benefits were made from L&N1, which encouraged us to think about a 2nd event.
I also remember a suggestion about postponing the benefits' donation and using them to start organizing the 2nd event. In that case a donation covering both events would happen after L&N2 - which comes to the same thing as making two donations.
It was a suggestion so I don't know what was decided in the end as I resigned shortly thereafter. From that point I cut all ties with MGC events.
About the “ILGAgate” I’m very saddened by the situation. I don’t recall Marie and I ever discussing the subject - so maybe she has a different opinion - but for me it was a given that the amount of the donation would go public. We’re not talking about a generous benefactor wanting to be discreet but about a collective fundraising widely promoted. You were all asked to be generous and to give, I don’t understand why the result of your efforts should stay confidential. The Nukies’ generosity is something to be proud of. I know I am.
All the best,
Gwen"
What to do next? We are not sure yet. Although it looks like fandom has moved on my friends and I still feel very cheated by Marie. In my personal opinion Marie was not professional and pretty respectless in denying to answer the letter. She also called us, indirectly but clearly, insane on the Van and Jake in Paris facebook page.
What we want? A formal apology for blaming us for being unfair and immoral, calling us insane because we dared to ask questions and for not telling us what happened with the profits from the first event.
The question is: do we want to spend more energy on it and get our lawyer to send her a formal letter, followed by a complaint and a lawsuit? We are not sure she is worth that much of our time. According to the lawyer we contacted we have a pretty strong case and could probably demand she pays the fees when we win. But we would have to invest time we would rather spend on things like Rachel's awesome lemonade project, the good parts of the fandom and let the rotten parts where they belong. In the dumpster. (just my humble opinion again)
We will have to take some time to think it over. We just received Gwen's statement today.
Please tell us your opinions.
send the same letter to Gwen, who co-organised the first event and was equally responsible for the money that was raised.
Gwen did respect us enough to write a formal reply.
Julia wrote to me and asked me to issue an official statement as the former co-organizer of the Luke and Noah event in Paris. She received messages complaining that it wasn’t fair to ask all the questions to Marie since I was highly involved in the first edition.
Since I resigned from MGC events almost 9 months ago, I've stayed silent and never made any public comment about this year or last year’s event. To be honest I wish it could have stayed that way, 'cause I've moved on without any regrets. As wonderful as the L&N1 experience was I realize I never took a wiser decision than to leave MGC events.
I don’t know all the details of what is happening right now but I read the petition and the official statement on the MGC website.
First I’d like to state that I have absolutely no responsibilities in the 2nd event’s organization. I didn’t stay in touch with Marie, nor have I been involved in any part of the organization. I heard it was a success. Well it’s all Marie’s. I don’t take any credit for that, so I won’t take any blame either.
As for the 1st event I take full responsibility along with Marie in neglecting to inform ILGA beforehand that we intended to give them our benefits. That was a mistake. The first event was a big risk for us money-wise and even though we were hopeful it would go well, it could also have been a disaster, not enabling us to make a donation. It was more to prevent ILGA from getting their hopes up than a malicious move on our part. But I’m very sorry about that.
Now about the “outcome” of the 1st event Julia asked me specific questions:
1. was there a positive amount after the first event?
2. was the money from the first event used to fund the second event?
3. if there was no positive amount after the first event, why the decision to do a second event?
After the books were closed, we talked on the phone to assess the event. From that conversation I understood that benefits were made from L&N1, which encouraged us to think about a 2nd event.
I also remember a suggestion about postponing the benefits' donation and using them to start organizing the 2nd event. In that case a donation covering both events would happen after L&N2 - which comes to the same thing as making two donations.
It was a suggestion so I don't know what was decided in the end as I resigned shortly thereafter. From that point I cut all ties with MGC events.
About the “ILGAgate” I’m very saddened by the situation. I don’t recall Marie and I ever discussing the subject - so maybe she has a different opinion - but for me it was a given that the amount of the donation would go public. We’re not talking about a generous benefactor wanting to be discreet but about a collective fundraising widely promoted. You were all asked to be generous and to give, I don’t understand why the result of your efforts should stay confidential. The Nukies’ generosity is something to be proud of. I know I am.
All the best,
Gwen"
What to do next? We are not sure yet. Although it looks like fandom has moved on my friends and I still feel very cheated by Marie. In my personal opinion Marie was not professional and pretty respectless in denying to answer the letter. She also called us, indirectly but clearly, insane on the Van and Jake in Paris facebook page.
What we want? A formal apology for blaming us for being unfair and immoral, calling us insane because we dared to ask questions and for not telling us what happened with the profits from the first event.
The question is: do we want to spend more energy on it and get our lawyer to send her a formal letter, followed by a complaint and a lawsuit? We are not sure she is worth that much of our time. According to the lawyer we contacted we have a pretty strong case and could probably demand she pays the fees when we win. But we would have to invest time we would rather spend on things like Rachel's awesome lemonade project, the good parts of the fandom and let the rotten parts where they belong. In the dumpster. (just my humble opinion again)
We will have to take some time to think it over. We just received Gwen's statement today.
Please tell us your opinions.