Gail Carpenter Gygax has tried to divert the intent of the
questions I posed into a personal attack. I did not name anyone. I posed the
questions to the legal entity known as GMF. Are we to assume that Gail
Carpenter Gygax IS the GMF, in and of herself? There are two other names on the
papers; are they just figureheads? If that is the case, why bother with them at
all?\
Gail Carpenter Gygax construed my questions as a witch-hunt
(her strange choice of words, not mine) and then shamelessly twists it into an
attack on Gary and his memory, a scurrilous, pathetic tactic to divert
attention. Hiding behind the memory of
her dead husband (my friend of almost 30 years) is a dodge. Answer the
questions, please. Anybody that knew Gary and I while he was alive knows that I
would never do as you accuse. Shame on you.
Irrespective of my beliefs of what Gary would or would not
have liked to be remembered for and how he would have liked it to be done, I
have supported this project from its inception, both monetarily and in print.
Until the GMF achieves some semblance of transparency, that will no longer be
the case. I cannot, in good conscience, tell others that they should become
involved in a project in such a shambles that operates in secrecy and contrary
to WI regulations and laws.
Many questions still cry
out to be answered, and now the subject of bricks comes up. Until there is a
site, there is no way to know how many bricks can be sold. Forget the bricks, forget choosing a font; they are a part of the
overall architecture. Get a REAL working sketch of the proposed edifice; this
means find and commission a sculptor. Get an agreement in place as to a site;
gamers will visit or not—the site is immaterial. (As was pointed out by Gail
Carpenter Gygax when she was cited by the local paper saying “…those guys [gamers]
will go anywhere…”) or words to that effect. “Those guys”?
Why is GMF talking about bricks? Raising more money to sit
idle and earn no interest for another year suits no one.
I am beginning to wonder just who (and what) this memorial is for.
Actually, I wonder about the removal of two board members without their being notified in the first place. Was there legal authority to remove those board members without vote? Certainly, most folks in the gaming community have no idea who those folks are.
ReplyDeleteStill, in many (although not all) organizations of this sort, majority rules. It leaves me wondering about the removals and replacements and if they were, strictly speaking, legal. They may well be, but the way it was handled certainly wasn't above board.
It's quite the pity this has happened. I may not get a chance for quite some ti e to visit WI (et. Al.), but I certainly would leap at the chance to pay some kind of respects to the man. I'ts a great thing socia media has allowed me a chance to connect with the remaining foregamers - even via Skype. These times will remain in my happier memory banks.
ReplyDeleteGCG, however, agreeably needds to show where the money's going or the project will fail. A regrettable situation, and one that should be avoided.
-M.J. Holmes-
There is a marker in Lake Geneva that you can visit (just not Gail's "official" memorial) which is small but tasteful and nice. Of course, Gary Con is a wonderful legacy and memorial as well.
DeleteI've said it before, and I'll say it again: you want to memorialize Gary? Go teach your family and friends to play D&D (AD&D 1e is my personal favorite). There can be no better testament to Gary's legacy than friends and family having a great time together.
ReplyDeleteThe GMF has become a squandered opportunity, and one that I no longer support (though I once did). What could have and should have been done is now lost, and the best we can do is keep the memory of Gary alive in our own way, and not in a manner articulated by those seeking to control the use, manner, etc.. of the name.
I found her repeated accusations of sullying Gary's memory simply telling. It was clearly an attempt to silence those with questions, and frankly, it is absolutely disgraceful to USE a dead man's memory as a defense (especially when wrongly).
ReplyDeleteChris, it has been a common tactic from the GMF to do so. On many of the forums the GMF has someone that comes in an chastises us for picking on a poor widow and tarnishing Gary's memory any time we have questions about it or what happened to Gary's outstanding projects at the time of his death. It seems to be the only defense the GMF has against fair criticism.
ReplyDeleteI do not see how I can give to the GMF after the issues with the late Gygax Magazine. She took the time to have that dissolved (It was a great magazine honoring Gygax and the 2 Sons were involved, even if in a limited capacity) while doing no work on the Memorial. Her time and energy could have been spent on this instead. No i bear her no ill will but if she she waits too long, and this does not get done in the next year... well, time is running out on her as well as everyone else who has a stake in this
ReplyDeleteTim......all I can do is give a +1. My assessment of the situation meshes damn close to yours, only lacking the personal insight such a long relationship with EGG would grant you.
ReplyDeleteOne needn't visit Graceland to memorialize or be a fan of Elvis...I can think of zero reasons I would ever go to Wisconsin. Fly over an route to somewhere, maybe.
ReplyDeleteI don't know...you've got the statue, the largest outdoor music festival in the usa, great beer and breweries, cheese, lakes, museums, fantastic gaming cons, there are a lot of reasons to come here.
DeleteNot to mention the best Gygax Memorial to date, Garycon.
DeleteIf you go only once to GaryCon, it should be on every gamers to do list... first thing I did when I arrived was go to the Memorial brick at the Riviera at the Lake....
DeleteIf you go only once to GaryCon, it should be on every gamers to do list... first thing I did when I arrived was go to the Memorial brick at the Riviera at the Lake....
DeleteI can: Garycon. Been twice, will be there again!
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