Open Letter to Tom Olson
Commentary by Joe Reynolds

Hi Tom. At the recent Golf Governors meeting you had this to say about my public comments: "I kinda take offense to some of the things you said. Many of the things that come out, and the Forum is a big source of it, are negative in implying that this thing isn't being run well. But there are an awful lot of people working very hard to see that it is run well, and I do resent the negative implications."

Well, I resent the implication regarding OceanPinesForum.com. The Forum addresses issues in Ocean Pines, and members are free to speak their minds. It appears you only want to hear good news about the community - a classic head-in-sand approach. Ocean Pines is a great community, but that doesn't mean there are not problems needing attention. If the Forum is a flash-point for addressing problems, then it is performing its intended purpose.

Attempts to control the media and association members will fail, and only take this association down a dangerous slope. One of the most important functions of media is to highlight problems so those in charge may address them.

For example, prior to his election to the Board of Directors, Bill Rakow was extremely critical (you would say negative) about the ECC/ARC and ARC staff. Most of his negative comments about OPA staff and the ECC/ARC were posted on the Forum and voiced at ECC/ARC meetings and at Board of Director meetings. Rakow's negativity was covered in nearly all the local papers. When the dust finally settled, Rakow's virtually one-man campaign to obtain reforms was successful and OPA is now the better for it.

Bill Zawacki was highly critical of how the OPA Board handled the indoor swimming pool and the proposed Community Center. He posted many of what you would call negative comments on the Forum.

Marty Clarke has been highly critical of past board actions, and extensively posted his criticism on the Forum. You certainly viewed Clarke as a negative influence at the time. Clarke sued OPA and ultimately prevailed when an overwhelming majority of lot owners agreed with him in the referendum. Clarke has also posted negative or critical information about the operation of the golf course.

I could provide any number of examples of what you call Forum negativity resulting in OPA addressing member concerns for the greater good of the community. I can also provide any number of specific examples of positive Forum content.

Negativity is in the eye of the beholder. As General Manager of Ocean Pines it is not your job to make political-based decisions about what is negative commentary and what is not. Politics lies within the realm of the Board of Directors. Recently you have been acting like a politician, not a General Manager.

It is not negative to provide association members with information about financial losses, losses many believe are the result of poor management decisions over the years. In fact, one of the most positive aspects of the Ocean Pines community is people here care, and are not afraid to voice their concerns, on the Forum or elsewhere. As General Manager you should embrace those concerns and make them your own, not reject them out of hand, and certainly not issue chilling public statements saying even negative letters-to-the-editor may be cause for some sort of OPA retribution. Please don't insult anyone's intelligence by saying recent actions are not retribution.

As for OceanPinesForum.com, I would encourage you to embrace it as well, rather than seeing it as the enemy. Is the Forum perfect? Of course not. Like OPA and each and every one of us, it has some warts. Constructive criticism, however, is not negativity; suggesting OPA can better manage some of our resources is not negativity.

I'll end with the words of Hubert H. Humphrey:

"If there is dissatisfaction with the status quo, good. If there is ferment, so much the better. If there is restlessness, I am pleased. Then let there be ideas, and hard thought, and hard work. If man feels small, let man make himself bigger. "

and this

"When people generally are aware of a problem, it can be said to have entered the public consciousness. When people get on their hind legs and holler, the problem has not only entered the public consciousness—it has also become a part of the public conscience. At that point, things in our democracy begin to hum."

Regards,

Joe Reynolds
OceanPinesForum.com