Thanks Mike I made corrections to the dates. The first weekend dates are still tentative and hopefully they will have the volunteers for that weekend too. I had pledged to volunteer both weekends but the last information I had (from Monday), were considering cancelling the first weekend. I will have more concrete information by October 8th.

Will

At an expense of being verbally accosted again, I will give MY VIEWS on the situation and from first hand information.

The Fright at the Fort has been cancelled for a number of reasons. One is a security concern. I have been told that the Friends Fort Knox have recieved several threats including some from fellow re-enactors.

Second, These threats have created havoc in several communities around the Fort. Searsport High had it's students involved but pulled the student support due the safety and ugliness of the situation.

Finally, The big dilemma...do you take the chance with threats that nothing was going to happen. We think about this one as a no brainer, of course nothing is going to happen. Well, we evacuate schools every time there is bomb threat knowing that the probabilities are remote. So re-thinking...how serious do we take threats when it comes to peoples safety. The terrorist won out I guess.

Just how ugly is this situation. Well, soon after I posted for voluteers for this event, Mr. Price was contacted by a member of a boycotting unit to explain who "I" was and questioning the 29th GVI insurance liability leaving Mr. Price with the impression that we did not have insurance and were a liability to the Fort. This member was also a "hostile" member of the Friends of Fort Knox.

I want to get my position clarified. I don't necessarily agree or disagree with the main issue of the feud at the Fort over who was fired. I see it more as a personal issue that was politicize for personal gain. There are laws and courts to separate and rule on such issues. As I understand it, the Board of Directors of the Friends of Fort Knox voted and there was a simple majority that voted to fire an employee. The Four Directors who were against the firing, began to protest and even went as far as forming a new group called the "True Friends of Fort Knox." As bout as trite as you can be with a name...kind of reminded me of the splinter terrorist group calling themselves the "Real IRA", when Sein Fein began the Peace Accord talks.

The really disgusting thing about this is that fact that the fight is mainly about the rich and wealthy. (Again an OPINION!) Think about it, if had been the poor volunteer slob who was manning the gate all summer that got fired by the BOD, because he did something that ticked off 6 of the 10(just an example not factual) BODs; do you really think anyone would have paid attention. Do you think this poor slob could influenced corporations and contributors to pull their support from the Fort? Why should the former director get special treatment over the regular employee?????? Because he as the $$$$$$ do so.

Yes, I do have some strong opinions of the situation but my opinion are no more right or wrong than the next persons. In the end, we should either support the Fort or stay away. Whether the politics are right or wrong, it is just plain wrong to do harm to the overall goals and mission of the fort and it's programs. How the "True Friends" have gone about this process is wrong and has damaged the reputation of the Fort's current adminstration. This organization was set up to serve the Fort and the public. At present it has not been shown that they did not act in good faith when they took the actions to dismiss Mr. Seymour. If there is any proof that there has been, then this needs to be addressed in a formal setting without making it political.

To answer the question about the hiring of a new director, there are 12+ applications. The process is on hold until after a ruling is decided whether it be by the membership or by the court system on whether Mr. Seymour was dismissed unjustly. Sounds like they are acting responsibly to me.

Will

I talked with Mr. Price Wednesday and am please to announce that the Childrens Day is moving along very well. He has made so requests of the Re-enactor community to assist with various tasks which includes setting up some tents and doing some tours and well as programs with children involvement. We are working on details.

It is very important that as many re-enactors attend if only for an hour if possible. Though Mr. Price has not recieved an official boycott letter from the 20th Maine as Wednesday, several members of that unit have been in contact with him about the boycott. This had demoralized the adminstration but it was successfully countered by the Civil War community of whom 27+ volunteered to help out. A list was generated and given to Mr. Price the units involved listed in a previous post.

The happenings....We will be camping out in the Officer's Quarters on Friday night. Note this will be by advanced invitation only. If I have you on the list you are covered but please confirm as we will provide meals for only the people coming. I would suggest bringing a cot and sleeping bag. We will have use of the fire places but the rooms can remain cold for some time. We do not have to be in uniform for the overnight but dress warm and comfortable. We will discuss duties and assignments that evening.

More information will be provide next week as the event draws closer.

Will