pennsicdance: Another Apology

[Greg Lindahl]

I'd like to tender my apologies for leaving Pennsic early this
year. Being dance coordinator usually involves receiving many more
negative comments than positive ones; for some reason, that really got
to me this year. In addition, I got verbally and publically reamed out
twice at the War, and once before. When I found myself about to burst
into tears over breakfast, I decided that leaving early would be less
of a disruption than staying.

So I left, after making sure Judith had enough information to do a
reasonable job of the few things left to be done. I think she did a
pretty good job, and while dancing at Pennsic was hurt a little, it
wasn't hurt very much.

Part of the job of coordinating any volunteer group is apologizing for
everything that doesn't get done, without pointing fingers at the
people who volunteered to do them, but didn't follow through. Part of
the job of being a member of a community is to not flame the
coordinator when the deputies fail. Another part of the job of being a
community member is to not complain that someone isn't delegating
enough, right after failing to respond to pleas from the coordinator
to volunteer for tasks. From the looks of it, we'll get enough
volunteers for next year, but what about the year after?

Several of you have volunteered to tell you what you really think
about me, often in public. I assure you that although I do get
defensive easily, I do not have the ego you think I have. No, I don't
think I'm the only person who can coordinate dance at Pennsic. I'm
sorry that you've gotten that impression, but I hope that you'll
attempt more constructive criticism in the future.

-- Gregory Blount