Before the last conference, I noted, to some of
the old officers and some of the new, my reservations about the changes
taking place in ATEG. For one, I objected to the increase in membership
dues at a time when the organization had close to, if not over, $4,000
in the bank. I was told, however, that $7.50 looked too cheap. Dues went
up, therefore, so that ATEG "looks" more respectable.
I also objected to both the pretentiousness
and implications of calling Syntax in the Schools a refereed publication.
Once again, I was made to understand that the change is not, in effect,
as much a matter of substance, as it is of show. Now I am informed that
what has been, to date, no more than a sixteen page newsletter is to be
called a "journal."
I realize that the group, its officers and
new editor can do whatever they wish, but that does not mean that I have
to be part of it. I cannot, in good conscience, refer to Syntax in the
Schools as a "journal" on a website of which I am webmaster.
I am therefore resigning as webmaster.
I changed the membership form to indicate
Dave Sawyer's address, and I will be sending Dave the $3, 843.74 I still
have from the ATEG treasury during the coming week. (I had already sent
Rebecca $1,000 in January, to cover expenses of publishing the newsletter.
When I was producing the newsletter, it cost between $165 and $260 per
issue, depending on the number of pages.)
I will leave the site as is for a month,
after which I will take it down. Anyone who wants to take it over can simply
download (save) all the documents and modify them so the links work on
the new site. Some members may consider this as a case of sour grapes,
but, having read Charles Sykes' Profscam, I have to live with myself.
Sincerely,
Ed Vavra