This thing called GRP2

Let me put up a starting point for reference, so that we’re all on the same page:
http://forums.vatsim.net/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=42948

So back on the 4th of September Kyprianos Biris posted that GRP2 was a done deal, to be in effect September 1. Cocked, locked, and ready to rock. A few days later, that course is reversed by David Klain, stating “GRP2 needed to be reviewed by the VATSIM Board of Governors”. Not so fast, my friend! Kyp retracts and states that, “it will HOPEFULLY be completed shortly”, and the need a “few days to complete”. It is now October 20, 2009.

Still. Nothing. Not a single word. Now, let’s look at a quote from David Klain. “Bo, I appreciate that you think I and the rest of the VATSIM leadership are completely incompetent. Your posts have made that clear time after time after time. I also respect your right to have that opinion. Can we just stipulate that "Bo Gercke thinks Dave Klain and every other senior leader in VATSIM is incompetent" and move on?”

So, does the shoe fit, yet? Or do we need, again, more time to figure this whole ambivalent/incompetent thing out? Remember way back in “The List” topic, my number 1 issue was the level of ambivalence demonstrated by the entire staff of VATSIM? Status quo for VATSIM is to deflect any criticism, discredit the criticizer, and accuse that individual of “not being a team player”, or, “not having all o the facts”, or some other ridiculous un-founded accusation. And, it was followed to a “T” by Dave Klain. And now, yes, Dave, I DO think you are ambivalent. If you can’t get 11 people on the same page, going the same direction, then yes, you are incompetent, too.

Dave countered with the idea that “as much time as necessary needed to be taken to get it right”. Only to be followed with this masterpiece,

“Personally, I'm pretty impressed that the BoG (spread out over Europe, North America Oceania and Asia) was able to not only complete the review, but also have a discussion and come to consensus on the feedback to send back to the BoG in two weeks. Neither the U.S. Congress nor any parliamentary body I know of can ever act that fast...especially about an important document like this.”
Dave, in all of your self-important gusto, the BoG consists of 11 people. Congress consists of 535 people. I can see the challenges in getting 535 people, in two separate houses, on the same page. Challenges in getting 11 people on the same page? High school football teams do it week in and week out, and that’s playing both sides. This also plays directly into point number 2 in “The List”: Lack of teamwork and communication.

A beautiful timeline was laid out discrediting the absurd allegation that it had taken 7 months to go through this process, when in fact, it has taken longer. I stated that the process started in March, when in fact, the wheels were put into motion in early November. If I still remember how to count correctly, that makes it 11 months, not 7. But, then again, I’m said to be “confusing apples and oranges.”

Since you’ve asked why there is so much “angst” about this situation; Certainly you’re not so naïve to think that the membership of VATSIM is fed up with the antics of VATSIM, the BoG and other Staff members over a GRP document. Time and again, the BoG, and others, goes out of its way to put out blatant lies and disinformation.

Then, when time, plain old simple time, and a little fact finding reveals something completely different, attempts are made to cover it with smoke and mirrors, windows dressings, shenanigans and semantics. People then attempt to discredit individuals, deflect the issue, and distract them by telling them they “don’t have all of the facts.” You cannot condescend to people, call them liars, when in fact they are not, but instead your agenda is to attempt to save your ass, and expect good people to stick around.

People have left because you have fired people from director positions and promoted them to having even more responsibility, and more power, when they were fired for abusing the power that they initially held. This harkens the “Good ol’ Boy Club” allegations, which were deflected, denied, and followed with accusations. The VATSIM conventions were the place to be met and seen. It’s where the pool of people were found who were put into leadership positions. Not all of them, but most of them. When those stopped, so too did the pipeline in which to find new talent, and leaders. It’s not a bad thing, it’s makes perfect sense to meet people face to face. But, those were discontinued because it was “too difficult”.

So here we are October 20, and we still have nothing. Just resign already if you’re not going to perform the job that you committed to doing.

VATUSA1's Response:

*Name removal was requested, and I did so.

I'm really glad that you responded to some very valid questions. Some of them are somewhat biased, but that's the way things go. VATSIM members should be entitled to have all of their questions addressed and if this medium that allows people to get those questions answered, regardless of their source, it has served its purpose. Thank you again.


Here's your response... I said that those were the 4 main ideas that would drive the decision making process. In other words when we adopt or revise a policy, how does the policy affect each of those 4 items?

to address a few other items:
ATD's: - I really am not cutting that position, period. NO ONE has even suggested it.

ZLA - that version represents less than 1/2 of the conversation that was had about that and left out the part that one of the big reasons that high density ARTCCs have had training & cert times go up is due to the loss of peak/off peak. This is being looked at to find some sort of solution to an awful mess. So until we find a solution to that problem, what choice is there?

ZME - Absoultely we violated the GRP. It was not intentional, but we did, and once this was brought to my attention on March 28th, 2009, it was promptly changed. If you are interested what we were doing was splitting up DEL, GND and TWR training into separate parts and certifying guys so they could get online sooner, pretty much what GRP2 will do.

VATUSA2 - No less than 15 people were consulted on that issue, and the consensus was that there was no reason to put another person between the DD and ATDs; the ATDs of VATUSA are de facto Deputy Directors, and are afforded the latitude and authority to act as such.

ZMA - Might want to check the facts on that one. ZMA is, in fact, planning their own event, we are not involved unless they ask us to be.

Rob & the Website - Sorry, Rob did not give me the ideas, he singlehandedly designed the user interface, and did a great job. I did the backend coding, but what you actually see there is all his creation.

Letting people do their jobs: You'll have to ask those around me about how I handle that.

So there ya go. All in writing. Have a great day and look forward to seeing you in the virtual skies or on the scopes. Come see me sometime and talk to me, or send me an email, I'll put my thoughts in writing gladly. There's nothing to hide, no nuclear secrets, and all opinions are welcome, even those who are not happy with the way things are handled. Please do not feel as though it is necessary to be Anonymous on a blog comment, no one is going to hold it against you for having a differing view. I only ask that we treat each other with respect and courtesy.