"HMGS HISTORICAL ISSUES" Topic

Dale,
Were they true friendships to begin with, or simply items of convenience.
The truth is an invaluable commodity that I will not cheapen for even one false friendship.
BTW, you mistook cordiality for an attempt to 'mend fences'.
We're done here.
chuck

Looks like two more new guys filling up their own urine sample bottles.
Mouth (Chuck) – by any chance are you the same Chuck Kennedy that PC mentions in an earlier posting who was also asked to leave HMGS South along with PC?

He is the one BuddyBoy2

CeYa Dale

Thanks. No small wonder then he sides with PC on all this.

well, well, well the first true statement's you have posted. I guest everything that all of use have done for you over the past 30 years (Food, places to stay after your number of wives have thrown you out, I guess it was only a matter of convenience on your part, take what could then throw us all under the bus when it suits you) And Yes We are done here and everywhere else.

Dale

BB
Never been asked to leave anywhere.
As far as the other, blah, blah, blah. I remember my antagonist, a few years back, when something didn't go just right, offering the advice, 'Move on! Get over it.'
What can I say?

BEWARE ALL!!!

It has been confirmed that Pat Condray is actually an alien from the planet Mars and he is planning his attack.

Ack, Ack, Ack, Ack, Ack

Doug

So I'm a Space Alien (I can just hear Leon and Ed bleating "Aha!-he admits he is a Space Alien!) But I'm the only Space Alien in my galaxy to have collected the SCRUBY AWARD, the BONNIE BLUE, and an Augie for good measure.

Actually, I'm surprised that Chuck, Dale, and Doug have chosen to post on this thread dealing with the history of HMGS EAST.

But since Dale has chosen to stick his oar in the water on HMGS EAST history, I think he should tell us all about his starring role in that history.

I only have the outlines. Back in the old days HMGS chapters didn't retain CPAs to count ballots for elections. The custom was to ask members (usually BOD members) from other chapters to double check the ballot count. Ten years ago one such outsider was Dale Marcum.

Annoyed by the National BODs refusal to recognize HMGS GI as a chapter (the National BOD was pretty much defunct anyway) Pete and Jodie Panzeri ran about HISTORICON 99 soliciting write in votes for the HMGS EAST BOD.

As described in previous posts, this was (like most others) an exciting time in HMGS EAST's history. Much of the BOD's time was spent investigating Evil in HMGS EAST. Much of the then current effort was focussed on harassing James E. Thomas Jr. the HISTORICON director. Everything was kept under wraps (see Star Chamber above.)

Suddenly two strangers threatened to join the BOD in the midst of the conspiracy.

Jay Hadley presided over the Membership Meeting and persuaded the members present to void the election to give the CYABOD a chance to regroup.

However, as they were getting ready to take the (perfectly valid) ballots to the incinerator a member who happened to be a lawyer warned them that they better not be caught destroying the ballots.

They did the next best thing. They entrusted said ballots to the Election Judge, Dale Marcum.

The next two years of Dale's life weren't the best. He could probably explain if he wished. But the story he gave when the SOUTH message boards were less heavily censored was that he was taking courses to become a substitute history teacher. But his paint ball business folded, all kinds of mishaps followed, and nobody could reach him. I don't know if he notified the SOUTH BOD of his resignation, or just disappeared.

I was curious about the missing ballots. From what the numerous irate voters were saying on rec.games.miniatures.historical (the Deja then Google news group) it sounded as though Pete, Jodie, James E. Thomas Jr. (the intended witch of the witch hunters) and possibly the WKPP would probably have been elected. In the runoff Pete and Jodie went to Korea for a couple of years, endorsed JT, Pat, and a couple of others. I just missed it then. But, not having yet attacked each other, Jay Hadley and Bob Giglio threw their weight behind Rick Egtvedt (successor to Toby Barrett as Witch Finder General.) He was elected. In spite of the snide innuendos, James E. Thomas Jr. got the most votes ever accorded anybody up to that time.

But the integrity of the conspiracy was maintained intact.

Meanwhile back in Florida nobody seemed to know where Dale Marcum had gone. But a year or two later he had surfaced enough that I asked Doug Bohannon to see if Dale knew what had happened to the ballots with which he was entrusted.

Doug may wish to correct me on this, but I think he told me that with all the things going on in Dale's life he couldn't recall what had happened to the elusive ballots.

There was no need for a recount. By the following HISTORICON (2000) Jay Hadley had led the Gang of Six to overthrow the Giglio Presidency, precipitating the most ferocious election contest in the history of HMGS.

Don't tell me there is no Live Action Role Playing in HMGS!

Pat Condray

Thank you Thoroughbred Miniatures and Toby

I just wanted to thank Toby and Thoroughbred Miniatures for sponsoring the Ironclads at Hurricon. I would also like to apologise for my outburst in the tread above. But I have known all the parties involved for a number of years and of all involved including myself, Mr Berrett is the one True Southern Gentleman.

CeYa Dale

"Actually, I'm surprised that Chuck, Dale, and Doug have chosen to post on this thread dealing with the history of HMGS EAST."

Ummmmm, the title of this thread is "HMGS HISTORICAL ISSUES". What part of that title limits it to the East chapter PC?

Buddy Boy

Point taken. The thread was actually about EAST issues, but I didn't so specify.

I seem to have confused some people about what my point is. I started to put down a detailed explanation but I'm sure that would merely confuse and annoy. So I'll keep it simple.

There seems to me to be a pattern in HMGS EAST financial management of going from exhuberance over the size of the treasury leading to carelessness, the latter leading to some sort of financial problem, which in turn leads to panic and a desperate effort to increase the bottom line. That, in turn, usually leads to a return to foolish extravagance.

For want of better terms, I call this the "Drunken Sailor/Chicken Little" cycle.

Curiously, when I point out to members of a Board of Directors that they are following this budget cycle It doesn't seem to make me very popular with them.

Wonder why?

The reason I chimed in, Pat, is because or your attacks.

For years you constantly attacked HMGS East's practices and berated it's leadership until they got fed with you and booted you out.

You and Chuck Kennedy already tried your "Pinky and the Brain" routine with HMGS South in an attempt to take over. So you were booted out from here.

After your and Kennedy's failed attempt to take over our (gaming) world, you and Kennedy attempted to form your own HMGS chapter inside HMGS South. Also a dismal failure made at great financial expense to one of your own "supporters".

Subsequently, you and Kennedy had a falling out after finding you can't form an organization with two Pinkys and no Brains. From Kennedy's recent posts, it appears you may have kissed and made up.

So…now you are back on the HMGS East warpath, bringing up "issues" from over a decade ago in some lame attempt to justify your new round of attacks.

Pat, you and Chuck Kennedy need to get a life, preferably on your own planet.

From PC, "The thread was actually about EAST issues, but I didn't so specify."

But you brought up HMGS South in three separate paragraphs of your opening posting introducing this thread. That made it ope license to me.
You refer or use the letters "WKPP" in a couple of postings. Is that another award or what does that stand for?

Doug

"The reason I chimed in, Pat, is because or your attacks."

Attacks on whom? I have on occassion pointed out that the post HURRICON 07 leadership of HMGS SOUTH (aka THE EVIL JUNTA) did little good prior to HURRICON 07, and much harm afterwards. For example, that their assertion of total power has cost HMGS SOUTH about a third of its convention attendance and wrecked its newsletter.

Which of course is true, though truth is irrelevant to either you or the Evil Junta.

This year two core members of the Evil Junta (Leon Mason and Rickey Grice) quit. That is the best thing they have ever done for HMGS SOUTH, and is likely to improve HURRICON 09 attendance by at least 25 to 50.

"For years you constantly attacked HMGS East's practices and berated it's leadership until they got fed with you and booted you out."

I don't know if you are being economical of the truth or simply misinformed. I was a founding member of HMGS EAST, and as such I was made a life member by the BOD in 1989. Last time I was at the doctor's office they confirmed that I am still alive.

Of course there was once a rumor that recipients of HMGS SOUTH's Bonnie Blue Award (Larry Brom, Rudy Nelson, Chuck Kennedy, and Pat Condray) are supposed to be Life Members, but the Evil Junta is allowed to do pretty much whatever it wants to in HMGS SOUTH.

Your confusion may come from Toby's utterances about the Financial Oversight Committee, which also seem much confused. Apparently the committee I'm on (last I heard) is the Budget Review Committee. It is true that I could well be removed from that if I persist in urging the BOD not to spend money faster than it comes in.

"You and Chuck Kennedy already tried your "Pinky and the Brain" routine with HMGS South in an attempt to take over. So you were booted out from here."

I was actually booted out because Leon Mason and Ed Baldridge tripped over their own lies and were too embarassed to let me point that out. Both asserted (just prior to HURRICON 08) that I had quit as newsletter editor (in the wake of HURRICON 07.) But both had acknowledged that I had been fired, though without notification, almost a year earlier. This so clearly demonstrated that they lacked any vestige of honesty or integrity that they immediately ordered Allan Burrage to block my responses (for administrative reasons) and a week or so later they kicked me out of HMGS SOUTH.

"After your and Kennedy's failed attempt to take over our (gaming) world, you and Kennedy attempted to form your own HMGS chapter inside HMGS South. Also a dismal failure made at great financial expense to one of your own "supporters".

First, I don't know about the "great financial expense to one of (my) own supporters." I did offer to pay for the filing of a Form 1023 if the "BOD" wanted to take any immediate action but it didn't.

Second while for years Chuck Kennedy and I had done most of the work organizing and promoting the HMGS SOUTH convention program very successfully, it could hardly be called "taking over (your) gaming world." Much of the time you were either threatening to sue people for saying things you didn't like or boycotting HMGS SOUTH. During this time attendance got up to at least 420. Since the Evil Junta kicked Chuck off the BOD HMGS SOUTH hasn't managed to attract as many as 300 to conventions. But the departure of Leon and Rickey should partially correct that problem.

At a later date when a State Government CPA (and member) pointed out to the leadership that their corporate filings were incomplete and incorrect (the pro bono legal adviser later described SOUTH's 501.c.3 status as "aspirational" -legalese for phony as a three dollar bill) Ed Baldridge was kind enough to state that the BOD was taking steps to correct the problem which had lingered from the days when "Chuck and Pat ran everything." True to form, Ed Baldridge was…Bill doesn't want us to call people liars, so lets just say "economical of the truth" on both counts. Chuck and Pat had never been in charge of the treasury or of legal filings for HMGS SOUTH. I was never on the BOD. And the BOD wasn't doing diddly-squat to bring the paperwork into line with requirements for a 501.c.3 (nor did it pay any of its tax obligations.)

"Subsequently, you and Kennedy had a falling out after finding you can't form an organization with two Pinkys and no Brains. From Kennedy's recent posts, it appears you may have kissed and made up."

Since you have been blessed with complete ignorance on such matters you have had to make your story up from the whole cloth. Chuck and I went head to head for three months in 1996. Since then while we've had occasional differences of opinion I don't recall anything which could be considered a "falling out."

"So…now you are back on the HMGS East warpath, bringing up "issues" from over a decade ago in some lame attempt to justify your new round of attacks."

"Back on the East warpath" suggests that I haven't commented on HMGS EAST matters for some period of time. I don't recall any such lapse on my part. And yes, I have pointed out a cyclic pattern of what I consider fiscal mismangement over the past 12 years.

"Pat, you and Chuck Kennedy need to get a life, preferably on your own planet."

Actually I have to admit it. I'm not really a Space Alien. I'm from Arkansas.

Is this planet supposed to be all yours?

Pat

"You refer or use the letters "WKPP" in a couple of postings. Is that another award or what does that stand for?"

Buddy; It stands for Well Known Poison Pen. What does that tell you about all this?

Toby

When can we see the long promised report from the glorioius days of Witch Finders and Star Chambers?

Not in this life, right.

Sorry Buddy Boy. I thought everyone knew what the honorific initials WKPP stood for.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

WKPP = Well Known Poison Pen. What does that tell me about all this?

It tells me this is a sick vengeful man who needs the kind of help nobody on TMP can provide.

Thank you Buddy Boy for your expert psychological diagnosis. I'm surprised that with your medical credentials you are ashamed to come out from behind an alias.

My commitment isn't to saying what people want to hear. But while it means nothing to you or Toby, let alone Leon, Rickey, Doug, or Dale, I do try to stick to the facts.

If you have any recommendations about correcting my facts please let me know. But don't bother to blow smoke like Toby.

Toby has respect, you have your "poison pen" that you take such great pride in. Pride in twisting truths, pride in makeing up "facts" to support your rants on events over a decade old recorded on a "lost" disk. What a bunch of crap.

Sick and vengeful is an accurate description that could probably be corrected if you were put on the proper medication.

You like to call your self "the well known poison pen". Most people who have the misfortune of having to put up with you in HMGS South and HMGS East know you as the well known jack*** who likes to stir up trouble.

Are you sure WKKP doesn't mean "Well Know Pathetic Pen."

Doug

As usual your words are full of sound and fury but the truth is not in them.

You may recall, at least when you were participating, that between 1998 when the BOD asked me to run RECON 99, and early 2002 (my big year for medical adventures) I was heavily involved in convention management along with Bryan Stroup. And when I got sick and Bryan burned out I worked with Chuck Kennedy, Marc Rebhun,and even Rickey Grice on conventions. And while there were minor differences of opinion at times I didn't stir up any hatred or discontent.

Moreover, when the Newsletter went dead in the wake of 9/11 I took over and published REBEL YELL 21 through, IIRC, RY 37. Again, while there were occasional typos, and after I gave up on my last film camera, a few fuzzy pictures, no particular aggravation and discontent. The newsletter while I was editor was focussed on news of the hobby with an emphasis on promoting the HMGS SOUTH convention program. It worked. In those days the attendance averaged over 100 more than what it has been since the Evil Junta asserted itself in the wake of HURRICON 07.

Somewhere along the line I was awarded the BONNIE BLUE for my service to the chapter and the hobby.

All that time when you were paying attention at all you frequently threatened to sue anyone who said anything you didn't like. Surprisingly, I don't remember even saying anything you disliked enough for you to threaten to sue me.

The aggravation and discontent came after a group of members at HURRICON 07 voted to have Chuck take back the convention program and the rest of the BOD went into a raging bitchy snit.

I had the audacity to point out to the BOD majority that they were subordinating the goals of the chapter to their own temper tantrums. But that was in direct correspondence to the BOD, it was not in the newsletter or even the message boards until Leon Mason opened them up to flame wars as a safety valve.

First I was fired as newsletter editor without being notified. That was in late 2007.

A year later when under dubious circumstances I was allowed to post on the deep dark members only message boards (because Ed Baldridge had volunteered to take his case that I was an idiot and liar onto boards not under their control) Ed Baldridge and Leon Mason loudly proclaimed that I had quit as editor. Then they remembered having admitted I had been fired. Subsequently they banned me from the members message boards and then kicked me out of the chapter.

They were covering up their own lies. I know it, you know it, God knows it, and of course Ed Baldridge and Leon Mason know it.

But that's history. Fantasy is your gig.

Are you challenging any facts? If you insist I think I can produce the e-mail I received from the printer in October 2007 containing Rickey Grice's notification (to the printer, not me) that I was no longer editor and the account was closed. And Leon Mason's subsequent acknowledgement on the HMGS SOUTH message board that they had indeed fired me, but hadn't told me since they didn't think I wanted to hear from them. And while I'm sure the propaganda minister (who is now on the BOD) and the webmeister (Ed Baldridge) have probably purged the HMGS SOUTH message boards, I think I can find someone who saved the pre-HURRICON 08 posts from Ed ("..at last he admits he quit!") and Leon ("Make no mistake he quit!")

Which facts did I make up? And in what way did I twist them?

As for Toby having respect, you should get your friends on the Evil Junta to award him a BONNIE BLUE. After all, he is providing a lot of prize support for HURRICON 09.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

The "Pinky and The Brain" technique for taking over HMGS EAST. As performed by Pat Condray and Chuck Kennedy.

First, write nasty letters about the HMGS EAST leadership in an attempt to belittle and undermine their leadership. Throw in a lot of unsupported accusations, lies and half truths.

Second, attempt to build a base of simple minded supporters to back up your plan; hopefully with money.

Third attempt to have the HMGS EAST leadership voted out on some ungrounded pretense you've made up. You, of course, will be there to take over and "save the day".

Fourth, when your plans to take over HMGS EAST fail, inconceivable as it may seem, you attempt to from a new HMGS chapter in the center of HMGS EAST territory. You could call it HMGS DEEP EAST.

Does this sound like fantasy land? This is exactly what "Pinkey and The Brain" ie. Pat Condray and Chuck Kennedy did in Florida.

Their corporation, HMGS DEEP SOUTH is still active too.

Documentation follows:

Florida Non Profit Corporation
HMGS – DEEP SOUTH INC.

Filing Information
Document Number N08000008749
FEI/EIN Number APPLIED
Date Filed 09/18/2008
State FL
Status ACTIVE

Principal Address
203 S PARSONS AVE
BRANDON FL 33511

Mailing Address
203 S PARSONS AVE
BRANDON FL 33511

Registered Agent Name & Address
PIERCE, M WEBSTER
203 S PARSONS AVE
BRANDON FL 33511 US

Officer/Director Detail
Name & Address
Title PD
KENNEDY, CHUCK ***********************************
3015 VALERIE BLVD
SEBRING FL 33870

Title SD
CONDRAY, PAT *************************************
2225 S GULFWATER PT
CRYSTAL RIVER FL 34429

Title D
NEAL, DAVID
9317 N 18TH ST
TAMPA FL 33612

Title TD
PIERCE, WEBSTER
203 S. PARSONS AVENUE
BRANDON FL 33511 US

Annual Reports

Report Year Filed Date
2009 04/30/2009

**Doug

"The "Pinky and The Brain" technique for taking over HMGS EAST. As performed by Pat Condray and Chuck Kennedy."

"First, write nasty letters about the HMGS EAST leadership in an attempt to belittle and undermine their leadership. Throw in a lot of unsupported accusations, lies and half truths."

**Once again, Prince of Liars, specify the "unsupported accusations, lies and half truths."

**The main thing I've done to annoy the EAST leadership lately is to cite allegedly proprietary data to discourage a proposal to obtain a museum.

**You keep ranting. But you don't specify what statements of mine are unsupported accusations, lies, and half truths. You aren't suggesting that Leon Mason's "Make no mistake he quit," and Ed Baldridge's "He finally admits he quit!" were true are you?

**Are you? We all knew right well they were lying like hell. No doubt about it. Why don't you state your position on the leadership statements which preceded my removal from HMGS SOUTH? Then we can get down to facts and cite the e-mail traffic of the time. I think we've got copies of the incriminating statements, and in fact some were posted on TMP at the time.

"Second, attempt to build a base of simple minded supporters to back up your plan; hopefully with money."

"Third attempt to have the HMGS EAST leadership voted out on some ungrounded pretense you've made up. You, of course, will be there to take over and "save the day".'

Unlike the SOUTH leadership, which hasn't stood for election in at least ten years, and never will EAST has annual elections with three elected one year for two year terms, four the next year for two year terms. And in the last year or so with the approval of the membership the BOD changed the articles of incorporation (which were oligarchic) to make the corporation member based. So taking over EAST is neither as easy or as permanent as you suggest. They even enforce term limits, which are 6 years compared to the largely ignored HMGS SOUTH 9 year limits.

"Fourth, when your plans to take over HMGS EAST fail, inconceivable as it may seem, you attempt to from a new HMGS chapter in the center of HMGS EAST territory. You could call it HMGS DEEP EAST."

**In reality, there was a thread on TMP not long ago about forming an HMGS NE to secede from EAST. It was prompted by the controversial decision to move HISTORICON to the Baltimore Convention Center. If you visit that thread ("Is there a need for an HMGS NE?" or some such) you will find that my postings were against seceding from a $250,000 treasury and a solid convention program. But if people wanted to look elsewhere than HMGS EAST for some or all of their convention plans it would make more sense to patronize existing local conventions like NJCON and HAVOC.

"Does this sound like fantasy land? This is exactly what "Pinkey and The Brain" ie. Pat Condray and Chuck Kennedy did in Florida.

"Their corporation, HMGS DEEP SOUTH is still active too.

**Active is perhaps too strong a term. However, while "Chuck and Pat" sympathized with the project and have accepted positions on the BOD, it was not our decision. The proximate cause of the filings was twofold:

**First, HMGS SOUTH was out of compliance with State and Federal laws pertaining to not for profit educational corporations, and therefore liable for taxes on about two thirds of its income, and had done nothing to meet this requirement. There had been some discussion of correcting these problems, but the only action taken was to remove me from the membership, which, while it satisfied the leadership's temper tantrums, did nothing to address the basic problems.

**Second, HMGS SOUTH was at the time led by pathological liars. Only one remains on the BOD, and it remains to be seen if the new members will follow in the great tradition.

**The decision was made that HMGS DEEP SOUTH wouldn't do its civic duty and report the tax violations of HMGS SOUTH to the relevant authorities, and for the time being wouldn't run conventions opposite HMGS SOUTH.

**I voted in the minority.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

:o) LOL

So now you can add to your list of achievements too. Personally I think you are in serious need of . You either have or, as most posters on this thread believe, you are .

Buddy Boy

?

I may have mentioned receiving the BONNIE BLUE from the SOUTH BOD before a later iteration kicked me out because they caught themselves in their own lies.

Mea culpa.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

And "The Pinky and the Brain" show continues.

Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha, Ha…

Doug

I congratulate you. As long as you can remember "Pinky and the Brain" you can stay in the discussion without taxing your mental and moral capacity.

But I prefer a more comprehensive historical analysis. Since, before you managed to reduce your drivel to repeating "Pinky and the Brain" you were kind enough to accuse me of lying and distorting, I think I'll settle down and do a comprehensive history of the viciousness and dishonesty of your heroes, The Evil Junta.

Much to my surprise, my old e-mail application didn't delete the messages pertaining to the lies of the Evil Junta from HURRICON 07 on. In particular there are copies of the message Rickey Grice sent the printer notifying him that the account was closed, and Leon Mason's post admitting that they had fired me but didn't think I wanted to hear from them.

Of course that came up in consequence of my efforts to get promotional material printed and sent to an HMGS SOUTH member attending FALL IN! 07.

And a couple of friends seem to have copied messages from Leon and Ed on the subject of "He finally admits he quit!" and "Make no mistake he quit!"

That should settle once and for all that it is the Evil Junta, not the poison pen that lie like rugs.

Then there is the masterpiece from the corporations legal adviser explaining that HMGS SOUTH isn't really a 501.c.3 but may be a 501.c.7 and have a tax liability.

I understand that in spite of having failed to file a Form 1023 within 27 months of being established, HMGS SOUTH continues to file with the Florida Department of Corporations as A 501.C.3 and not pay taxes.

Those who wish may read the HISTORY OF THE EVIL JUNTA AND A CORPORATION GONE WRONG may do so. But in case the authorities don't monitor TMP I think they should get a hard copy of the opus.

Of course, if the Junior Evil Junta notifies me that they do in fact have a 1023 on file with the IRS and are negotiating their way out of the trap created by Rickey and friends that will be included in the history (subject to verification.)

In the meanwhile Doug, all you have to do is repeat over and over again "Pinky and the Brain, Pinky and the Brain."

And Buddy Boy, all you have to do is keep bloviating from behind an alias.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

PS: Some of my friends think Buddy Boy is none other than Allan Burrage, former Minister of Propaganda for the Evil Junta and now a charter member of the self perpetuating oligarchy. I hope not. For all that Allan is and was a servant of all that is evil in HMGS SOUTH, I thought he had more class than that.

I have to admit, I've been enjoying your and Chuck Kennedy's "Pinky and the Brian" show but I will have to go off line for a few days to attend Hurricon.

Remember Hurricon, one of the conventions where you and Chuck Kennedy tried to "take over the (gaming) world" and failed miserably. One of the two conventions run by HMGS South, the HMGS chapter you and Chuck Kennedy attempted to destroy and replace with the failure you call HMGS Deep South. One of the conventions you were booted out from because of your prized "poison pen" poison mind antics.

I and the rest or our attending members will be enjoying Hurricon in Cocoa beach, on the Atlantic Ocean this weekend and the experience will be all the better with out the "Well Know Poison Pen" trying to stick a knife in somebody's back.

So Pat, have a great weekend and work on some new material for the next episode of your and Chuck Kennedy's "Pinky and the Brain" show. I'm still trying to determine which one of you is Pinky and which is the Brian.

From PC: "bloviate" ?
I had to look that word up and couldn't find it in two dictionaries. So now on top of distortions and projections you're making up words.

Doug

Enjoy the convention. I understand Chuck will be there.

I definitely remember HURRICON. Even before I started returning from Maryland in time attend, I prepared, had printed (admittedly at HMGS SOUTH expense) the posters and flyers. I would then contact all the game shops I could locate in Florida and surrounding states to ask them to display the posters and make the flyers available to their gaming customers. In many cases this led to shops taking vendor space at the show.

Then I would work with whoever the convention director was (Rickey Grice for the last one I was allowed to attend)on layout, putting together a PEL a month or so out and the convention program which I would deliver to the facility on the eve of the convention.

At the show I usually took 3 tables and ran games Friday night and Saturday morning. Until she became annoyed over Ray Phillips spending the whole convention at HURRICON 06 ranting and raving about everything that was wrong with Chuck Kennedy my wife usually worked the desk.

After the convention I put together a newsletter citing some of the highlights of the show (along with other news of the hobby, shop and club lists, etc.) with the lead article from the designated director of the next convention.

Same cycle for RECON.

Meanwhile, according to Marc Rebhun, the only working BOD member at the time other than Chuck, the BOD had regular meetings (once outside the conventions in the 18 months Marc was on the BOD) and did little as a BOD except become increasingly annoyed with Chuck, the only member at that time who had ever been elected.)

You hadn't been around much. Noriega's Paradise beckoned. No more 5 tables for Tac Edge.

In fact my support for HMGS SOUTH's convention program began while I was still blackballed for opposing secession from MIDSOUTH. I usually paid for a room and encouraged the Gainesville Garrison to attend and sell my stuff, keeping 20% of the take and running some games.

People told me that when HURRICANE GEORGES hit HURRICON, I think in 1998 you not only did not show up and take the tables you ordered. You actually ran a game day against HURRICON.

You did start a yahoo group to solicit complaints against the management. I tried to put the best face on it. But there weren't enough complaints to keep it going.

Still, in one of the few HMGS SOUTH elections I did vote for you instead of Dale because you were (at the time) peddling toy soldiers while he was a paint ball salesman. He got elected but never did much before disappearing. After that the BOD decided that elections were for wimps. Real men prefer self perpetuating oligarchies.

I don't remember trying to take over. I do remember doing as much work for the society as anyone else. The only people in contention were Bryan Stroup through 2002, Marc Rebhun from about 2000 on, and Chuck Kennedy, with Gregg Lukomski giving us a good web site after Bryan Burned out.

As long as your buddies on the Evil Junta simply postured a bit, collected their free rooms, and didn't get in the way of useful work that was OK. Doing nothing and not getting in the way was what they did best. Although after they annoyed Gregg following HURRICON 07, Ed Baldridge did step up to the plate and give them an heavily censored web site.

Anyway, I'll save the rest for the Unexpurgated History of HMGS SOUTH.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

Hey All – did I mention that the Williamsburg Muster is taking Game Registrations now? And so far, we have been lucky enough to have avoided internecine politics.

I do agree with Jon Lundberg's claim about the really nice quality of Pat's miniatures.

Chuck
Director, 2010 Williamsburg Muster
odms-club.com/convention

(Just wanted to keep it in perspective . . .)

Chuck T. "Just wanted to keep it in perspective . . ."

WAAAAAAAAAAAY too late for that on this thread.

blo·vi·ate (blō'vē-āt')
intr.v. blo·vi·at·ed, blo·vi·at·ing, blo·vi·ates Slang
To discourse at length in a pompous or boastful manner: "the rural Babbitt who bloviates about 'progress' and 'growth'" (George Rebeck).

[Mock-Latinate formation, from blow1.]
blo'vi·a'tion n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Also,
blo⋅vi⋅ate
  /ˈbloʊviˌeɪt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [bloh-vee-eyt]
–verb (used without object), ‑at⋅ed, ‑at⋅ing.
to speak pompously.
Origin:
1850–55, Americanism; pseudo-L alter. of blow to boast; popularized by W. G. Harding

Related forms:
blo⋅vi⋅a⋅tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.

Thus endeth the history/language lesson. Stay tuned next week for another exciting entry from the lexicon of Warren G. Harding.

I stand corrected. Thanks MO. Really, my Websters didn't have it. But looking back I think this is a term that best describes what PC does in all this.

I have been thinking about making a trip to the East Coast next year so I could come to one of the "big" conventions like Historicon. Now, I'm not so sure. In the conventions I've been to, the main thing seems to be getting in some gaming. In HMGS-E, gaming seems to be secondary to all these other, (ahem) "issues."
BWW

Brian,

I could compare your comment to not wanting to visit the Smithsonian because you don't like the politics in DC.

Until you have been to Historicon, you have no concept of what you are missing.

It's largest historical con in the country and probably the largest in the world where you can game. Over 3000 people and hundreds of games going on all weekend, venders from all over the US and other countries.

While politics are a part of every organization, the reality is that out of those thousands of people, only a few dozen will even be talking about politics. The vast majority couldn't care less.

So…the only person who will be missing out by your not going, and I mean missing out big time, is you.

I would like to echo Doug here. The HMGS East conventions are some of the best,,,,,still and you would only be limiting yourself.

Doug and Toby,
I realize that both of you are correct. However, to take the Smithsonian analogy a little bit farther: If, everytime I opened up my copy of The Museum Pages magazine, I saw the members of the Smithsonian savaging each other like I see here, I might still visit but the Smithsonian would never get any of my money for a membership. And yes, I would give serious thought before letting such an organization have ANY of my money.

I don't doubt that the HMGS-E conventions are the best of the best. After all, that's why everyone wants to go. Yet, from 1997 to now my first wife and I have not only divorced, but have learned to get along with each other. You will not ever convince me that HMGS-E BOD politics are somehow more divisive than dissolution of a marriage.

I didn't intend to get involved in this conversation, but here I am. So, I will stop now. I would just hope that some of the parties involved will realize how ugly this looks to an 'outsider.'
BWW

Brian et al:
Do not hold HMGS accountable in the least for any of this.
First, this is a free site and is not at all connected with the governing body, activities and rules of HMGS. HMGS itself has absolutely no sway over this site whatever or what transpires on it. HMGS has no power to stop it or solve it. You are alternately free to read, partake in it, or to complain. If you do hold HMGS culpable in any way – and associate such poor behavior attributable to HMGS – you would be wrong to do so. This is in addition to what Doug and I were trying to convey to you earlier. Whether you attend or stay away from HMGS functions and conventions is no concern of mine except to say you would be in error to connect the two – the behavior you see here with any control you think HMGS has over it. It has none.
I might add HMGS is far from unique in this regard. I have witnessed behavior in other hobby genres that would pale to some of the worded activities you are witness to here. I don't say that to excuse it all either. HMGS is not immune. Disagreements and the quest for vengence can quickly transcend the immediate topic that caused the rift and personal animosities take over in the blink of an eye. It is then morfed into the personal world and leaves the supposed cause way behind in the dust. I've seen it happen so many times. That is what is going on here. It is as simple, and complex, as that.
In fact – and if you would believe it – these many feuds, East and South, have nothing at all, whatsoever, to do with HMGS. If you think a minute, and more or less agree with that, then you must ask yourself; "Who is the person starting and promulgating this activity, and why?" It is purely for personal reasons, I assure you. Just because the initiator of this thread uses HMGS in the title – in CAPS no less – and dares to pawn himself as some historian of the organization, do not make the leap that HMGS is the cause and grand arbiter of it, or even has a side in it. {HMGS, and particularly the East and South chapters, have more than enough problems and troubles than to delve into history going back 13 years or more. In the case of East, its present situation and challenges will be sorely tested and more severely threatened due to the upcoming move to Baltimore than anything in its past history….some say with some due reliability that the very strength and treasure of the organization is in jeopardy because of it. If this occurs, it will all be very insignificant to what transpired many years ago and which Condray uses to attack his enemies.}
Why or how does he use HMGS as the banner? He thinks his own history with the organization allows him to do this. He takes a slight to himself and makes a giant stride into the realm of believing the someone is attacking HMGS – his baby. The truth is something quite different, but the farthest from his own mind in that regard.
The only association with HMGS his attacks have on me is because I received more votes than him in the 1995 Board election and knocked him off. No matter there were two others that could also qualify for that distinction. They got their due for doing that I'm sure – at least I'm sure Giglio did as he was one. How dare us. How dare me. That was my crime. How dare the members toss him out. That's what this is all about speaking for myself and East.
Members and prospective members of HMGS will forever suffer because of that. He has essentially taken some unknown slight to him from folks in South to do the same with some of them. What was their crime(s)? I don't know what is was, but I can assure you it's something personal with him about that too.
It's all personal. Surely you can see that? And don't let Condray kid you into thinking it's about anything else.
Go to one of the East conventions and you will be like a kid in a candy store.

I would like to add that one of the "criminals" Condray refers to in HMGS South, our past president and long time BOD member, is a sergent with a local law enforcement agency as well as having served as an Airbonre Ranger. I have known him for over 25 years and have great respect for him. He has and continues to be an excellent game master too.

I've know Pat Condray as a miniatures dealer for approx. 15 years. He has been on the attack for the entire 15 years I have know him and I have no respect for he or his many years of anti-HMGS antics.

Brian, how would you respond if someone constantly attacked and attempted to destroy organizations you find great enjoyment in and personally attacked and slandered people you have known most of your life and have great respect for?

Wow!

My first reaction was that to my surprise I was agreeing with what Doug Bohannon and Toby Barrett were saying. Reading this thread is not compulsory for those who wish to attend HMGS conventions. HMGS conventions, the largest of which are run by HMGS EAST, are places where you go to game, shop, and hang out with old and new wargame buddies. Mostly anyway. There is now also a sizeable seminar program (which I would like to see documented so that I wouldn't have to abandon the big three to hear them.) And there is the painting university.

For example, at HISTORICON 09, which IIRC, drew 3,565 attendance (the correct number is on several threads here) I ran a booth. Took time out to photograph lots of interesting table tops, sat in on a WSS game Wednesday night, ran an SCW game on Thursday night, attended the awards ceremony (and 25th Anniversary Party) on Friday night taking pictures of a re-enactment of Malplaquet on both ends of the party. Then ran a huge up all night Malplaquet game of my own Saturday night.

The most political I got was to answer (out of order) a question about why the move to Baltimore at the Membership Meeting. But I was on my way out the door at the time.

We have had a couple of really tumultuous membership meetings. But strangely enough, they weren't my doing. The most exciting involved what appeared to be a lynch mob at HISTORICON 06 protesting the outgoing BOD majority's removal of an old wargame buddy and sailing companion of mine (who was at Wally's Basement as a teenager.)

The delightful thing about membership meetings at HMGS EAST conventions is that not many usually attend, they are 1-2 hours long, and in a closed room.

So clearly you don't have to be an aficionado of controversy (other than the table top variety) to attend and enjoy HMGS conventions.

Of course, after that there are areas of disagreement.

Toby, for example, castigates me for using the initials HMGS in the title of this thread. I had written a criticism of HMGS BOD practices (the drunken sailor/chicken little financial management syndrome) on a discussion about, I think, the Baltimore move. Toby was on a BOD that between 1995 and 1998 practiced the syndrome. He took offense and called me a liar-which, generally speaking isn't true. So since the digression on the other thread was about HMGS HISTORICAL ISSUES I took it off and set up a thread of that title on which we are all now ranting. As a founding member of HMGS, and having run more HMGS conventions (EAST and SOUTH) than anyone else, nobody has a better right to talk about HMGS or post those initials.

As for Doug's complaints, I do intend to complete a detailed history of the HMGS SOUTH fiasco with specific quotes from the pathological liars whose cause he champions. But let's look at one of his most recent sallies:

"I've know Pat Condray as a miniatures dealer for approx. 15 years. He has been on the attack for the entire 15 years I have know him and I have no respect for he or his many years of anti-HMGS antics"

I may have met Doug at TROPICON 95 (the best of a bad lot.) I don't remember it if I did. I ran a Boyne game which got the Gainesville Garrison (not yet so called) involved and played in Vince Clyant's ATTACK ON THE RED FORT 18th Century India game. But that's not going to be 15 years until next March.

The following year TROPICON was a fiasco. And I wound up in a dispute with several local gamers, who blamed (falsely) the Nashville Guys (Major Bill and most of the MIDSOUTH BOD) for the problems caused by a local guy (also on the BOD.) I went head to head with Chuck Kennedy on this and lost. The chapter seceded, and Chuck urged me to join and go to work with him. But he was overruled by his home government (the provisional BOD.)

For about an 18 month period I was persona non grata in HMGS SOUTH (a position I again hold with honor.) I still supported the conventions by sponsoring the Gainesville Garrisons' trips to HURRICON to sell my figures and books and run games.

Only to a nut like Doug would that be construed as an attack.

In early 1998 the SOUTH BOD reconsidered at the urging of Craig Martelle, who was doing the newsletter and running the conventions. I was allowed to attend conventions, play and run games, sell my stuff, and advertise in the newsletter, but not vote or run for office.

No friction. I had no political ambitions.

Shortly thereafter I was asked to run RECON 99 since Craig had shipped out for Korea with the USMC. I attended a planning meeting at Doug's Hobby Shop, the Tactical Edge in November 1998. Bryan Stroup and Deke Ashton were there with me, and we worked out some details on the convention with the BOD.

It was a very successful convention by the standards of the day. I think the first HMGS SOUTH convention, HURRICON 96, had 120-150 (I wasn't there.) Craig had run HURRICON 97 and talked the BOD into letting him do RECON 98. HURRICON 97 drew 200, RECON 98, which had an all star cast of visitors (John Hill, Bob Jones, and some other dignitaries) drew around 250.

Had Craig Martelle not departed for Korea (after failing to get elected to the BOD for reasons that I can't fathom) he almost certainly would have continued to run the SOUTH conventions with my blessing and that of the BOD.

Again, no friction. With Bryan's help I put together RECON 99 which was another success and drew 279 attendance. Doug took five tables and complained to anybody who would listen about the security problem of not being able to lock the doors behind his booth (fire safety) during business hours, though his sons were the only people running in and out.

From then through 2002 I ran (with a lot of help from Bryan and others) the RECONs. I also worked on HURRICON promotions as my return date from Maryland got earlier in the year.

Still no friction.

Craig had left the newsletter (REBEL YELL) to Bryan, who handed it off to Bill Moreno. But after 9/11 the complicated production method used (Bill to Bryan to Rhett Scott) fell through since Rhett Scott was an intelligence analyst at McDill (CENTCOM) and was somewhat distracted.

When I came down with cancer and also required a quintuple bypass operation in 2002 I did RECON and with the help of Bryan and Deke got out the promotional materials for HURRICON as well as hitting ORIGINS and HISTORICON before reporting for the operation. Bryan burned out, and Chuck Kennedy jumped in and took the lead on RECON and HURRICON until HURRICON 06.

I picked up the newsletter and got out RY22 (the PEL issue for RECON 03) shortly before the convention. Also put together the program as I would do from 2003 through the end of 2007. We managed to get 413 to attend RECON 03.

While I didn't always agree with everybody, there was little friction between myself and the BOD and most of the membership.

Doug Bohannon, on the other hand, did a lot of carping. He would get on the message board and threaten to sue anyone who was doing something he didn't like. Chiefly the President (Rhett Scott) and the webmeister (since Bryan burned out in 2002- Gregg Lukomski.) He also started an HMGS SOUTH yahoo group apparently to encourage people to bitch about the management. I mentioned it favorably in the newsletter, but nobody was mad enough at anyone very much except Doug.

By HURRICON 06 friction between Chuck Kennedy and the rest of the BOD had reached the point that Chuck was no longer running the conventions. Marc Rebhun, who was the only other member of the BOD doing much useful work, ran RECON 07, and, as usual, I did promotions, the newsletter, and the convention program. For HURRICON 07 Rickey Grice, the apparently dysfunctional treasurer (Ed Baldridge was so dissatisfied with Rickey's performance that he blamed it on Chuck and Pat) ran the convention. I worked with him, and late in the cycle at the prompting of several members Chuck was permitted to beat the bushes for attendance and room nights.

HURRICON 07 was attended by a reported 375. But, when several concerned members took an unauthorized vote to put Chuck back in charge of the conventions, The rest of the BOD went ballistic and has stayed that way through several iterations ever since.

And the program has never recovered. Relying on their own wits and the convention management expertise of Dale Marcum, the dysfunctional BOD managed to reduce RECON 08 to 275, and 20% of the dealer space went begging. The next two conventions it was a bit vague. In one case Doug Bohannon released some outlandish figures, but when Marc Rebhun, whose integrity is respected on both sides offered to count the admissions Doug clammed up and started mumbling nonsense about how that information was top secret crypto and could only be seen by worshippers of the Evil Junta.

However, the Evil Junta didn't get mad at me until I pointed out to them that Chuck knew how to run a convention and they didn't. And I urged them to focus on the good of the Chapter instead of celebrating their temper tantrums.

Good old Doug spent HURRICON 07 in Noriega's Paradise. But he was so overjoyed at the Evil Junta getting rid of Chuck that he actually did some useful work at RECON 08.

No HMGS SOUTH convention in the 21st Century, unless hit by an hurricane or Narcotics Anonymous, drew less than 300 before the Evil Junta took over. Most were over 350 and two over 400. But since the Evil Junta took over none have come close to 300. The latest one, which I understand was a pleasant little affair, drew 263.

But the evolving Evil Junta has achieved its objectives, which seem to be centered on celebrating their mental disorders.

As for Doug's character references for Leon Mason, I have a certain amount of respect for people who have jumped out of airplanes that aren't on fire, which experience Leon shares
with Chuck I believe. But no matter how often someone has jumped out of airplanes on fire or not, when that person states that he has fired me as newsletter editor (November 2007) and later (September 2008) loudly declares "Make no mistake, he quit!" he is a LIAR.

And, since he and Ed Baldridge (He finally admits he quit!") become embarrassed that they transparently lied, they got their un-indicted co-conspirators to join them in removing me from the chapter. Thus proving that they are not only pathological liars, but vindictive and incompetent as well.

The best thing he, Rickey Grice, and Ray Phillips ever did for HMGS SOUTH was resign. Now if only Ed and Marty would do the same.

As for me spending the 15 years during which I ran and promoted conventions and published REBEL YELL 22 through 39 "attacking HMGS", Doug, you too "Know right well you are lying like hell!"

And as for you Toby, I never resented you for getting elected in 1995. Your election was a COURIER conspiracy, not against me, but against the Carpetbaggers (Fisher and Nance) Dick Bryant was afraid would take over after I was removed. My problem with you came when, after getting the goods on the CW97 director, you tried to extend the purge to others who were a lot less guilty if at all.

He doth protest too much…..

Please give it up Pat, you are more than likely the only one who cares.

Think of it this way, you are not involved with the BCC move;)

Sit back and play some games.

Blue Devil

Another alias. If I'm the only one who cares, why are you commenting?

Alas, I am affected by the move. But that's another set of threads I haven't visited for a while

Stay tuned for the concise and exciting history of HMGS SOUTH. Complete with quotations from the principals of the Evil Junta confirming that they are pathological liars.

But no rush.

I gotta pack for SOUTHERN FRONT.

Maybe next month.

Pat Condray (WKPP)

From Condray: "Your election was a COURIER conspiracy"

This is another prime example of a Condray tactic of bending a half-truth into what can be construed as a full-blown lie.
It is very true that Dick Bryant, former editor of the Courier, supported my election to the HMGS East Board in 1995 – as he did another candidate. Dick can come on here and give his own reasons why he did this – don't swallow whatever Condray states for the reasons.
But the problem with THIS conspiracy theory is that the issue of the Courier in question endorcing me and the other candidate did not get delivered into subscribers' hands until AFTER the election, and first appeared at the 95 Historicon where I had already taken my seat on the Board – and this is something Condray knows because we've been down this road before years ago….same accusation about Dick and same response from me. So much for the "Historians" flawed timeline. The Courier endorcement had absolutely nothing to do with my election. {And I might add that Condray lambasted Bryant for years after Dick Bryant perpetrated his "crime" against Condray.}

Mr. Witch Finder

I would appreciate it if you would let us know where Dick Bryant revealed his "real reasons" for championing the cause of yourself and Tom Dempsey for the EAST BOD. I'll ask him. Maybe he remembers.

It is true that the COURIER announcing that you and Tom were God's gift to HMGS EAST arrived late. That's why you were tied for last place (admittedly ahead of me.)It was a pretty klutzy conspiracy. But a conspiracy all the same.

Still, the fact that you got exactly the same votes shows that you got your votes from the same source.

I don't know how much background you had for the COURIER motivation. However, earlier in 1995 (IIRC) the EAST BOD, and probably the National BOD (now extinct) received a proposal from two luminaries of the hobby, Waxtel, who printed THE COURIER (and wasn't a Carpet Bagger), and Todd Fisher.

HISTORICAL GAMER, which for a time was backed by Todd, had recently gone belly up. And THE COURIER was running in the red.

The plan was to have THE COURIER become a ward of HMGS, preferably National. The proposal called for charging every member of any HMGS $40 USD or so in dues, which would get them into any convention and get them THE COURIER.

It was a bad idea for many reasons. And while the paper from Fisher and Waxtel suggested that Dick Bryant might be the editor, reporting to the National BOD didn't appeal to Dick very much. And from my point of view, as President of HMGS EAST (however briefly) the idea of having the money for the convention attenders filtered through the National BOD while we got the expenses direct lacked appeal.

The National Treasurer at that time, another Carpet Bagger running in EAST that year,had been involved in a Sunday AM brawl with an invalid at HISTORICON 94.

It seemed to me that Dick was running against the influx of outside people who might favor the COURIER take over among other sins. In fact IIRC the editorial endorsing the two of you made reference to their being people on the east coast who could do the job without needing those midwesterners. But since the issue didn't make it in advance your votes were limited to those on the inside of the conspiracy.

Unfortunately I don't have that issue handy since MAGWEB went under. So maybe I made the whole thing up, right Mr. Witch Finder?

Pat

Prozac. That would be a good start, and counseling. After a few months treatment; maybe a good yoga or meditation class.

It isn't important how you get help, just that you do get help.

PC is this latest "conspiracy" theory and the Courier issue in question on that ghost disc too?

Mr. Editor:
In this thread you snipped a few of my words out of one posting. One of those words was "colonoscopy". It appears you again snipped that word out when Pat Condray used the same word with quotes referring to my original usage in his reply. Why do you snip a word such as that one but then allow all the angry words and name calling to continue? Words such as "liar", "nut", "witch finder", "CYA", "Evil Junta", etc. which are words used in Mr. Condray's postings all the time. Please clarify what is your dividing line here whereby medical terms are snipped but acrimoneous name calling is allowed to run rampant?

From Condray: "It was a pretty klutzy conspiracy. But a conspiracy all the same. Still, the fact that you got exactly the same votes shows that you got your votes from the same source."

How utterly ridiculous. If this were remotely true everyone voting in that election would have to have been part of the "conspiracy" and in on the fix. Keep them coming crazy boy.
The fact that it was a tie and both of us couldn't take a Board seat destroys this stupid theory. If we truly "conspired", wouldn't we have been smarter about it all and arranged it so both of us would have won seats? The vote tally was simply for us and against Condray and his inept handling of HMGS East Board matters.

Toby

If everybody voting in that election had been part of the conspiracy you and Tom would have received more votes than anyone else. Thus instead of being tied for last place you would have both been in the top four (elected under the 1995 ByLaws for a two year term.)

My point is that you two got exactly the same number of votes. You were tied for last place. So while the number wasn't great, it consisted in all porbablility of the same people. For the same number of votes to be received at random would be highly improbable.

That this isn't obvious to you suggests that perhaps you have not been economical of the truth. Maybe you simply have no grasp of it whatsoever.

Pat