Magic Mood Jeep wrote:
On 2/1/2010 1:44 PM, CatNipped wrote:
I don't know if I wrote about this here but...

I've been webmaster for Gulf Coast Mensa for the last 10 years. I've
won 20
"National Mensa" awards for the work I did on it (all done by hand, over
thousands of hours, of web Architecture (applications on the site were
database-driven). Someone on the "Board of Directors" decided they
wanted a
"hipper", more "with it" site that uses all the new social software. I
tried to tell them that they were opening themselves up to a HUGE
security
breach, but they wouldn't listen, they wanted on of the little cookie
cutter
like sites that other group (who didn't have anybody who "knows" web
architecture like I do).

They asked for volunteers for the job of webmaster, and one little
techie-noids on the board jumped all over that. She outright STOLE an
entire site from North Texas Mensa - here, look at the two:

http://www.gcmensa.org/
http://northtexasmensa.org/ntm/index.php

She still has the NTM webmasters name still on pages of the site (like
the
"MoQuotes). I had no idea this was going on.

I learned that I had been "let go" when I read about it in the paper
newsletter that goes to members. I was, understandable, angry at the way
this was done (my feelings were very hurt). I told them that this was a
really crappy way to treat someone who had dedicated so much time and
devotion to the site for ten years (every 6 months or so the Board
gives out
"Service Awards" to different people who did this or that, but I never
once
got one - I didn't mind or complain, I was a 'stay-at-home" member,
disliking the meetings and parties). I wrote a note in one of the
group's
email distribution list and I guess quite a few people agreed with me
that
this was a disgraceful way to treat me.

Then, just a few moments ago I opened up a package from the new
webmaster,
MaDiana. It was a "service award" worded:

"Certificate of Eternal Gratitude
Presented to
Lori Crews
for
outstanding dedication,
service and commitment
as
Gulf Coast Mensa Web Master
by
Arturo Huerta ~ LocSec
and the Gulf Coast Mensa Board of Directors
Thursday, January 7, 2010 ~ Houston, Texas

Along with this they sent a $25 Visa Gift Card. You can look at the card
and tell it's been hanging around in someone's pocket since Christmas and
someone just said, "here toss this in too".

What do you think, should I send the whole package back, or keep it for a
while (like DH suggested) to decided the best way to react to this
blatant
insult?

Here's what I would do: Spend the gift card, take the "certificate" our
of the frame and use it to line a litter box with (put a more treasured
certificate/award/picture in the frame, if you want - it's a free
frame! - or toss it in with the detritus you deliver to goodwill or
'rummage sale' people), or just let the cats shred it at will... Barney
loves shredding paper....

Notify the North Texas Mensa people that the dweebs have stolen their
design - it *IS* copyrighted, after all - and let the chips fall where
they may.

But, hey, you do what *YOU* want - after all, they did what *they*
wanted... eg


I like this. But then I'm not nice.

Pam S.