[pct-l] Why I Boycotted the ADZPCTKO . . .

[at2002 at mac.com (Gary Wright)]

While I don't view Strider's comments as some sort
of consensus statement from the organizers of the kickoff, I'm
assuming that they are representative of the group's thinking at
this point and, with all due respect to the hard work of that group,
I think there is a certain amount of denial going on.

On the one hand Strider states that the event isn't mandatory and
that it is possible to start before or after the kickoff but on
the other hand he states at least three times that the kickoff is
intended for "aspiring hikers".  Is it any real surprise that people
start around the kickoff?  Only folks from Southern California have
any real flexibility of starting their hike at a different time than
the kickoff (if they want to attend the kickoff).

 From a purely logistical perspective it seems clear that moving the 
event
up the trail and into May would allow more flexibility on start dates.
For folks who aren't hiking that year I can't see how May is any
different than April.  For the folks who are hiking, this offers more
logistical options and for the folks who support hikers this may bring
welcome relief.

> The event MUST be planned a year in advance as the host site (and any 
> other
> site that we may wish to have host such a large gathering) requires 
> such.

I don't think anybody has claimed otherwise.  This is the penalty for
success.

> Disagreements about the timing and location of the event will be 
> considered
> and discussed by the organizers of the event (since they are the 
> people who
> have put their own blood, sweat, tears, money and time into insuring 
> that the
> event went so smoothly) and a decision will be made this week!

Yikes! This comes across as a very exclusionary statement.  The
implication is that since non-organizers don't invest their
"blood, sweat, and tears" into the event that they really haven't 
earned a
seat at the table and aren't welcome to participate in any discussion 
about
the event.  I hope I'm mistaken.