For Elchanan and All Members

[Guest guest]

Greetings Members: Alright, enough is enough and here's where I come in. was created nearly five years ago with the following Mission Statement: "To provide support and an exchange of resources i.e.web-sites, literature and shopping. The only requirement is that members areserious vegetarians, vegans or curious raw vegans who desire to become 100% Raw(Live Food Consumers) Fooders who reside in the Washington Metropolitan Area (DC,MD and VA). Additionally, provide resources and guidance for those interestedin proper fasting for better health, detoxification, spirituality, andjump-starting to Raw (Live Food consumption). On a rotating basis Live FoodsPotlucks will be hosted. Group meetings will be scheduled for face to facediscussions on an as needed basis. When possible, motivational videos will beshown."At the onset of establishing the group we learned that manypotential members resided in very remote areas outside of the D.C. Metro Areawho were in need of support with their journeys to health that we decided notto restrict their request for membership. We came to learn also that a large majority of potential members,through common courtesy, at least requested in advance before becoming active,to be allowed to remain a member while acknowledging that their geographiclocation was indeed outside the D.C. Metro Area. This support group is now over 500 strong with more peoplejoining everyday in search of a warm, friendly, supportive environment wherethey may feel at home while transitioning to better health and healthierlifestyle choices. This is theenvironment that we have created here and I intend to have it remain. I'm sure that none of us would open thedoors to our homes, lay mats or hang signs that say "welcome" then allowvisitors to walk in and find members of our family treating each otherunkindly. We are here to assist membersin their transitions not deter them. With that said, I will now address the fact that due to somerecent posts from one of our members, yes you, Elchanan, I have received anunprecedented number of complaints, questions, phone calls, and concerns aboutthe delivery of your replies which have been categorized as, (and I will useactual quotes) invasive, intimidating, overly authoritative, overbearing, andobnoxious. There were two "new" memberswho even asked to be removed from the group for fear that they wouldn't fit inafter reading a few of your posts. Itoften takes a lot for certain members to conjure up enough nerve to postwhatever it is they are doing. The lastthing that they need is to feel like a child being scolded. Since I do not know you or anything about you, I can only assume that your intentions are good.While I have agreed with quite a bit of the informationyou've presented, I have not agreed with the tone in which it waspresented. I particularly do not agreewith you emailing members of this group off-line and presenting to them yourunsolicited instructions and/or advice. If you have such information for any of our members, my instructionto you is to, through the group, invite that person(s) to email youoff-line. It will then be theirdecision to do so or not. Finally, my apologies to all members who have been made tofeel uncomfortable here and hope that no one has been seriously offended. I will be more attentive with futureposts. Further, Elchanan, to whom all of the dissatisfaction hasbeen directed, this is to inform you and the group that since I am the Ownerand Moderator of with the responsibility of deciding who remains amember, what posts are released, deleted, and/or rejected, from this point on,I will take the lead and seriously moderate yours and all posts. I will take whatever action is deemednecessary. If anyone cares to comment on this post or have ansuggestions on either handling issues such as these or preventing them, pleaseemail me directly at shortydemp. I hope that we all can now get over this and return to theharmonious supportive group that we had come to be, displaying a warm andloving sense of genuine concern and respect. Locally and outside, we are family here, and this is how wedo it in the East. Good Health to You,Owner - ,Elaine

[Guest guest]

greetings family thank you, elaine for your interruption, well needed at this point. peace