Rudder Assoc. is going through growing pains. The founder was basically ousted, and from my perspective, he used his control of the FB group to retaliate, although he claims FB would not allow him to relinquish control of the group and it got mired in whatever.

Board members say they have not gained possession of the email lists, etc. yet, and therefore cannot counter the founder's allegation, though JD Foster, a board member, released this statement tonight:

Quote:

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The following is a statement provided by the Board of Directors for immediate release:

Dear Rudder Family:

The Rudder Association has made great strides over the past year to accomplish our mission to strengthen our beloved Texas A&M. Texas A&M has a new President, new Regents, new Provost, new Vice President of Student Affairs, and the changes continue. We have been pleased with recent direction of these changes and are optimistic that the continued efforts of our membership will continue to bear fruit.

In recent months we have been able to work with university leadership to improve Fishcamp, Corps Recruitment, and largely defeat the infamous 'segregated dorms' program, while continuing to promote and perpetuate the unique culture, values, and traditions of Texas A&M University.

University leadership on and off campus has heard you and is listening to our voices! For the first time, in a long time, we believe we are being heard. While we cannot help but acknowledge the work still to be done and the long road ahead, we have changed from a group that was ignored and even belittled to a voice and force for change. Our impact cannot be ignored. We have created relationships with those that agree with us throughout multiple organizations associated with Texas A&M and with whom a number of our members are also involved and opened lines of communication with those in a position to make change.

As you might expect, the Board is constantly involved in spirited discussions regarding the best way to continue our mission and best serve our membership. Recently, those spirited discussions have surrounded the best way to approach fundraising, particularly issues concerning balancing the need to communicate the incredible progress we have made to this point and the many challenges ahead. Simply put, each and every member of the Board is deeply invested in the mission of The Rudder Association and opinions are understandably strong. Unfortunately, those differences of opinion have led some members to decide they no longer wish to lend their support to the direction chosen by the Board and the Board wishes those individual(s) the best in their future endeavors.

The Board is aware that certain information has been published already by various individual(s) and out of respect for the contributions of those individual(s), the Board has chosen not to address those allegations directly except to categorically deny the allegation that either The Rudder Association or any member of the Board or its officers have been, in any way, compromised by any outside party either within the Texas A&M administration or anyone else. To be clear, no invitations to any event, box seats to any sporting event, or any other form of express or implied bribe has been accepted by anyone on The Rudder Association leadership team. It is disappointing that the immediate situation has allowed such misinformation to be spread. Instead, the Board would encourage members to transition to the new Facebook page, a process originally intended to take place through a planned process that is no longer viable due to the actions of the (sole) administrator of the previous page.

The Rudder Association mission is the priority to protect and preserve the historic and unique culture, values, and traditions of Texas A&M University not any one person. The Rudder Association will continue our mission in a positive and constructive way to promote the Texas A&M culture and traditions that make it so special, to put the "Aggie" back in "Aggieland."

We look forward to input from all of you as we go forward. It's all of our organization together as Aggies who love our University. We also understand there are probably numerous remaining questions and concerns and the Board hopes to be able to answer those questions in the coming weeks as we move forward in our mission. However, we do ask each of you to be patient as each member of the Board is a volunteer and most of us are holding down full time jobs and families in addition to the significant commitments this organization brings.

Thank You,

The Board of Directors

The Rudder Association

---

I'm giving it some time to shake out. I don't think the board did anything unethical or illegal.

The dispute was over how far the board should go in recognizing positive developments with TAMU President Kathy Banks' new appointments. The founder wanted to wait to see how the new appointees performed, the majority of the board I assume wanted to claim victory (as the statement above does) and move on.

In general, the disagreement was over degrees of dissent. The board wanted to be a watchdog, the founder wanted to be an attack dog. My opinion.

I pay dues and will continue. I believe that the organization will move past this storm.

Anti-taxxer said:

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barnyard1996 said:

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Reorganize on a platform that is not Facebook. Winning.

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They have a website that looks like it was designed by a third grader. They are directing everyone to this site for their "statement" that will be posted "later".

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Is Sharp behind this?

From Keith Hazlewood to Ashkicker
Two completely unrelated incidents happened within 24 hours.

Keith said "me or Joe". 3 people and Joe voted for Joe. 4 is a quorum. Keith is still founder and a life member. He is still a part of TRA. He never refused to give the board the membership list. He said that is a lie. He has paid existing bills and added the last batch of new members. Keith said "Nobody said that to me. I saw it on FB."

He said the FB group has nothing to do with it. He asked to get his name off of the FB group 4 weeks ago. He was told, since he started it he couldn't be replaced. He asked for someone else to start a new group so he could close this one. They did and it was opened the end of June. The night before the blowup, he tried to shut the old FB down. FB said all of the members must be deleted first - all 6,000, one at a time. He changed the name to nonsense so TRA could use the old name. He tried to pause the old site so no one could see it. It didn't work. The following day the blowup happened. Again, unrelated to the FB page.

Keith said everyone who wants to follow TRA should go to the new TRA group. It's up to the members to demand the leadership lead. Keith will work independently of TRA to facilitate change. Since he no longer represents TRA, he will accept any football seats offered.

So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

Quote:

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The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice.

---

Not disagreeing with the rest but this part isn't true. I volunteered twice and received no response beyond acknowledging receipt of the first offer. I even sent my resume. I don't hold it against them though, there was no obligation to offer me a spot.

DGAG92 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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It has devolved into an absolute **** show.

From what I have gathered in the thousands of angry posts on RudAssPot (formerly the Rudder Association), the leader, Keith Hazlewood was ousted from the Board at recent elections. I can't tell if he just took his toys and went home, or if the new board pushed him out altogether.

Either way, KH has ownership of the Facebook page, and removed all the new board members from the page, and changed it to RudAssPot.

The Rudder Association Portal page (run by the new board members) also has a bunch of angry posts, demanding to be told in a clear and concise manner what has happened.

One of the admins is Donna Hunter. I'm not sure who the others are, but they are all posting under the name "Rudder Association" on the Facebook page, and claiming complete surprise that KH kicked them off the page (which is odd, because as someone pointed out, this new Facebook page was created *before* they were removed from the other), which is why there is no statement from the organization.

They are also claiming not to have access to the membership rolls, and blaming that for the lack of a response or statement (which, again, as someone else pointed out, is not needed. Post an announcement to the top of the Facebook page and be done with it).

I'm just glad I never donated, because I would be pissed the hell off by all the childish crap these folks are pulling right now.

---

So if you never donated and you're not a member, why post about it?

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Because I'm on the Facebook page and have witnessed the ridiculous behavior from both sides today.

And, I can.

I get he's your uncle, but coming here and being a jackass to everyone who is talking about it is not the way, my dude.

ETA: FWIW, I support KH and what he was trying to do. Based on what I have seen today, I think he got screwed.

Doesn't mean he's handling this the right way (though I'm not sure I would do any better if in his position).

But what I said above still stands: coming here and bullying everyone into your way of thinking is not the way for you to handle it.

Communication from both factions in the org has been practically non-existent for a while. As someone who ponied of money for a life membership all I have to show for it is a crappy bumper sticker and some Facebook chatter. I don't even get emails anymore.

Disappointed in a lot of Aggies right now.

Anti-taxxer said:

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DGAG92 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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It has devolved into an absolute **** show.

From what I have gathered in the thousands of angry posts on RudAssPot (formerly the Rudder Association), the leader, Keith Hazlewood was ousted from the Board at recent elections. I can't tell if he just took his toys and went home, or if the new board pushed him out altogether.

Either way, KH has ownership of the Facebook page, and removed all the new board members from the page, and changed it to RudAssPot.

The Rudder Association Portal page (run by the new board members) also has a bunch of angry posts, demanding to be told in a clear and concise manner what has happened.

One of the admins is Donna Hunter. I'm not sure who the others are, but they are all posting under the name "Rudder Association" on the Facebook page, and claiming complete surprise that KH kicked them off the page (which is odd, because as someone pointed out, this new Facebook page was created *before* they were removed from the other), which is why there is no statement from the organization.

They are also claiming not to have access to the membership rolls, and blaming that for the lack of a response or statement (which, again, as someone else pointed out, is not needed. Post an announcement to the top of the Facebook page and be done with it).

I'm just glad I never donated, because I would be pissed the hell off by all the childish crap these folks are pulling right now.

---

So if you never donated and you're not a member, why post about it?

---

Because I'm on the Facebook page and have witnessed the ridiculous behavior from both sides today.

And, I can.

I get he's your uncle, but coming here and being a jackass to everyone who is talking about it is not the way, my dude.

ETA: FWIW, I support KH and what he was trying to do. Based on what I have seen today, I think he got screwed.

Doesn't mean he's handling this the right way (though I'm not sure I would do any better if in his position).

But what I said above still stands: coming here and bullying everyone into your way of thinking is not the way for you to handle it.

---

So stating the actual facts is "bullying"? Thin skin much? I'm not "your dude".

You need to calm the hell down. I support KH, but you coming here and shouting down at everyone is not the way to bring people to your side.

No one has said anything against KH. I haven't, either for that matter, yet you are commenting on everyone's post in an aggressive manner. I don't think that's helpful.

But you do you.

I think the original mission was admirable. And as KH said in his post on Facebook this morning, he was right - out of fear of cancel culture, no one was willing to actively participate. He did a ton, and I appreciate all that he did, all the hours and money he poured into this association.

That still doesn't mean things were handled correctly this week on social media. And again, as I said in an earlier post, were I him in this situation, I'm not sure I would do anything differently than he has done.

I wish him the best, and I'm sorry things have turned out this way for him.

But you need to stop acting like such a d*** when people have a valid concern as to what was taking place, and were not being given answers.

AshKick said:

---

So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

---

Hi Keith

Anti-taxxer said:

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You need to calm the hell down. I support KH, but you coming here and shouting down at everyone is not the way to bring people to your side.

No one has said anything against KH. I haven't, either for that matter, yet you are commenting on everyone's post in an aggressive manner. I don't think that's helpful.

But you do you.

I think the original mission was admirable. And as KH said in his post on Facebook this morning, he was right - out of fear of cancel culture, no one was willing to actively participate. He did a ton, and I appreciate all that he did, all the hours and money he poured into this association.

That still doesn't mean things were handled correctly this week on social media. And again, as I said in an earlier post, were I him in this situation, I'm not sure I would do anything differently than he has done.

I wish him the best, and I'm sorry things have turned out this way for him.

But you need to stop acting like such a d*** when people have a valid concern as to what was taking place, and were not being given answers.

---

I didn't shout down everyone, I disciplined a couple. I DIDN'T CAPITALIZE ANYTHING.

Were you one of 46 on the Zoom call last night?

Charpie said:

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AshKick said:

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So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

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Hi Keith

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Don't believe he was trying to hide it.

Idk, talking in third person is a little bit trying to hide it.

DGAG92 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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You need to calm the hell down. I support KH, but you coming here and shouting down at everyone is not the way to bring people to your side.

No one has said anything against KH. I haven't, either for that matter, yet you are commenting on everyone's post in an aggressive manner. I don't think that's helpful.

But you do you.

I think the original mission was admirable. And as KH said in his post on Facebook this morning, he was right - out of fear of cancel culture, no one was willing to actively participate. He did a ton, and I appreciate all that he did, all the hours and money he poured into this association.

That still doesn't mean things were handled correctly this week on social media. And again, as I said in an earlier post, were I him in this situation, I'm not sure I would do anything differently than he has done.

I wish him the best, and I'm sorry things have turned out this way for him.

But you need to stop acting like such a d*** when people have a valid concern as to what was taking place, and were not being given answers.

---

I didn't shout down everyone, I disciplined a couple. I DIDN'T CAPITALIZE ANYTHING.

Were you one of 46 on the Zoom call last night?

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I was on it briefly, came in the middle, bad internet connection, and didn't feel like I was learning much. I was on for all of about 10 minutes.

Minutes of meetings would be nice to know what is going on.

AshKick said:

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So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

---

Nephew and uncle are here to kick names and take ass.

Sea Speed said:

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Idk, talking in third person is a little bit trying to hide it.

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Facetious.

dis gonna be good

Satellite of Love said:

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AshKick said:

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So what have you done to help the situation on the campus? TRA started from nothing a year ago. People were paralyzed by cancel culture. The original people on the board were not the best choice - they were the only choice. Everyone else, and I mean EVERYONE, was too scared to participate. They have mailed thousands of letters to Ags all over the country to get the word out all over the country. They gave scholarships in December. They opened an office in College Station in January. Computers, printers, paper, toner, folding machine, envelopes, stamps, and people to write, print, fold, stuff, seal and stamp the thousands of letters. Oh, and insurance, internet, security, rent, etc. It all takes money. Keith Hazlewood volunteered over 2,000 hours while working full time, all during Covid. An hour commute one way from home 2 or 3 times a week.

How did you spend your last year? Send Keith an email and invite him to lunch. You can be a smartass to his face. I bet you won't say it to his face.

---

Nephew and uncle are here to kick names and take ass.

---

Funniest thing posted yet.

You should probably learn to laugh a little bit. It will help ease the tension.

DGAG92 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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It has devolved into an absolute **** show.

From what I have gathered in the thousands of angry posts on RudAssPot (formerly the Rudder Association), the leader, Keith Hazlewood was ousted from the Board at recent elections. I can't tell if he just took his toys and went home, or if the new board pushed him out altogether.

Either way, KH has ownership of the Facebook page, and removed all the new board members from the page, and changed it to RudAssPot.

The Rudder Association Portal page (run by the new board members) also has a bunch of angry posts, demanding to be told in a clear and concise manner what has happened.

One of the admins is Donna Hunter. I'm not sure who the others are, but they are all posting under the name "Rudder Association" on the Facebook page, and claiming complete surprise that KH kicked them off the page (which is odd, because as someone pointed out, this new Facebook page was created *before* they were removed from the other), which is why there is no statement from the organization.

They are also claiming not to have access to the membership rolls, and blaming that for the lack of a response or statement (which, again, as someone else pointed out, is not needed. Post an announcement to the top of the Facebook page and be done with it).

I'm just glad I never donated, because I would be pissed the hell off by all the childish crap these folks are pulling right now.

---

So if you never donated and you're not a member, why post about it?

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I'm going to drop a slight counterpoint here.

The Rudder Association was not the only group of people working diligently to counter last summer's progressive bull**** on campus.

While I commend their public efforts, donating to them is not the only (or most effective way) to fight the cancer infecting Texas A&M.

EDIT
Your posting style is going to garner about as much support as a pest control company turned Air Conditioning company here.

Nooooooo this guy isn't ecozapp, is it?

sanangelo said:

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Quote:

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In recent months we have been able to work with university leadership to improve Fishcamp, Corps Recruitment, and largely defeat the infamous 'segregated dorms' program,

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Would be interesting to know in more detail what this means.

How did Rudder improve Fish Camp and Corps recruitment? And what steps did they take to do so?

Sea Speed said:

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Nooooooo this guy isn't ecozapp, is it?

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No he is not. - If it was I would have called him out.

But they have similar posting styles that do not go over well here.

Satellite of Love said:

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You should probably learn to laugh a little bit. It will help ease the tension.

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I just laughed.see above.

Yeah I want to know this as well since the kiddo is headed to fish camp soon

barnyard1996 said:

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Reorganize on a platform that is not Facebook. Winning.

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Get off all these FB groups. Better yet, deactivate or delete your account. Did it 3 months ago, so worth it.

TChaney said:

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DGAG92 said:

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Anti-taxxer said:

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It has devolved into an absolute **** show.

From what I have gathered in the thousands of angry posts on RudAssPot (formerly the Rudder Association), the leader, Keith Hazlewood was ousted from the Board at recent elections. I can't tell if he just took his toys and went home, or if the new board pushed him out altogether.

Either way, KH has ownership of the Facebook page, and removed all the new board members from the page, and changed it to RudAssPot.

The Rudder Association Portal page (run by the new board members) also has a bunch of angry posts, demanding to be told in a clear and concise manner what has happened.

One of the admins is Donna Hunter. I'm not sure who the others are, but they are all posting under the name "Rudder Association" on the Facebook page, and claiming complete surprise that KH kicked them off the page (which is odd, because as someone pointed out, this new Facebook page was created *before* they were removed from the other), which is why there is no statement from the organization.

They are also claiming not to have access to the membership rolls, and blaming that for the lack of a response or statement (which, again, as someone else pointed out, is not needed. Post an announcement to the top of the Facebook page and be done with it).

I'm just glad I never donated, because I would be pissed the hell off by all the childish crap these folks are pulling right now.

---

So if you never donated and you're not a member, why post about it?

---

I'm going to drop a slight counterpoint here.

The Rudder Association was not the only group of people working diligently to counter last summer's progressive bull**** on campus.

While I commend their public efforts, donating to them is not the only (or most effective way) to fight the cancer infecting Texas A&M.

EDIT
Your posting style is going to garner about as much support as a pest control company turned Air Conditioning company here.

---

I saw these statements as well and wondered how much impact Rudder was having. These processes on campus are so opaque you never know what hands are at work, but Rudder didn't mind taking credit for it.

I am sure it depends on whom you ask as to why these changes got made.

And as mentioned there was little other communication to the membership.

Quote:

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Disappointed in a lot of Aggies right now.

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Money and power change stuff.

TChaney said:

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Sea Speed said:

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Nooooooo this guy isn't ecozapp, is it?

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No he is not. - If it was I would have called him out.

But they have similar posting styles that do not go over well here.

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Coddling to feelings is what have us in the situation we're in now. We need more *******s like me!!

barnyard1996 said:

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Reorganize on a platform that is not Facebook. Winning.

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They said dang near since the beginning that Facebook was just a portal and that communication would be more official through other channels. They started a page on a more discreet social media platform called Squirrel that has gone nowhere. Emails stopped a long time ago, and webpage is pretty rudimentary.

I am not placing those problems at any one person's feet because I am not in any individual's circle. The whole organizational effort looks FUBAR at this point in time.

Muy said:

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barnyard1996 said:

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Reorganize on a platform that is not Facebook. Winning.

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Get off all these FB groups. Better yet, deactivate or delete your account. Did it 3 months ago, so worth it.

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This. There is no good reason to be on any social media, although many will call this site social media.

Ah my bad i thought you said YOUR pest control company not A pest control company.

DGAG92 said:

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TChaney said:

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Sea Speed said:

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Nooooooo this guy isn't ecozapp, is it?

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No he is not. - If it was I would have called him out.

But they have similar posting styles that do not go over well here.

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Coddling to feelings is what have us in the situation we're in now. We need more *******s like me!!

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You are proving my point.

There is a time and place.

Be an ******* when it's warranted and directed at those that have earned it.

Being an ******* to those of us that are working on similar goals just makes you an *******.