RE: [VAL] Re: Flag display

["dtidmore" <dtidmore@xxxxxxx>]

Tom (Meeker),
Maybe you have been fortunate or maybe you never have been close to a
perceived infraction of the rules.  We got hit within months of joining back
in 2002.  We were attending our first regional rally and only our 2nd rally
overall (wide eyed and open minded).  We had been invited by some new found
friends to eat with them the second evening and we gladly accepted. We had
no idea who was who, but everyone was friendly. (turned out the new found
friend was the incoming President of a unit and the WBCCI Int President was
also going to dine with their group that evening.  Well, we are visiting and
having a good time before the meal began, again with no knowledge of who was
who, when a busy body (turned out to former pres of our local unit) plops
herself down, uninvited, at the table, interrupting the conversation,
inquires in a most unfriendly manner as to JUST what we (me and my spouse)
had in the insulated tumblers that we were drinking from.  I responded that
we were drinking ice water, but she felt compelled to go on and state "well,
you KNOW that we have RULES against alcohol".  At this point we were pretty
speechless at her audacity.  Max Carmichael (yes, the Int Pres) ignoring
her, looked at us and proclaimed, "You just have to breaks those rules
sometimes."  Well she got up in a huff and left.  Later we found out the
many of the old, conservative members of our unit were VERY put out that we
were dining with the Int Pres which apparently in their eyes was a huge
breach of protocol given that we were new members and NOT even officers in a
unit.  Max was our hero that night, even though the next day he brought up
the flag pole angle rule (but then blew it off, so no offense was taken).
We have since experienced other encounters with the self anointed Blue Book
police and know of others that have had the rules (or purported rules)
thrown at them in an intimidating manner.  BTW, after several thorough
readings of the Blue Book as well as a word search, I can't find ANY mention
of alcohol anywhere. 

I also know that at last years Rocky Mountain VAC rally, a couple of busy
body biddies threatened the organizers with formal grievance complaints to
the WBCCI over alleged violations of the rules.  Rob knows what I am talking
about. 

I doubt that the WBCCI's intent is to have the rules used to intimidate,
threaten or confuse, but there are many that see them as the vehicle to
accomplish those actions and feel empowered to do so.  It is those
individuals that give the WBCCI a bad name and drive away members.     

David