Hi, All,
I tried to post this on the "MAJOR UN/WTS NEWS - WE HAVE A UN LETTER"
thread, but it's not coming up for me. The page and the listing of the posts are all there, but the boxes are empty. (???)
I've been following these threads with intense interest, even though I haven't said much. Maybe its time I do.
I've taken Investigator's news release (slightly modified, with her permission) and sent it to the Portland Oregonian and the Eugene Register-Guard here in Oregon. They are the two biggest papers here in the state. I followed up with telephone calls the next day. My reception was friendly and interested.
As Investigator asked if anyone would volunteer as a "Contact Person", I volunteered and am volunteering in the same capacity should anyone else need one. I'm already "out" in that they know who I am and how I feel. Nothing would make my day more than to have them come after me.
Some of you may remember some very blunt posts I put on the old H2O board about a year ago, while using my real name. Shortly after that time four high-octane elders moved into this backwater congregation from San Francisco. They immediately became very friendly with my wife and children (who are still active in the congregation). It turns out that at least one of them has direct ties deep within the Society, having been a researcher for the writing department. He's also written articles for the Awake! magazine, and appears to be used occasionally as a "trouble shooter" by the organization.
Now, don't get the wrong idea here. Their treatment of my family and this congregation has been such that I would say that most of us on this board would still be in the organization if you had received it too. I've seen nothing from any of them that couldn't be classified as thoughtful, caring, and considerate. This is amazing to me, as I am also absolutely positive that they know exactly where I stand. (I hand delivered it in writing.)
At any rate, since then we have had some high officials come in and give special talks in this congregation. Greg Olds of the Legal Department came first and gave talks both Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday talk was a situation report about child custody cases and other legal problems, and how the R&F could count on Legal to help them out. A short time later Abrahamson, the Secretary/Treasurer of the WTBTS (forgot which corporation) came and gave two more talks. The Saturday one was about "How Can We Say We Are Guided by Holy Spirit When We Aren't Inspired". It was an hour and a half long and somewhere in the middle he said that "we could say that because the Bible is inspired, and we follow the Bible." Ooookaaay..........
A third was scheduled to come, but the events of 09/11 messed up the travel arrangements. I never did hear his name or subject.
A week or two ago I wrote up a brief synopsis of this UN/WTBTS situation (including both the addresses for the DPI requirements and the original thread on the subject here on the board) and gave it to the main man. (I'll post it on the board if anyone's interested.) He was shocked and dismayed, but did me the honor of not insulting my intelligence by trying to claim it was all a plot concocted by the "apostates". Instead, he took it seriously, saying emphatically, "We're going to get to the bottom of this!", and promising to get back to me. He hasn't yet, although he did get back to my cousin Jack who has been around the Society all of his life, but never in it. Jack's mother is here, in her eighties, and in an uproar over his suggesting that the WTBTS would have anything at all to do with the UN.
His answer to Jack (and his Mom) came in 4 phone calls on four separate days!!! The upshot of the answer was that he didn't know all of the situation yet, but that 1. Yes, the Organization had been an NGO, and 2. He was trying to see if the rules for participation had been changed since 1991 and the Society didn't realize it. That information is being sent to him and he should be receiving it about now. I think that he hasn't answered me yet as he knows full well that I'm ahead of him and will catch him up if his info isn't accurate.
Now, back to the news releases. My thought is that it is more likely that the editors will show a little more interest if more than one of us contact them and enthusiastically inquire about it. Anyone is welcome to use my name as a contact man:
Tom Howell
541 946-1231
[email protected]
If you introduce yourself, ask them to keep your identity confidential, and they should respect that. It wouldn't hurt to let them know why you want it confidential and the consequences to you if it isn't.
I'm going to call again tomorrow and try to get the names of the editors and reporters that would be handling these articles. I'll let you know the results tomorrow night. Anyone interested in encouraging them in this regard please contact me by email. I would think that a little coordination would be helpful.
To all of you who have worked so hard to dig out the truth of this matter --- Thank You!! Be assured that it will be used agressively.
There is much more that could be said, but I don't want to reveal too much. Hope this brightens your day a bit.
Tom Howell
Alias: LoneWolf