Editor’s Note: Virginia Stewart read the following letter to the TWHBEA Executive Committee.

September 22, 2007

AN OPEN LETTER

Arriving in my mail this morning was the same letter that Mr. Sid Baucom posted on the TWHBEA website several days ago.  This letter was on TWHBEA letterhead, their envelope and TWHBEA’s non profit.org postage stamp.

I was furious when this letter first appeared on the website and I am livid that he is using his position and TWHBEA’s money, apparently, to spew his incorrect and vicious attack.

There are my opinions…so one can either agree with me or disagree.

Since Mr. Baucom chose to quote Mr. Justice Brennan about truth, perhaps he should re-read the quote and see if it doesn’t more aptly apply to himself and to TWHBEA.  I have never seen an organization that, if not telling tan untruth, certainly is this good at putting an incredible spin on it…in my opinion.

Mr. Baucom impugns the integrity of Joni, Dee Dee and every one of us as members of FTB.  He basically calls us liars.  How dare he!!!  He also talks about FTB impugning the integrity of the accounting firm.  Perhaps he should question the integrity of the voting process last year.  Instead, TWHBEA lays all the blame on the computer system for the irregularities, instead of the human element that benefited from the misrepresentation.

Since when does disagreeing with the leadership of an organization, of which I am a member, constitute “militant minority control?”  How ridiculous.

Is it deceitful and militant to take a different position than the leadership?

Is it deceitful and militant to hand out flyers and mail postcards stating clearly our position and platform?

Is it deceitful and militant to support certain candidates?

Isn’t this called FREEDOM OF SPEECH???

To say that we have “actively discouraged” individuals from renewing memberships is just wrong.  On the contrary, FTB has encouraged people to remain members in order to vote.

Then to say that the bottom line is that “supporters” of FTB control the NHSC, center ring and the Celebration is just beyond ludicrous…and “that may well be actionable” to apply one of his own statements.  As a staunch supporter of FTB, I can assure anyone and everyone that I certainly have no control over any of that, and have never attempted to have any control, nor do I know any of our members who do.  So, Mr. Baucom, you are an attorney…give us the facts…who attempted to control the NHSC, center ring and the Celebration?  You are so righteous and sure of yourself on this, give us the facts…times, dates and persons.

Your statement is that it is about control of TWHBEA is true.  Control that needs to be removed from the iron fist of the current administration and returned to the membership via the open door, open meeting administration that Free the Breeders hopes to elect.

Mr. Baucom, people who know you, and I don’t, say that while maybe misguided on these issues, you are an honorable man.  Your letter was not an honorable letter and you owe all the members of Free the Breeders an apology.

Virginia L. Stewart