News items posted to this page are usually edited versions of Member Mailings.
An Apology: 10 November 1999
I want to get right up front here and issue a general apology for the overview I put in the November 5th News page. I have to be a grown-up and take the heat for the comments that might have been out-of-line. What I had to say was from a quite narrow perspective that came out of our small part of the event and some less than balanced feedback from some rather tired people very late at night.
Make no mistake, putting up The Witches Ball is a HUGE and EXPENSIVE undertaking and I really didn't take into account the awesome effort put in by Lady Rhea and Lady Zoradia to reformat, support and work out the thousands of details that went into preparing the event. And while I thought I was being fairly even- handed, I wasn't, and I truly hurt their feelings. They are very justified in feeling extremely put out about some of the remarks. I am sorry.
Events this size are extremely difficult to put together, and as I have since discovered, many of the things that were criticized were purely logistic, things the sponsors had limited control over on the night of the Ball. In fact, they put in a huge amount of effort to actually keep the event as Pagan-friendly as it was. I was, stupidly, unaware of how much "backstage" work went into keeping the event balanced. In addition, the Sponsors also fully underwrote the event and exposed themselves to a considerable financial burden to secure the venue and event itself with only the desire to make a great party, hopefully break even and to support the NY Pagan Community. But a few things I said were ill-considered, and unintentionally disrespectful and out of line. I take full responsibility for the poor judgment shown in their posting.
I never intended the review to give the impression that the event wasn't a success. In fact, it went very smoothy and was a great deal of fun. In addition, the club was very impressed with the event and the exemplary behavior of the people attending.
My quibbles take nothing away from the awesome work that Lady Rhea and Lady Zoradia and the folk of Magickal Realms put in to make the Witches Ball Happen. They are well within their rights feeling that we were behaving ungratefully. Absolutely no disrespect was intended. There are always going to be glitches and things to work out at any large event and perfectly pleasing everybody is terribly difficult. Knowing more about the awesome behind the scenes effort, and the actual logistics situation at the club. I must utterly retract the most critical comments.
The Chorus was proud to serve the event and the community. However, I once again apologize utterly for any unfairly critical remarks.
Kurt Talking Stone
Choral Director
View the November 5th News page, We each Send A Voice, Press Release, Witches Ball, Winter Solstice
Mitaquye Oyasin * Blessed Be * Ashe * Shalom * A Salaam * Amen
