My original intention was to let this go. I feel very good about the way things happened and I am proud of the way everything went. But at some point you can only take a beating for so long. I would like to start with an illustration.

On Phoenix Suns televised basketball games, commentator AL McCoy used to advertise Whataburger by adding What a shot, Whataburger!! to his traditional Shazam! every time a Suns player made a three point shot. EVERYTIME a Phoenix Sun hit a three pointer, Whataburber would donate $100 to Suns charities. Should Whataburger be criticized for not doing it anonymously?

I completely agree that it is a noble thing to donate on your own. Reading about the disaster in Southeast Asia and Africa moved me. I felt compelled to do more. That is the absolute ONLY selfish motive I had. I wanted to feel like I could do more. It wasn't a lot more, but it was something. If the amount we came up with wasn't to yours or anyone else’s satisfaction, then maybe we should discourage people from voting or using paper instead of plastic. I wanted to feel like I was helping, and in the end, we all work in a small bubble and I used the resources I had to try to do some more.

To how I advertised, please...by all means "quote me". Cut and paste anything I said that appeared that way. I will have you know that not only did I not set or take a single appointment that night, I also brought my brother along who has no affiliation with this business what so ever. As far as attention being drawn to myself goes, I must ask the provider that questioned me the following:

What did posting about this accomplish for you that couldn't have been said in an email to me? The same point could have been made without the side effect of attention being brought upon...yourself.

While you may feel my intentions were off, I will question your intentions.

My own selfish motives and the selfish motives of all who contributed generated $1500 for the tsunami relief.

Yours tried to make me look selfish while accomplishing nothing else. Nothing positive came from your post, and I am sorry you feel the need to get yourself over at the expense of others.

Shame on me and shame on Whataburger. I never intended to offend anyone.

umm, yes, I'd like a whataburger with cheese...??

Angelena~  You did a helluva great job in bringing diverse people together to benefit a worthy cause, and absolutely should not let one asshole's negativity get you down.  That person expressed her opinion, and, as negative as it is, she's entitled to it.  But, why knock someone who is raising money for a worthy cause?  If you don't believe in it, just don't go--why promote negativity?
Anyway, it's over, and the issue should be over, too.  No need to answer that person's unneccesary comments.  Congrats again on a job well done!

Angelina, very well said.  it is now apparant that all Chrissy Stone was doing was drawing attention to herself for her own advertising purposes.  She succeded at that whil condeming you for the same thing.  We know what you call people like that.

I'm neither promoting nor comdemning Chrissy but personally I tend to trust people until proven different. Maybe Chrissy knows something I don't. I've met Chrissy. She seems very intelligent, and I would think she wouldn't stir the waters unless something upset her.

 Even if Chrissy is right, a lot of the wild eyed accusations that come from this board lends one to not take these boards seriously, when in reality thats the opposite of what is needed on these boards.

 It was a very good cause that you were promoting. I requested information via e-mail on the event, but received nothing. I wasn't sure about my availabilty, but nevertheless I requested info. When nothing came through, I felt it was a closed circle meeting of friends, and just stayed home.

 Maybe someday through the right leadership the circle will open up, and we can all meet new people, cultivate relationships, and promote business.

 I've yet to see that person come forward.

I happen to count Angelina as a friend. No I haven't sessioned with her. I remember speaking with her after she had decided to get involved. I clearly remember her communicating that the more she saw the devistation and pain the more she had to find a way to do something more. The more she had to respond. There was no way for her to know how much the local community was going to respond financially. She just wanted to make a difference. Many people want to make a difference. Yes that is selfish. Selfish because sometimes when you see suffering or pain it gives you an aching helpless feeling and even if you can only do a little it helps that to go away. There have been several on this board to critisize peoples efforts regarding that desire. I personally hope that people still have enough of that heart to feel that pain when they see suffering to be compelled to reach out. *** That is Humanity*** and I for one hope we keep it. The fact that I know Angelina and I know she wasn't thinking of business when she did this makes all these accusations quite disheartening. I'm not going to call any names or get mad at people for casting shadows it just makes me sad.

Please, don't let someone make you feel bad for doing a good thing! Some people you can't please no matter what you do!
Don't let one bad apple, bring you down. You are a wonderful lady and will always shine, my friend. You are a much better person, with a huge heart, to bad more aren't like you.

You are one of the sweetest ladies I know and wanted to tell you that you do not owe anyone an explanation.Keep doing what you want for noone can keep you down for i have learned that in this biz......

what are you waiting for.  Take the lead./

Angelina, don't beat yourself up.  Whether you were marketing or not, you could have a. sponsored a party that raised no funds for tsunami relief or b. you could have sponsored a party that raised $1500 for tsunami relief.

That fact that you opted for b. instead of a. ended up making the world a bit better as far as I am concerned.

Personally I have been out of the hobby for some time, but peak in on the board every once in a while, and I wanted to meet some of the new faces.  Unfortunately, other than a brief introduction by Mya, I did not get the chance to speak to you more, but I have to say that you were one of the smoking-est babes there.  If I do give anyone a call within the next few weeks, it will definitely be you.  So consider the party a success on both counts.

I must have missed that post, but who cares what people think of you. You did what you did becuase it felt right to you to try to help out the tsunami victims and survivors. That speaks for itself. No need to justify anything that makes you feel good about being you.

-- Modified on 2/1/2005 2:25:04 PM

I've been with Chrissy and found her to be a consummate professional.  The expression of her views in other posts on TER have revealed a bright, insightful, and articulate individual with a tolerance for the fact that different people will continue to have different opinions.  I had not met Angelina until I attended the fundraising event.  To me, the intentions Chrissy saw in Angelina's efforts are totally incorrect.  Angelina's efforts had nothing to do with promotion, but rather everything to do with her sense of community and humanity, and a true desire to extend a helping hand.

I know I saw two separate Tsunami related postings on the Phoenix discussion board, one from Victoria of AZ on 12/31/04, and the series of postings from Angelina and Danordanny.  As far as I know, the two are not related, did not come together, and proposed different ways to make a contribution.  One offered to direct proceeds from booked appointments to relief efforts, while the other offerred a way for people to come together and make a collective contribution.  Views expressed may have been due to mistakenly seeing the two ideas as one and the same.

Regardless, Angelina is a very nice person.

Angelina - I too believe in your sincerity.  Reaching out to help others is one of the greatest known acts of human kindness.  Your beauty is interior as well as exterior.

I am still not certain if Chrissy's comments were being directed at you or the other provider who had an initiative of her own in this regard. Without further clarification from Chrissy, we will never know. Anyone who knows you or saw how you conducted yourself at the event has to be VERY comfortable that your heart is huge and only the most noble of intentions on your part were at work here.

Don't confuse that this board is hobbyist and providers.  We are all in it for ourselves.

Thank you for your kindness, all of you! I have met some great friends, I value each and every one of you.

I'm one of the may outsiders lookin in.

A couple of people out there apparently like being 'wet blankets' and all they've succeeded in doing is making themselves look bad. LOL

This was an open invitation posted on this board and you were welcome to come. I couldnt get any refferances on you so i opted not to send you pvt e-mail, if you want the circle to open provide me refferances of providers you have sessioned with not just had lunch with.

Referances?