Fascinating press conference with strong bullet points. You appear in a calm manner supported by
factual arguments. If possible, the campaign should expand over time with various themes connected
to Macedonias development.

Not sure which other Macedonian organizations you are suggesting. First, they all need to have a common policy. AMHRC/MHRMI have been very clear on the policy of "name negotiations", which is why they openly invited others to join this campaign rather than conducting behind-the-scene support gathering among various Macedonian organizations. It could have been more bureaucratic and time consuming.

If I'm not mistaken, AMHRC/MHRMI are the front-runners and leaders for ending name-negotiations based on human rights principles.
The policy of for or against name negotiations is growing by the day.

Like I said previously. If this is going to be a battle of ego, who the "real frontrunner" is, we don't need them, etc. etc. etc. You might as well cut the project short.

The cause is what's important, not the nonprofit or someone's career.

Of course the cause is what is important. Who said/implied anything else?
And its not a matter of ego, if that's your interpretation of being the front runner for a specific case.

MHRMI Planning Committee? Almost every UMD member supports this project but not the UMD board ..






WHO?

From what I understand, correct me if I'm wrong, UMD position is to support name-negotiations. Thus, they don't support this MHRMI/AMHRC campaign. Meanwhile the members of UMD, as suggested, do support it.

What would be more interesting, is to conduct a poll of all UMD members to see how many support the current campaign for ending name-negotiations. That way one can assess if the UMD position is behind the curve.

I myself have supported diplomacy, but not at all cost and indefinitely. I therefore have decided to support the campaign by MHRMI/AMHRC. Its the prudent and forward looking thing to do.

The following was a direct result of on-going pressure from some Maknews and MTO member's http://umdiaspora.org/content/view/488/1/

The UMD tries very hard to not upset the Government of the USA and support everything they do and say. If, the UMD was to go against people like Phil Reeker they feel that would not be a wise thing to do in assisting Macedonians living in Macedonia. What, if the UMD begins to do what they're suppose to be doing - assist the Macedonians in Diaspora countries and fullfilling their wishes rather then some personal agenda (board member's) which mirrors Macedonia 2025?

Two functions annually (conference & banquet) for Diaspora member's just won't cut it and that only applies to North America!

2009-10 travel costs versus net result?

The AMHRC and MHRMI set up this campaign as their own vehicle. There were no consultations with anyone beforehand. I don't view this as being an inclusive campaign. This is the complete opposite approach to the way the UMD handled the census campaign in the United States.

Yes, anyone and everyone were invited to support the campaign - after the fact - but that's just not the same thing, is it? The UMD would have been a good fit here, because they do have solid support in the Diaspora, whether people like to admit it or not, and they have run media campaigns in Macedonia before.

It's the AMHRC/MHRMI's campaign and they can run as they see fit, but in my view it would have been MUCH more effective had they consulted with a wider segment of Diaspora organizations. Of course, they may have had their own good reasons for not doing that and that's their prerogative.

I don't mind constructive criticism of the UMD or any other group, but some of you are starting to sound silly and naive and you misrepresent the position of the UMD on the name negotiations.

Lubi, the bottom line is that EVERY Macedonian organization must put their egos aside or the Macedonian people will suffer in the end. Most of us here know why the AMHR/MHRMI and UMD can not be directly connected, however, last time I checked that person was not officially on the UMD board - only a paid member.

If anyone doesn't know you can do your own research because not in the mood to start that topic again - the past

You are entitled to your opinions, Alex, but the AMHRC/MHRMI and the UMD need to work together for the good of the Macedonian Cause. I'm not interested in coffee shop talk or egos.

I don't follow your logic, Alex, I don't see how Macedonia 2025 fits in with the AMHRC/MHRMI's latest campaign and the UMD working in support of that.

Anyway, coffee shop talk and unfounded opinions are a dime-a-dozen. The big picture here is for Macedonian organizations to behave more professionally, check their egos at the door and learn to work together constructively for the good of The Cause.

I'd appreciate it if you'd stop naming names and denigrating people. I edited your last post.

The link provided by MK says the following:





It appears, that UMD board has indeed ended its support for name-negotiations. I stand corrected in my prior comment. I checked the sign-up by various organizations for this campaign, UMD is missing, as far as I can see.

One day you will say "mistore, you were 100% correct and I was very wrong to put all my eggs in one basket - the UMD"

Tim Horton

I DO MORE THEN MOST MEMBERS OF ANY MACEDONIAN ORGANIZATION - A FREE AGENT!!!

This was written awhile ago. And UMD has been talking about cutting out of the negotiations/talks for AT LEAST six months now. I stated this before, no one seemed to listen. It has nothing to do with who I support, but has everything to do with calming down, taking a step back, and actually reading what is written.

I would also like to publicly ask the members of UMD to sign on to this campaign. Whatever is going through your minds, drop it, and focus on the cause: Name, identity, before membership. This was the initial mission - let's stick to it.

If the AMHRC/MHRMI had wanted the UMD to sign on to the campaign they would have consulted with them beforehand and made them stakeholders in the project. Obviously, they didn't do that, and they may have good reasons for keeping this project their private effort.

It's good to see the AMHRC/MHRMI supporting the UMD position to end the name negotiations. Now the AMHRC/MHRMI and the UMD are all on the same page.

Lubi, I'm sorry you're 100% wrong to even suggest that the UMD should have been consulted (one of several players) on this pro-active initiative - UMD need to take off their sun glasses ans get some sun on their faces - very large egos

UMD's feelings are hurt? Really, tell me why?

Please, we need full support not more cheerleaders and UMD defenders. I want UMD to report EVERYTHING they plan on doing to the AMHR/MHRMI for now on, .. fair enough.

Are you pion pok?

DEAL WITH REALITY

http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad64 ... 010012.jpg
http://i922.photobucket.com/albums/ad64 ... 010011.jpg

Planning Committee - which one?

LUBI, I LIKE YOU LIKE A BROTHER, HOWEVER, THIS IS ONE BATTLE THAT NEITHER YOU OR THE UND WILL EVER WIN AND YOU BETTER START UNDERSTANDING THAT CONCERN BECAUSE THOSE WHO REFUSE TO SIGN UP WILL PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.

Macedonian Coalition
Toronto, Ontario Canada

I'm not sayning that there things, reasons, or logic behind this that I do not know. It's an ego thing on both ends, and perhaps both are positioning themselves for something else. But, I still think the cause is more important than perception or careers.

Maknews, you're advising MK to drop the UMD jibes, yet you continue to deliver multiple jibes of your own against AMHRC/MHRMI. You keep rehashing the same CD of AMHRC not consulting with UMD beforehand, and somehow this would justify the absence of UMD board members to personally sign up, or as a whole organization - There is no rational logic for UMD board members to not sign up on AMHRC/MHRMI initiative, even if they were not consulted beforehand. Regardless, there is an invitation for all organizations/individuals to do the RIGHT THING.

To act alone is better then to not act at all - a major disgrace for those who CONTINUE to dig their heels in and bury their heads in the mud. I really wish I could quit every Macedonian organization today but that's impossible and the way I like it best.

FREE TO CHOOSE, FREE TO SUPPORT

I'm sure the UMD's feelings aren't hurt in the least. The UMD is a dynamic young organization that runs non-stop. I'm fairly well-acquainted with the UMD folks and have great faith in them.


I'm merely expressing my dissapointment at the way the AMHRC/MHRMI chose to run this campaign. I know they have the smarts to have done this more effectively - but, here we are. The UMD census project was a better model in terms of consultation and inclusivity.

From the perspective of the wider Macedonian Diaspora, it would have been very helpful to have had the UMD, and others, as stakeholders in this campaign. People going "rah-rah" after the fact doesn't cut it. That's my opinion, I'm sure very few people in the AMHRC/MHRMI see it the way I do - and they may have their own good reasons for doing it stag, but I can't help feeling this was missed opportunity.

Nevertheless, I congratulate the AMHRC/MHRMI on this worthy and valuable campaign and wish them every success. I also urge the UMD and the AMHRC/MHRMI to find ways to build trust amongst their members and to be able to run projects like this together in future.