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RE: Mike I had no clue it was that bad, YOU WILL BE MISSED

Mike S

Thank you. It is that bad. Politics over fairness and logic, let alone the law. Thanks, though!

Morgan Conrad

You and Mike V. have both been big supporters of the club (at least, from my experience), sorry it ended up this way.

Mike S

That's the problem. The club has the right to name anyone as their photographer. They do not have the legal right to grant a board member an exclusive, financially beneficial contract, especially without reviewing competitive bids by others. Only way it could be done, under CA law (and MN, where the club's inc. is filed) was if Mike Veglia was the only person available to do the job. Simply not the case.

Additionally, we put $40,000 into the club that year, $20,000+ multiple years before.

We'd event donated a trip for two to the Nurburgring, Spa, Audi Factory Tour and sponsored a photo contest giving away $2,500+ worth of awards.

Nothing against Veglia, but our level of commitment was a "bit" higher in coverage (25+ events annualy vs 1-2) and finances.

Veglia has been with the club for a long time and is a good member. But photography is his hobby. It's extra money, not how he pays his bills and he doesn't have mid six figures invested in the equipment we do, all in an effort to serve our clients at a level nobody else offers in America.

As for sponsorship, we now solely sponsor chapters that supprot us, which is every one other than the GG chapter.

Additionally, Ayers almost personally ran Randy Pobst out of the club after four + years of great service and friendship to the club. Randy will confirm this. The National Board (2006 Board majority) did nothing to prevent it and never even reached out to Randy in any way collectively or officially.

Ego, arrogance and politics have NO place on a not for profit board. What's best for the members, with no alliances to politically powerful people, is what's most important.

I hope Veglia matches our $1,500 in donations to each event he shoots.

Mike S