Leaving .

[Donald]

With deep regret I will no longer be associated with .. I started this association with Neil back in April of 2002 with hopes of bringing English speakers together to network with each other to make life easier for those in Finland and for those coming to Finland. I had also hoped we would become a political lobby to help English speakers live and work in Finland. The association has evolved to where it is today through the hard work and participation of many of its members. I want to thank you all for the privilege of knowing you and working with you in making . the success it is. Unfortunately, because of the increasing work demands on my time and the committment it will take to bring this organization to its next level, I must bow out. I am happily leaving the association with knowing there is a committee of very capable people who will work endlessly to make this association even more of a success than what it is today. Again. thank you and best wishes!

[Caroline]

I had no idea!

I'm sorry to hear about your resignation, but appreciative of all you've done to get . rolling- it's just proof of the great things that Massachusetts people accomplish

Thank you and best of luck!

[Guest]

Shame that you're going, Donald but thanks for all the work you did

Don't leave completely, come take a peek every now and then, if you want...

[Anders]

Is this really written by Donald? Why did he not sign in and wrote it with his username. Instead of using guest!
I _think_ someone might be fooling you.

[Kemars]

Is this really written by Donald?

no one is pulling anyone's leg. It was written by him.
Best of luck Donald!

[BAT]

This is so sad Donald! Please do stay a member of the community and check back in here. Don't leave us completely!

Best of luck though, and thanks for your kindness over the months.

[neil]

When a user posts a message and then the account gets terminated, it gets prefixd with the username 'guest' since that username does not exists anymore.

[John]

As a newcomer to these pages for, thanks for helping to set up a much needed resource.

[Great Scott]

Ditto what John said. I remember about 2 years back when the Russian community here opened their own radio station I said to myself that the English speaking community here ought to follow suit. There are quite a few of us, and united we could have a degree of political, social, and economic clout. Of course I never did do anything about it, but apparently someone did. I am really in awe over what you have created, and proud to be a part of it. I hope you remain part of the community you helped create.

[Ace]

Bit of an over the top reaction from Donald if you ask me, but thats Donald He's a good guy despite all the politics on here, shouldn't take things to heart so much IMO, shame he felt the need to completely remove himself, could have just stayed as a member at least He will be missed (by me anyway )

[Sara]

Shame to see you go Donald. Hope you will still pop back once in a while.

[gavin]

Well Donald,

We have had some pretty big differences in the past, and clearly we look at certian issues in a very different way. Indeed we are completely different people as a whole...

However, you and Neil (who strangely, I have also had my differences with) started this whole . thing, and for that I wholeheartedly applaud you. It's easy to say "anyone could have done that" but they didn't. You did.

We never sat down and split that bottle of single malt scotch. Maybe it's as well we didn't, but anyway, I wish you all the best for the future, and I'm sorry to see you leave the thing that you were so instrumental in building.

A Native American tale:

A grandfather tells his grandson, "I feel as if I have two wolves fighting in my heart. One wolf is the vengeful, angry, violent one. The other wolf is loving and compassionate."

"Which wolf will win the fight?" asks the grandson. "The one I feed," says the grandfather.



Cheers
Gavin

[PeterF]

. Unfortunately, because of the increasing work demands on my time and the committment it will take to bring this organization to its next level,

I have only meet Donald but once when he warmed the atmosphere in my pub with his jovial presence. I do hope that I have not seen the last of the big guy from Boston
I had the feeling that his move from Salo to the wilds of "NW of nowhere Suomi" would put a huge pressure on his abilty to do all what he wanted to do.
His original dream of what he wanted the . to be, had got to the point where there are cross road with several possible directions for develoment. The way we have decided to go does mean that we need full committment from those of us doing the development. Don saw this and hence his decision.
He will be difficult to replace.
I supsect that he will read this..so...
Good luck Don and Minna and if you find yourselves in Vantaa on a Friday evening you know where to find me, and Hank, BAT and Sara are only five minutes and a phone call away.

[Tomakaze]

Donald,

I don't know you in any way shape or form, but this is a great resource and I'm glad to be a member of the community. So thanks.

I'm just confused why you must completely disassociate yourself?

Since I have a new family in Finland, I don't think I would terminate my membership here until I forget how to speak english entirely!