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In her 11/5/04 "MERS Response to Unsolicited Email" message to municipalities (see MERS Threatens Legal Action), IS director Tama Allen accused me of being a "spammer" and advised municipalities to ask me to remove them from my email list. As of 3/8/05, 25 (of about 500) have done so.  This message from Osceola County, was signed simply "HR", and a copy was sent to Tiffany DuBois at MERS:

I agree that MERS had internal problems, but I believe that you were the biggest one. Please remove this address from your mailing list. Thank you, HR, Osceola County

And there was this one from Saginaw 911. A copy was addressed to MERS@mersofmich.com:

I have not checked out your website nor do I intend to. It's pretty presumptuous of you to think I, or anyone for that matter, really care about the problems you had with MERS. I make that statement only on the assumption that you are a disgruntled former employee. Employees who leave on good
terms don't create websites such as yours.

I have personally been enrolled in MERS since 1980 with plans to possibly retire next year....short of you telling me they are embezzling my money, there's no reason for me to change retirement plans.

Please take me off your mailing list.

Vickie Stuart
Saginaw County 9-1-1

Here is some of the other email feedback I've received, re-printed here with permission of the sender:

  • Your alternative website was very user friendly and I liked it. Thanks for sharing it with me. I'm sorry you didn't have good luck with mers, you were always helpful when I talked to you. Have a good day. [11/4/04]
     
  • Hi Steve,
    Missed you too and wondered what transpired. Thanks for your view/side. [11/5/04]
  • I think it's great to see an employee who cares enough about the organization he worked for to try and reform it after he retires. When you don't have to worry about getting fired you can really work for a
    lot of reforms. Good luck to you. [11/8/04]
     
  • Hey,
    I didn't know that you retired. You must have really upset some people with your info. I received an email Friday afternoon telling me how to remove myself from your mailing list. I checked some of your info and found it to be very interesting reading. Do you think I should share with some of my members? Hope you enjoy retirement. [11/8/04]
     
  • It's nice the know that the wheels of bureaucracy churn so pleasantly at other agencies, too! I must have sent them right over the wall when I informed Mr. Huelskamp that our township attorney found absolutely nothing in our agreement with MERS authorizing a penalty for refusing to submit via e-pay. Strangely enough, we have never received that penalty either and we continue to submit a paper check. Sorry you had a rough time of it. You were always a great help to me with everything that I needed. [11/8/04]
     
  • HI STEVE!!
    I hope you are doing well!! I am in disbelief they did that to you!! Please keep in touch and I will be checking out your site again!!
    Thanks! [12/7/04]
     
  • I was shocked by the Hardy Hasenfuss material. In my estimation paying in excess of $125,000 to Mr. Hasenfuss for management guidance is probably analogous to sending money to a TV real estate guru in expectation that the advice he can provide will guide the purchaser to great personal wealth. Few informed people believe the latter, but it is amazing how many bureaucrats will buy into some version of the former.

    In this regard, I have sat through several flim flam "temporarily popular" management program presentations (e.g. MBO = Management By Objective, GM = Grid Management, TQM = Total Quality Management, etc.) All of these "new" management concepts, each in its turn, were presented as "The Key" to personal and program success. All of those concepts are now pretty much forgotten. None of them ever came close to meeting, let alone exceeding, the management benefits resulting from simple concepts like sound program policies and optimal operating procedures. I would be most surprised to learn that the experience provided by Mr. Hasenfuss for MERS staff has done better. [12/13/04]
     
  • Steve,
    you were always helpful to us when you worked at MERS... sorry things did not work out.
    ...thought you were just griping until the part where Anne wouldn't put Dorothy Stevens picture on the Intranet...
    I remember Dorothy and Barbara Jolls and another lady with an accent that I can't quite recall her name..... "...Hulander?"
    There are no 'old elephants' left to guide the herd. It's a shame ... just like our legislature with its term limits.
    Good luck. We'll keep our eyes and ears open. [3/14/05]
     
  • Steve--
    What gives? We never had a problem with you--IN FACT--just the opposite. You were more than helpful and willing to assist someone not sure of herself. I'll never forget the 'comfort' I felt when we had to report via the Wage Report and not paper!! What is happening @ MERS--I'm getting out the end of May but I'm still concerned for others. Keep us informed and KEEP DIGGING!!!! [3/14/05]