Dear Editor:
Re: What's with Hyack rebranding?, Letters to the editor, Sept. 20.
It has been interesting to read the ongoing barrage of letters to the editor by the James Crosty/Paul Thompson/T.C. Ted Eddy PR machine, most of them full of misinformation, and none of them disclosing the fact that Mr. Thompson's public relations firm was engaged by the four "rogue" Hyack board members. Perhaps some disclosure would be in order, so that the readers of this newspaper can put Mr. Thompson's spin-doctoring into context. As for my own interest in Hyack, I am primarily concerned about the continuity of Uptown Live, which my company sponsors and co-presents.
This live music event was started two years ago by the former executive director Douglas Smith, who was recently dismissed by this same small group of board members that operated outside the authority of the full Hyack board. I am not interested in seeing Uptown Live become a casualty of the ongoing Hyack saga.
Uptown Live is a prime example of the modern, inclusive and New West-focused vision for Hyack that Mr. Smith pursued, and which Hyack should continue pursue, but which was abruptly abandoned when the "rogue four," with the backing of a select few past presidents, decided it was better to get rid of Mr. Smith so that the organization could turn back the clock and continue to focus on their out-of-town travels at taxpayers' expense.
As for the web domain names, yes, I personally registered these domains. My sole objective in doing so was to protect these domains from being used in the power struggle that is ongoing at Hyack. It is interesting to note that the Hyack board voted in January to rebrand the organization to Festivals New West, but this rebranding initiative was hijacked by the same individuals that fired Mr. Smith and thus was never implemented.
Let me make clear that I have no interest in owning these domains long term, and will gladly give these domains (at no cost, Mr. Thompson) to the next organization that will take on the mandate of organizing first-rate events in New Westminster, for New Westminster.
Bart Slotman, New Westminster
