People who live in glass houses

Fortune Cookie

There is an old Chinese Fortune Cookie proverb, “People who live in glass houses should dress in basement,” (as opposed to the better known, “People who live in glass houses should not throw stones).

Being the son of a nudist, I don’t really care about most of the accusations that get flung at me; I’m used to telling the “naked truth.” As far as reputation, in some quarters, I started at the bottom and I’ve been working my way down ever since. What my detractors don’t seem to get is the great wisdom of Niccolo Macchiavelli, who wrote in The Prince that it is best to be both loved and feared, but if you have to choose, choose to be feared. So when people make outrageous statements about how crazy and dangerous I supposedly am, don’t necessarily expect me to deny it: it adds to precisely the reputation that Macchiavelli prescribed for me.

That said, I just can’t resist publicly outing some of the latest traffic on the internet about and by some of my detractors, but first, for context, read these previous blog postings:

http://janbtucker.com/blog/2010/10/08/play-nice-or-get-out-of-the-sandbox/

http://janbtucker.com/blog/2010/09/23/white-flag-of-surrender/

http://janbtucker.com/blog/2010/10/12/federalist-no-10-why-its-important-for-my-pi-colleagues-to-understand-how-democracy-works/

Ed Saucerman

Now that you’ve seen the context, here’s the internet traffic about Ed Saucerman et al:

Ed:

I would be happy to address your questions. I did request all inquiries be off the PICA list-serve, but since you publicized the question, I will publicize the answer.

The PICA Board debated the issue and asked me to delete the list-serve. I have agreed, but on one condition, and that was to set the record straight.

I am the only one responsible for creating the group. As with any yahoo group, of which there are tens of thousands, probably more, this was private group. There are many private groups through yahoo that have the word PICA in them.

You can choose not to believe me, but I have no reason not to be truthful. We are all volunteers, so there is no financial gain. I have many friends and colleagues with whom I seek advice on a regular basis, and that’s the entire purpose of being in an association. I have increased my network through the various associations of which I am a member, with the goal of increasing my business success. Thus far, it has worked. I would recommend others do the same.

There is no shame involved as the group did not circumvent the membership and the leaders who serve PICA open and honestly. If I’m not mistaken, many of the individuals ran unopposed in the election.

For those who choose not to renew their membership, make it for a business reason, and not because of stuff like this. If you don’t personally gain anything from attending district meetings, board meetings or from being on the list-serve, then don’t renew. I find it beneficial to be a member, and if the list-serve could return to more business related issues in 2011, I think we would all benefit.

From: Name deleted to protect the innocent

——————————————————————-

From Ed Saucerman to XXXXXXXXX:

Who asked you to address this blunder?

Why can’t we get the folks responsible for this covert group to come out of the closet?

I do not believe one word you say about this because many of us know who coaches you!

Please feel free to contact me by email or the phone.

Shame on you guys for circumventing the membership and the leaders who serve PICA open and honestly.

I believe apologies and resignations are in order!

FYI, I have not renewed my membership for 2011 and I believe there are many that have not either, and this is just one more blunder that will cause PICA to lose members like the other brilliant group.

My Warmest Regards, Edward Saucerman, Qualified Manager The Titan Group, Professional Investigations

From XXXXXX to the PICA listserve:

PICA Members:

I attended the first PICA Board meeting of 2011 this Saturday in Van Nuys, CA, and one of the agenda items discussed was [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> (mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> ) .

There has been some discussion on the PICA list-serve recently about this “secret” group. There has also been discussion about an email from this group which purported to eliminate the Capitol District.

I would like to set the record straight for the entire membership.

First, I created [email protected] <mailto: [email protected]> (mailto:[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>) for one simple reason. The reason was to create a list-serve group so that my friends and colleagues could communicate with each other about the direction of PICA in 2011, and see if anyone had an interest in running for any board positions. This discussion happens every year, since a new board is elected every year. It mainly happens at district meetings and over the phone, however, this year I thought I would create a list-serve. So I did.

Since the group has multiple members who mostly know each other, some of the members have side conversations which often include humor, sarcasm, anger, and many other emotions.

Unfortunately, when someone views one part of a conversation, without viewing the entire conversation, it can be easily taken out of context. This was the case with respect to the purported elimination with the Capitol District.

The PICA Board of Directors has no desire to eliminate the Capitol District, and encourages continued growth of the district. There is no desire to eliminate any district, and part of the responsibility of the board is to continue to support each and every meeting.

For historical purposes, over the years, PICA has eliminated districts, combined districts and added districts, all based upon the ability to support a district.

NOW, A COUPLE OF COMMENTARIES FROM MY COLLEAGUES THAT ARE FLOATING AROUND:

COMMENTARY ONE:

A step in the right direction. President Len Newcomb turned over the responsibility of deciding the Leg Chair and Committee to the PICA Board and the board voted for Gary Brummond as Chair and Matt Garrison and Mike Ferrari as committee members. Rick Von Geldern threw his hat in the ring last week, almost begging to be appointed as Leg Chair and a number of the members jumped on the band wagon in support. At the meeting, however, not even RVG’s supporters attending - - Bud Houston, David Herrera or Kevin Schumacher nominated him,. When it came to the vote for Gary, Bud voted no, David abstained and all the others voted in favor. Len took a risk and it turned out ok. RVG was not in attendance.

DELETIONS

There are now 7 ethics complaints XXXXXXXXXXX. See below where PICA’s listserv committee will now start enforcing violations, another step in the right direction.

COMMENTARY TWO:

How ironic! For the past several months, Saucerman, Sean Ditty, Dan Alvarez, RVG and the usual suspects have been causing problems for PICA just as they did for CALI. Saucerman, below, states he didn’t renew his membership and I saw another email that publicly went out last week that said they would PAY Ditty NOT TO RENEW his membership with PICA. These guys are all a bunch of assholes that no one wants. I wonder if any of them renewed their membership with CALI? Maybe they’ll start another new PI organization called the “THE REAL ASSHOLES OF THE PI INDUSTRY.” LOL!!!!

MY COMMENTARY:

Well, actually they already have started a new organization: the National League of Licensed Investigators, Inc., but is it “A rose by any other name” or is it “Poison ivy by any other name?” LOL.

That's how the cookie crumbles....

So, this cabal tried to wreck CALI and failed miserably. Then they tried to wreck PICA and they appeared to have failed at that task too (by the way, this course of action was predicted some time ago by an ex-friend of theirs, i.e., that they’d try to wreck the existing PI organizations and then form a new one of their own).

Well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles…..