Calming the Rough Waters

Heyla, all!

As most of you already know, I've taken a leave of absence as group leader of the Broke Developers Group in order to sort out some real-world personal difficulties. I do apologize for the suddenness of this, but it is necessary in order for me to sort some issues out. I do promise to return once the situation has stabilized. However, as things seem to be approaching a heated nature in this group, from what I can gather from the current e-mails I've been receiving, I think I ought to clarify a few things, namely, what I desire to achieve with the group.

A few people in the group have spoken of a dream I hold for the Broke Developers Group. I'm not sure whether they truly understand the whole of that dream, so I wish to paint a clear picture for you: I would first like to make things clear that I have never intended to run everyone's lives. The purpose of this group was to allow people who are interested in making sales to pool what resources they have in order to better sell their products. And we have accomplished that. A few have complained about inactive members, but, frankly, does that really harm the group? I have created a group web site with links to every struggling vendor's auctions and a group ThereDoc that links to this web site, but from what I've seen of those who've come to our shops and our showcases, people still prefer to collect and shop from the individual ThereDocs that active members choose to set out, and to buy from the vendors who are actually present at these events to push their products. So are inactive members truly harming the sales of the active members who work so hard to advertise their products? No.

While I'm disappointed by the inactivity of the majority of the group, I also understand that real life takes precedence over one's life in There. Most of the people in the group are working adults with families to feed and tend to. This is busy work. And when they finally have the chance to actually log into There, they'd rather spend that rare time relaxing with friends, rather than pushing their products. Indeed, many of the developers in the group had gone into developing as a fun and relaxing hobby. Perhaps, one day, they may want to take advantage of the resources the group has to offer, but apparently, now isn't that time. I've finally come to accept this, and with this acceptance, comes my dream for the group:

On the day I return to lead the group, I will have the funds to actually buy for the group a stable shop that can be run as the group wishes it to be run, as we seem to have lost our place in the SkyView Mall. I will be able to schedule fairly regular showcases, fashion shows, and shop events, all of which will always be available to the interested group member who has decided that he or she would like to make a push for sales. More than that, I hope that our group can become a close and warm community where everyone can feel welcome and chat, maybe give developing advice, or just plain hang out because we enjoy each other's presence. Perhaps we ought to hold weekly party events for this purpose?

While I am out of action, now, I promise, upon my return, to work hard for each and every one of you, active or not. I will work hard to make available as many advertising resources as the group wishes to take advantage of… I’m not looking for thanks or glory. If that were what I wanted, I would have hung onto leadership for dear life and ruled the group with an iron fist. I’m not interested in that. I’m just looking to build a community that can trust each other and know that we can be there for each other when the time dictates that we need a helping hand. That is all. You can take advantage of what this group has to offer, or not. As long as I know I have worked hard for you, to be available for you, to have the resources you need available to you, I am at peace. Those are my dreams. Those are my wishes.

In the meantime, I have left the group in the hands of eleanorrigby. She is a schoolteacher by day, and this is a busy time in the year for her, so she isn’t likely to hold as many meetings and shop events as I had been able to. However, she has all the leadership qualities I wish I possessed: a cool and level head, a sense of diplomacy, practicality, and a maturity that constantly astounds me. So, perhaps the group has slowed down, for a bit, but perhaps that is exactly what the group needs, in order to cool off and rebuild itself into a better, stronger community.

And so, I ask for everyone’s patience. Hopefully, if all goes well, that patience will be well rewarded. Until then, I wish everyone well as they travel their own life paths.

Wishing you all fair profits,
TheKeeper