MASS LEP LEADERS

[Grkovich, Alex]

I wanted to share this very sad post with everyone on line, because I do
believe that it reveals a very unsavory and even nasty aspect to certain
leaders among the "butterfly watchers". I feel very bad about this because
it is this sort of attitude that exists among such leaders that renders
reconciliation between butterfly "watchers" and Lepidopterists (i.e. those
who collect butterflies), regardless even if they collect scientifically, as
I suspect, everyone by now realizes that I do, impossible.

Yesterday, I visited for the second time in a month, an area along a
powerline cut near Milford, Massachusetts, that was identified by Brian
Cassie, editor of Mass Leps. I met a very cordial individual during both
visits, the second one yesterday. 

This morning, there was this posting on the MassLeps "Archives", from Brian
Cassie in regard to my visit:

"Hi everyone,
   Yesterday was an almost perfect day in the field except for one thing.
One of my friends told me that after I posted the Harvester sightings [in
early August] in Milford recently, the next day there was a collector at the
spot looking foe them. I have no responsibility for this butterfly chatline
and I am very grateful for its existence but I guess I can no longer give
specific directions to good butterflies in print, since even persons who are
er removed from our list can get the information online. At least twice this
year I mentioned that anyone is welcome to follow directions I give but I
give them specifically for butterfly watching and specifically not for any
collecting.
    From now on, if you read about something I saw and you want directions,
call me or send me a personal e-mail.
    As for you, AG, go out and find your own butterflies.
    Brian Cassie"

I think the above post speaks volumes, in terms of the unfriendly and biased
mindset of such individuals who claim to be "leaders". I had suspected that
the "war" had ended. I had not since last year written anything that could
be construed as being offensive to this person, and I had resolved to never
again do so. I had also thought that I had begun to make some friendly
relationships with some of the MassLep people, off-line and also in the
field, as I suspect I did yesterday. There is, however, a problem here, and
it is not with me, at least not anymore. I feely admit that I was quite rude
with this person a few times last year, but I also feel that I apologized to
him enough times - maybe too many times.

I honestly feel nothing but pity for unsuspecting "watchers" who are under
his command and under the command of like-minded "leaders".

Reconciliation is absolutely impossible with such individuals.

Two responses:

1. I am an avocational and scientifically minded Lepidopterist, not merely a
"butterfly collector".
2. Brian, I really DON'T need your directions, I can find and have found all
the butterflies (including Harvesters) that I need on my own.

Alex Grkovich

Alex Grkovich, P.E.
TMP Consulting Engineers, Inc.
52 Temple Place, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 357-6060 ext. 329



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