Well...I'm not sure where to begin. I've held my mouth shut (on this issue on volunteers) but now I feel the need to speak out because things are happening or have happened to me that require some explanation. For years I've had a problem with the Batfish board's apparent apathy and the Batfish Foundation's tight reins on the money. Here lately, I'm upset with my treatment from park management. This does not apply to the new guy because I don't know him nor have I heard from him. So...here goes my last salvo, guaranteed to burn that last bridge to the Batfish. Frankly, I've sick of all of it at this point and my wife suggests I permanently walk away. I'm considering following her advice. So...here goes.
Most of you have hopefully read my rant on the USS Oklahoma mast currently on the grounds at the Muskogee War Memorial. And you understand the lack of effort in preserving it. My finger is pointed directly at the former management (who always had a plan but never acted on it), the foundation (who must be the ones prioritizing the release of funds since no one can explain why the mast issue hasn't been addressed), and the board (with their apparently apathy and lack of direction). Now a bit more about me, hopefully tying this all together.
Back in mid 2008, I approached Rick about being the park military historian (non-salaried, volunteer position). I had been at the park for 10 years and was in the middle of my master's degree in military history. Rick agreed to do it as an intern-type position until I graduated. I agreed and began working on my book, scheduling work days, updating the website, etc.. Everything was rolling along until an ex-submariner showed up and made his own badge and claimed to be the "ship's historian". I asked Rick about this and was told in an email dated 7/14/2012:
[he] made his own badges. You are still the ships historian and will remain as such. I would have preferred the title of “Docent”, but they were already at the engravers. Please do not take this personally. No one intended to cross any lines.
Well, nothing was done about it on the other persons end. Rick waffled on it as he always does when a personnel decision had to be made. I realized nothing would be done about it. Anyway, I continued on in my historian and volunteer coordinator rolls. However, as volunteer coordinator, I could not get others to help me coordinate work and let me know what was going on. I had no plans to "lord over" anyone or "boss them around", I simply wanted to compile what was being done, who was doing it, and estimated completion times. I was continually frustrated and I gave up and resigned. By this time most of my "Relief Crew" volunteers had left and we were left with semi-annual BLHA events and some random days by the radio guys.
I took some time off to see if my view was jaded or if things were as bad as I was thinking them to be. I've corresponded with others offline to compare notes. I toured other museums to see what was working and what wasn't. My conclusions indicated that nothing had really changed in 15 years of my working at the Batfish. Yeah, we did some good stuff (deck, 40mm, bunks, etc...) but the overall feel of the place was the same. So I decided to stay away and find something else to do. However, my thoughts always strayed back to the Batfish.
Then all the issues with the Save the Batfish website surfaced and correctly shows that malaise and general apathy at the park. I was embarrassed at the conditions I saw. I wasn't sure what to do. While trying to figure it all out, it was pointed out to me by a third party, that the museum management tried to have me banned from the park but had no evidence I was involved. I've discussed that elsewhere. So, that brings me to the presents...where I'm no longer the volunteer coordinator...and I'm not sure that I was welcome at the park. Then I see this from the July 16 Muskogee Phoenix:
“There’s no job settled there, yet,” Dennis said, adding that he plans to earn a bachelor’s degree in history. He said he will continue working with the Batfish as historian.
http://www.muskogeephoenix.com/local/x1736715556/Couple-marry-aboard-BatfishSo it seems I've also been replaced as the park historian without even an email or phone call. And this after Rick told me I was the historian as shown above. So the question is...did Rick self appoint himself or did the new guy appoint Rick...not knowing that I am/was the historian?
Let's look at qualifications. The submariner w/ the badge: not sure if he has had any college courses in history or military history. Service doesn't always equal historical knowledge. Rick: currently earning a B.S. in history. Mark: M.A. in military history with 15 years at the park. Something sounds fishy.
I also noted in the same newspaper link some of "Rick's" accomplishments at the sub:
During Rick Dennis’ tenure, the Batfish received new lighting, new footings and a mooring line. In 2013, the City of Muskogee Foundation granted funding for improvements to the museum’s Walk of Honor as well as a media and video system.
No mention of the big projects from the volunteers such as the new deck and the boat's interior A/C system all donated and installed by Vaughn. No, what was listed is foundation funded projects. I can't help but wonder why the USS Oklahoma mast wasn't listed as an accomplishment? My guess is that it's a failure of management and he didn't want that brought up.
Another issue I have is a post on the Park's Facebook page:
As a reminder, The best way for our museum to advertise is through word of mouth and our friends telling their friends about us. Please share your museum experiences with your friends and family.
Really? What about the
www.ussbatfish.com website? According to today's stats (see image below), the website has had so far this month 2846 visitors at 1 pm central time. Is that anywhere close to the Facebook total? Hell, the park FB page doesn't' even have that many people following it. Does the FB admin (is it Lyle or is it the new guy? Who knows?) know I do the website? Are they even aware of the website?
Anyway, the volunteers (Relief Crew and BHLA) have made a huge impact to the park. To have them and me treated this way is beyond pathetic. If I'm no longer wanted there, have the cajones to tell me either face to face, email or call me. Like I've said other places...and you can see it by browsing the forum...the volunteers have done a lot for the park. I'm as baffled as Darrin first stated as to why volunteers are treated the way were are.
Well, the bridge is on fire...people are mad at me...and I'm not sure if I'm welcome at the park or not. Don't know what the new guy has been told about me, not sure if he's aware that I do the website, his greatest advertising tool that I do for free (for them). I think I'm going to take my wife's advise and turn the page. There are other places that want volunteers and frankly I'm tired of trying. There is too much strife and backstabbing. In closing, I want to say thanks to all my Relief Crew who came out and helped. And thanks to my Forum friend Fred for his kind words:
That being said, I also have to give some props to Mark Allen at the Batfish for leading a stellar volunteer effort
I've enjoyed it...but I will not be treated this way. If Rick wants to be historian...go for it. Maybe he'll do what's being done on the FB page...cut and paste from Wikipedia. Yeah...that's real investigative history. I'll put up their history against my two books any day of the week.
Flood negative...I'm going deep.
Mark
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