Who is pissed at the Batfish? Well...I am for one.
I’ve thought about your question for a long time...wanting to answer then thinking about it and not responding...not really wanting to burn any bridges. Then Darrin’s thread (about volunteers) piqued my interest in responding again. So...here I am with a box of matches standing on the bridge...you decide. I’ve been with the Batfish since 1998 so I think I can talk from years of experience. People who know me I think will support my position...and I speak from a position of someone who has spent a lot of time, money and effort to preserve the submarine. I’m not pointing the finger at one specific person or group. I speak in behalf of the Batfish itself.
I know of the website you speak of. I don’t consider it a “bitch session” as you say, but as one persons view of the deteriorating conditions at the park. You say some are “non-issues” but I disagree. Unless you’ve been there and lived it...you can’t adequately assess the situation. The person was not having a “bad day” but objectively documented the conditions...and in fact, if you had of read the text, he waited a while and went back again just to make sure he was not over-reacting. Photos don’t lie. And ignoring the situation is not a solution.
I’ve heard from my sources that the people involved were banned “for life” from the park. I also heard that management also tried to ban me but didn’t have evidence that I was involved. For the record, I was aware of what was going on but I was upfront that I wanted no part of any politics at the park. I’ve lived through that once when one board chairman (I’m not naming names but he was there before Rick took over) tried to kill the volunteer programs (sound familiar Darrin?), stating there were too many chiefs. He was a dictator type, had his own Batfish website and as Fred has stated, appeared jealous of the volunteers because we were aggressive in our attempts to restore. We tried to work within the guidelines of the park but we were seen as a threat. Fortunately not all the volunteers left and I was able to rebuild it for a while. Again, I currently feel I’m seen as a threat and refuse to go back down until mgmt changes and the board cycles out.
The reason for the “bitch session” website was due to apathy from the board, foundation and park mgmt. Were they right in doing so? I’m not sure what to say. There were ideas floated around that would cost the park minimum dollars to give the building a facelift with all labor provided for free. One person had access to all types of heavy equipment and had many contacts. But the chain of command prevented anything from moving forward. My perspective is that the people on the board use their position for resume building. Granted there have been some that genuinely care about the place, but I can’t remember any coming out on our work days. The foundation has a lot of money but for some reason (politics) it can’t be used until a specific person on the foundation dies because he got his feelings hurt. All I know is that the appearance is that no one (board or foundation or mgmt) wants to work with anyone group and/or prevents the process from moving forward.
One of the BHLA members interviewed for the job that Rick’s leaving. Since this person is friends with the people behind the “bitch session” website, I can only guess he was black balled because it’s been reported to me that the person hired is a PhD type with no experience, whereas the BHLA individual was more than qualified. Makes me wonder if the PhD knew someone or if there is more politics involved. At any rate, its sickens me to see what the place has become (politics wise) because the park has (or had) great potential...they had an active volunteer groups, an active living history group, and I assume the HAMs still operate there but I’ve been away for over a year and only get stuff from second hand sources and Facebook posts.
As Jim mentioned, I did step down from being the volunteer coordinator after 15 years. I wanted to help Rick out but no other group would help me help him. I wanted to condense all work into a report that he could give to the board. I honestly had no idea what was going on with other groups than our “Relief Crew” that I oversaw. The breaking point came when, after we finished phase 1 of the deck, another group notified me that they were conducting their own work day and that I could “take a rest”. At that point I saw no reason to continue the charade.
The biggest issue I had (and still have) is that the USS Oklahoma mast is still out in the elements. Yes, after several months there is a “covering” over it but ultimately the sun, wind, rain, snow, ice, etc... are going to destroy it. There is no plan to save it...well there may be a plan but no one knows what it is. The Navy was reluctant to give it to the museum but relented. If you saw the photos on the “bitch session” website, you can see the deterioration.
I’ve done a hell of a lot for the park. I do the website free of charge. I wrote the tour book and the park pamphlet. I wrote a book about the sub specifically for the park. Yes they paid me for the books but I only charged my actual cost which in effect donated my royalities to the park. I organized work days and designed volunteer shirts that everyone wore on our days. I was there in the summer heat and winter cold. I did it for the Batfish and her subvets. However, somedays I didn’t feel the love in return. I’ve heard about snide remarks from one subvet (not our beloved Batfish vets) who, during the summer, was in the air conditioned park building griping about how long it was taking us. He didn’t realize my wife was running the cash register. I’ve heard other volunteers say things like “Well, if you had done it correctly in the first place...”. I wanted to say “where the hell were you 3 years ago?” He’s lucky I didn’t throw him over the side. And then there are the volunteers who only show up when the paper or TV crew show up and then pretend their the “saviors of the submarine”. And lets not forget the Tulsa car dealer who promised to help raise $100,000...which only turned out to be a publicity stunt as not one dime rolled in.
Most of it I can let roll off my back and I learned over time who to believe and who not to. I did my time because I loved the sub (still do). I felt is was my own submarine and was jealous to protect her. I learned to let the politics go because if I waited it out, dictator types always left. However, after all I’ve put into the sub, and then have an attempt to ban me without at least talking to me...well screw that. If I decide to go back down again, I’ll just wait it out again. But there are always other places to volunteer and maybe it’s time I gave up on the Batfish and found a new place to devote my time and energy.
Well, for those of you who have made it this far...I thank you for your patience. If you want to attack me...go ahead, my skin is pretty thick. I’m not mad at anyone. Disappointed yes...mad, no. I’ve made a lot of friends over the years and have kept up with most of them. Some people don’t like me or the way I do things. That’s fine too. We can agree or disagree...and we can be civil in the way we approach things. I’ve said what I’ve been holding back now for a long time. You now have permission to lob hand grenades at me...I can take it...but I also can give it just as well as I get it. Peace.
Mark Allen
