I just read the newsletter and am floored that at the very bottom of page 4 they are introducing a NEW weed and seed website for info.

I was getting all the info I needed right here where I want to be, how many sites do we really need to gain this information.

What does this mean for LAL as the official web site for the W&S?

Chrissy, there is much more to the story that what is told on the newsletter. LAL will not let you or it's members down.

Darnell, we know LAL would never let us down. Never has, never will. LAL is where I get my Lehigh news/events/info etc. This is the only local site for me.

I will now shut my mouth about this... for now.

Guys, I will explain more a bit later. Just give me a little time.

I promised to give an explanation as to what I know about this new website, but first I find it important to have a history lesson about Lehigh Acres Live and the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed program.

November 2008, Stan Nelson who is a LCSO employee and a main cog in the Weed and Seed Program called me at home. He told me that the Steering Committee is requesting that Lehigh Acres Live work with them as their Internet media outlet. Mr. Nelson told me this would be a long-term relationship and stated, “There will a lot of publicity for Lehigh Acres Live.” I was asked to attend the November 2008 Steering Committee meeting and give a presentation to the members, which I did with Jacqui Hill my assistant. This was the birth of the relationship of Lehigh Acres Live and the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed Program. The many hours of work on the website began and many of you watched the transition.

Not to be outdone, Mr. Robert Anderson (Watchdog) decided to create his own “unrequested” Weed and Seed Website. At the January 2009 Steering Committee meeting, Mr. Anderson announced his version of the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed, and stated it was a 100% Weed and Seed website. Mr. Anderson also made the claims his website was a much better website that Lehigh Acres Live and his site could do things Lehigh Acres Live could not.

Not one Steering Committee member acknowledged his presentation, but to keep peace Stan Nelson provided the same information to Mr. Anderson as Lehigh Acres Live received.

To my knowledge,has gone well thus far, and the sub-committee members manage the Weed and Seed area of Lehigh Acres Live.

Recently the creation of the Weed and Seed Media Relations Committee chaired by Joann Ellis, with other members from W&S subcommittees including Robert Anderson. At the initial meeting of the Media Relations there was mention of having a single Weed and Seed site.

Then just a few days ago were the first publishing of the Media Relations newsletter. This was the first I had heard of a “New” Weed and Seed website. I had not been contacted by any member of the Steering Committee prior to the release of the newsletter announcing a new website. I have since learned that the domain name LehighAcresWeedandSeed.net has been purchased by Joann Ellis.

A day or so after the newsletter release, I did receive an apology from Bo Turbeville for not contacting me prior to the release of the newsletter announcing the new website.

Mr. Turbeville stated in his email to me, “It was suggested by the Department of Justice that we have a website that does not associate ourselves with any other group affiliation.”

Mr. Turbeville continued with the statement, “I still want you to remain active and continue with the weed and seed information that you have been providing on Lehigh Acres Live.”

I replied and asked exactly what does the Steering Committee expect out of Lehigh Acres Live now with this new website, and his reply was, “We want you and Lehigh Acres Live to continue the help in the way that that you already have been.”

Now then, let’s take a look at the success of Mr. Anderson’s “100%” Weed and Seed website since this is the direction the Media Relations committee has decided to take. www.LehighAcresWeedandSeedproject.info has not had any agenda or meeting minutes updated/uploaded for public access since January 2009. (I screen printed all pages today if anyone want to view them.) Too late to upload them now Mr. Anderson.

The event calendar has not been working in weeks, but even so, has not had a meeting event indicated since January 2009.

As of today, his chat-room is full of vulgar language, but yet he claims his website is “Safe for Children.” (I have a screen print of that page if you would like for me to send it in an email to you. Just let me know.) It has been there for months, and Mr. Anderson never removed it. How many of our children have already viewed it? A nice thing for a Weed and Seed website!

So this is Mr. Anderson’s track record, and as part of the Media Relations committee it is his responsibility to oversee the New website.

Now ask yourself, how many visits do you think this “100%” Weed and Seed website will get from regular people like you and I?

Well let’s see the data, since there already is a website up and running that claims to be a “100%” Weed and Seed website. I can produce data that shows when visitors surf to Robert Anderson’s Weed and Seed website, they stay there for 1.6 minutes/day. Yes that is right, 1.6 minutes/day. Barely 90 seconds/day. This website is a TOTAL Failure and not safe for our children!

On the other hand, visitors to Lehigh Acres Live remain on the site for 23.6 minutes/day.

So what is the fate of Lehigh Acres Live working with the Weed and Seed program? According to a conversation I had with Stan Nelson yesterday, it will be determined by the members of the Steering Committee.

For the Weed and Seed program to work, word has to get out. It is my opinion, and Robert Anderson proved it, a stand-alone Weed and Seed website will not produce the hits they are expecting and need.

I am off my soapbox for now.
 

Darnell,

Bravo  Bravo,

Very well said !!

BTW Mr. Anderson, what is a "Steeringchariman?"

Posted By WilliamDParker on 31 May 2009 06:13 AM
After I went to bed last night I thought of this and questioned myself to sleep. Anderson's weed & seed website was not checked by the weed & seed committee to see what was being posted there? Obviously they recognized his site if they gave him information to post there. How would the weed & seed committee allow such vulgar language be displayed for months on end, and it took his competitor leemedic to bring this issue to light? Next, did they not know Anderson was not posting all the documents as was post here on this site? Who was checking on Anderson? I cannot believe they let him on his own with his colorful past.
Yep, these guys are really going to save Lehigh, and they cannot watch one man!

It might have been removed from Andersons site now, but a little bird told me it is up on another site. LOL

Definition of a "Steeringchariman" is beyond me? Where did you get this leemedic?

I don't know either, but he says Bo Turbeville is one!

If I had to guess Robert probably showed the committee inflated numbers of hits to his Weed and Seed website like he once did when he tried to show his Watchdog website was getting 1200 hits a day. We all know that his numbers were made up. I would suggest to you LeeMedic that you no longer post any Weed and Seed info and when the program gets no participation for events because no one ever goes to or posts on Roberts website, they will be begging you to post for them again. I have said for a while that if Robert was a part of Weed and Seed it was doomed for failure. It looks like I will soon be right. We all know that Robert has been jealous of LAL ever since it was started. His website has never been successful. He has tried time after time to bad mouth LAL. What has always been funny to me was that he used to stay logged on to LAL for weeks at a time. Every time I logged on to LAL I always used to see Robert already logged on no matter what time it was. Pretty weird for someone who hates this site so bad. Deep down but will never admit he knows that LAL is the place for Lehigh Acres information. He proves it by posting here. 

FF110, I undertand your frustration, and have been there myself. I have spent hundreds of hours working on LAL's weed and seed section and nearly as much money as hours.

Becoming designated as a Weed and Seed site by the Federal Government is NOT a given. We are competing with other communities. Our application process starts this August.

Now picture this. . . we apply for  a Weed and Seed designation, and the Feds start the process determining who will be granted a Weed and Seed site. So they get on the internet and Google "Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed." What pops up is Robert Anderson's rogue website with all of that vulgar language in the chat room, which has been there for months!!! What do you think the Feds would do next? Good thing I said something here!

I continue to warn the leaders of our Weed and Seed project that we get ONE chance at this. I fear my warning is falling on deaf ears.

FF110, my first thought was to remove all Weed and Seed information from LAL, but then I thought about it and asked, "Who would that really hurt?" The residents of Lehigh is who.

I will wait for a decision from the Steering Committee as to what they want from LAL.

Very very sad... I've heard so many people say they will not support the w&s because of one bad seed.  Sorry to say I can understand.

I am glad to see that Mr. Anderson has removed the vulgar language from his Weed and Seed Website chatroom. The question I have is why did it take months for it to be removed?

I think everybody needs to step back, take a deep breath and quit guessing as to what is going on.

From the beginning it was thought that a "Stand Alone" official Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed website would be needed. A website that was independent and maintained at the direction of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee. The partnership with LAL was an intermediate step to that goal. Without funding or needed expertise to operate a Lehigh W&S website, LAL seemed a good fit and would expand public exposure of the W&S activities.

As connected as many of us are with email, cell phones and various other communication links this issue has drawn a lot of attention because a LOT of non (or mis) communication has happened. Before this goes any further I think the parties involved in this need to talk and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and reach concensus. Until then, speculation and gossip will only make this situation more heated and difficult to resolve. Many people are committed and passionate about this project and that can cause emotions to get raw.

Please join me in waiting to allow those involved time to get it right. Communication is the key here and that has not happened at the right level. Quit "stirring the pot".

Posted By DShelor on 31 May 2009 12:29 PM

I think everybody needs to step back, take a deep breath and quit guessing as to what is going on.

From the beginning it was thought that a "Stand Alone" official Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed website would be needed. A website that was independent and maintained at the direction of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee. The partnership with LAL was an intermediate step to that goal. Without funding or needed expertise to operate a Lehigh W&S website, LAL seemed a good fit and would expand public exposure of the W&S activities.

As connected as many of us are with email, cell phones and various other communication links this issue has drawn a lot of attention because a LOT of non (or mis) communication has happened. Before this goes any further I think the parties involved in this need to talk and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and reach concensus. Until then, speculation and gossip will only make this situation more heated and difficult to resolve. Many people are committed and passionate about this project and that can cause emotions to get raw.

Please join me in waiting to allow those involved time to get it right. Communication is the key here and that has not happened at the right level. Quit "stirring the pot".

Dshelor, when I was asked to open up LAL to the Weed and Seed, there was no mention of a 5-6 month duration. On the contrary.

This is an extract from the Nov 2008 Meeting Minutes of that meeting.

"Lehigh Acres Live (LAL) – Darnell Jordan and assistant Jacqui Hill presented an
online media solution for coordinating and advertising information about the Weed
and Seed project over the next few years.  The website forum is designed to share
information with community members interested in obtaining information about
events, programs, initiatives in Lehigh Acres. Many of the area community outreach
organizations already are using the site. Mr. Jordan has agreed to promote the efforts
of Weed and Seed, including establishing an area designated for Weed and Seed
subcommittees, writing and distributing a newsletter, creating an events calendar, etc."

"stirriing the pot", I think not. I do believe I was asking a question and commenting on the answers. I think you called it free speach before.

Believe me, I have alot more going on in my life right now whether it's watching the loss of my 11 year old cousin who Saturday loss his battle with brain cancer and now having to deal with my 6 day old neice going to another hospital for open heart surgery to repair her tiny little defective heart, the first surgery of 3 for this little baby.  So with this said, don't expect my opinion on this matter any longer, I have much more important things to worry about right now.

Posted By Chrissy on 31 May 2009 05:10 PM

"stirriing the pot", I think not. I do believe I was asking a question and commenting on the answers. I think you called it free speach before.

Believe me, I have alot more going on in my life right now whether it's watching the loss of my 11 year old cousin who Saturday loss his battle with brain cancer and now having to deal with my 6 day old neice going to another hospital for open heart surgery to repair her tiny little defective heart, the first surgery of 3 for this little baby.  So with this said, don't expect my opinion on this matter any longer, I have much more important things to worry about right now.

Chrissy,
 

We all have our share of problems right now and you seem to have more than your share right now. I wish you well and pray the Lord provides you the strength, means and comfort to deal with such tragic circumstances.

To address your other comments:

1. I was not directing my "stirring the pot" at you. Your initial post asked a question. You received an answer then others started to chime in heavily after some additional information came out. (Not all the information but some) My comment was an attempt to stop some of the bashing and finger pointing. People jump to conclusions when they do not know all the facts and when emotions are high it is harder to find resolution.

2. Yes, I believe in free speech and will fight for that right. I was not trying to squash comments, I was trying to avert wholesale speculation, name calling and personal bashing. Oh, well. Here is what I actually said, "Please join me in waiting to allow those involved time to get it right. Communication is the key here and that has not happened at the right level. Quit "stirring the pot"." One problem here is that the people involved in this have not talked to each other.

Posted By LeeMedic on 31 May 2009 02:43 PM

Posted By DShelor on 31 May 2009 12:29 PM

I think everybody needs to step back, take a deep breath and quit guessing as to what is going on.

From the beginning it was thought that a "Stand Alone" official Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed website would be needed. A website that was independent and maintained at the direction of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee. The partnership with LAL was an intermediate step to that goal. Without funding or needed expertise to operate a Lehigh W&S website, LAL seemed a good fit and would expand public exposure of the W&S activities.

As connected as many of us are with email, cell phones and various other communication links this issue has drawn a lot of attention because a LOT of non (or mis) communication has happened. Before this goes any further I think the parties involved in this need to talk and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and reach concensus. Until then, speculation and gossip will only make this situation more heated and difficult to resolve. Many people are committed and passionate about this project and that can cause emotions to get raw.

Please join me in waiting to allow those involved time to get it right. Communication is the key here and that has not happened at the right level. Quit "stirring the pot".

 

Dshelor, when I was asked to open up LAL to the Weed and Seed, there was no mention of a 5-6 month duration. On the contrary.

 

 

LeeMedic, I made no mention of 5-6 months. I have never suggested any time frame. Those are your words not mine. WE have talked about eventually there being a website specifically dedicated to the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed project. I thought you agreed with that thought. Maybe you took issue with my "Stand Alone" description. I did not use that term to mean only one website containing weed and seed info. Shoot, we just had a conversation discussing the need to reach as many people as possible and how having more than one website being helpful to achieve that goal.

At this point I'll take my own advice a not comment on this until the involved parties have talked.

Posted By DShelor on 31 May 2009 08:25 PM

Posted By LeeMedic on 31 May 2009 02:43 PM

Posted By DShelor on 31 May 2009 12:29 PM

I think everybody needs to step back, take a deep breath and quit guessing as to what is going on.

From the beginning it was thought that a "Stand Alone" official Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed website would be needed. A website that was independent and maintained at the direction of the Weed and Seed Steering Committee. The partnership with LAL was an intermediate step to that goal. Without funding or needed expertise to operate a Lehigh W&S website, LAL seemed a good fit and would expand public exposure of the W&S activities.

As connected as many of us are with email, cell phones and various other communication links this issue has drawn a lot of attention because a LOT of non (or mis) communication has happened. Before this goes any further I think the parties involved in this need to talk and have a clear understanding of what needs to be done and reach concensus. Until then, speculation and gossip will only make this situation more heated and difficult to resolve. Many people are committed and passionate about this project and that can cause emotions to get raw.

Please join me in waiting to allow those involved time to get it right. Communication is the key here and that has not happened at the right level. Quit "stirring the pot".

 

Dshelor, when I was asked to open up LAL to the Weed and Seed, there was no mention of a 5-6 month duration. On the contrary.

 

 

 

 

LeeMedic, I made no mention of 5-6 months. I have never suggested any time frame. Those are your words not mine. WE have talked about eventually there being a website specifically dedicated to the Lehigh Acres Weed and Seed project. I thought you agreed with that thought. Maybe you took issue with my "Stand Alone" description. I did not use that term to mean only one website containing weed and seed info. Shoot, we just had a conversation discussing the need to reach as many people as possible and how having more than one website being helpful to achieve that goal.

At this point I'll take my own advice a not comment on this until the involved parties have talked.

DShelor, I know you did not mention 5-6 months. That is the current timeframe LAL was represented the Weed and Seed here, and if you keep "stirring" the pot, I will send you to the corner with Chrissy. Oh wait! I released her, so you would be alone there. Maybe you can get kandl to bring you some of her special cookies.

Did somebody mention  Cookies?