R. O. M. P.

When Beth and I lived in Milwaukee, from 2003 to 2006, we actively supported  an organization called R.O.M.P. – Residents for Off-leash Milwaukee Parks. We were very much in favor of having areas in the city where dogs could play freely, without being restrained by a leash, and not be a threat to other citizens. Obviously, while living there, we got on the R.O.M.P. email list.

When we moved to Searsport, Maine, the emails continued despite all my good efforts to have them remove my name. In all honestly, they are not like spam attacks… I’d only get 5-6 emails a year, but it was just enough to put my “undies in a knot” whenever I got one of their news items.

I had resigned myself to reacting only with a big “sigh”, and then hitting the “Delete” button…. until last week.

The latest email mentioned that R.O.M.P. needed more members for the Board of Directors and they were accepting applications for several open positions. I replied with gusto, and listed my address in Searsport, ME.

Shortly, I got a lovely reply from someone named, Amy. She attached a short application form and mentioned they’d love to have me as a Board member, but my address seemed to indicate the travel requirements for attending meetings might be a bit “troublesome”.

I replied to Amy, that I was really only trying to get the attention of ANYONE who could remove me from their  e-mail list. Even though I support their efforts in “spirit”, it would be very unlikely that I would ever move back to Milwaukee…. and I would like to STOP receiving their periodic emails. I told her if she could accomplish this feat I would do three things:

      1)      I would withdraw my name for Board Member consideration

            2)      I would be eternally grateful to her

      3)      I might even be inclined to include her in my will

Amy replied saying she was not in charge of the email listings, but she knew the person that was, and she was fairly certain she could get my name removed. She also indicated she is always delighted to be named in any will, as long as you don’t leave her a cat. She’s a dog person.

I replied, thanking her in advance for taking care of my miniscule problem, and telling her that if I ever decide to add her to my will, it will NOT be to bequeath her a cat. I am a dog person, and don’t have any cats. Dogs Rule!

Only time will tell, but I think Amy will successfully get my name removed from the R.O.M.P. e-mail list, and I will have eliminated one “pesky” internet problem.

Now this wasn’t my biggest internet problem… in fact a lot of them go way beyond “pesky” status… but attempting to become a Board Member seemed to work out fairly well….  So I got to thinking…. I wonder if Facebook needs any new members for their Board of Directors?