Editor:
Gibsons Seniors Society (GSS) director Maureen Goldman's letter, "No harmony happening here" in your 14 May publication introduces a new phase in the subject of evening entertainment for seniors at Harmony Hall. It begins to refer to documents, legal opinions and actions that require study for proper interpretation, and her letter brings into the public forum the allegations recently used to expel me from membership in GSS. It is not only impossible to defend myself by exchanging letters, it is unnecessary.
I know that, with unbiased examination of documents and testimony of witnesses, it will be quite evident that I have always performed my responsibilities to the two seniors organizations concerned honestly and correctly. I did not attend the special executive committee meeting used to expel me because the allegations presented were so riddled with untruths and half-truths, and the committee so evidently biased, that effective defence was impossible.
Although their focus has turned against me, personally, the intent remains their opposition to the use of Harmony Hall for evening entertainment.
Although I am the first senior ever to be declared unfit for membership in GSS, where I have been an active member, serving on the executive and entertainment committees for most of 20 years, including two terms as president, and, in 2006, given an award for outstanding service to the seniors community. What changed? Only that, for the last 12 months I, with others, have been advocating for the right of seniors to use Harmony Hall for evening entertainment -as it always was until recent years.
We are a significant minority of GSS (at least 25 per cent of the members and last year's executive committee) who want to again enjoy evening entertainment, and we work for the overwhelming majority of Gibsons area seniors who support our purpose.
Graham Wray
Gibsons Landing
