BUT WAIT! NEWS FLASH!
we had a g.b. member to give three talks. or rather "read" 3 talks.ready......?
none other than c.w. barbour {SP?}
Jaracz was the gb'er at the DC I attended here in SoCal. I was frankly bemused at the tepid reception he received, as gauged by the audience's weakly obligatory applause. This was both on Saturday and Sunday. Perhaps the reception was more enthusiastic on Friday when they made his initial introduction and he gave his first talk of the convention. I wasn't there. Still, I can clearly recall the days when ---even as recently as 1998 when we heard him speak at the international convention in Athens--- the very mention of the name of a governing body member in attendance sent a ripple of excitement and a titter of keen anticipation throughout the delegation. Course that was when there was still some slim hope the end would come within the 20th century. Things have changed.
Another brief comment regarding the DC program. The friends were perceptibly underwhelmed after Jaracz built up the new TMS guidebook for use starting January, 2003 and then had to inform that he had not even a prototype to put on display. Seemed to be received as a big anticlimatic "then, so what, why mention it?" The following announcement of the release of the new brochure was made so matter-of-factly, with absolutely no attendant build-up that it was received with none of the jubilation one comes to expect to such a wondrous blessing from Jah. No applause, no titter, no nothing.
Indeed, things have changed. Except, that is, for TJ's closing prayer. He still clocked at about 17 minutes and mostly reviewed the program and reminded of the areas in which everyone needs to improve.
Some things never change.
-AMNESIAN
