February 1, 2009

Today marks what would have been the start of my seventh year as a volunteer interpretor for the Ohio Historical Society. During the preceeding six years, I, along with dozens of other volunteers, have given freely of our time, talents and financial support to maintain and grow the vintage base ball program known as the Ohio Village Muffins.

While support from the Society for this program has diminished to virtually nothing, those hardy volunteers have continued on -- many with decades of service as unpaid ambassadors -- providing educational and entertaining fare for countless thousands thoughout Ohio and beyond. These individuals have travelled across Ohio and America-- to small towns and big cities -- to local festivals and major events -- appeared in schools and parades -- brought attention to the Society's mission with local, national and international print,televison and radio media -- and have been a sustaining force behind the growth of vintage base ball programs thoughout the Country.

However, the Ohio Historical Society now views these same volunteers with suspicion and distrust. Beginning this year, the Society is insisting on investigating the character of and fingerprinting those who have been its most public face. Be assured, these checks aren't being done because the Society believes its Muffin and Diamond volunteers to be innocent of wrong-doing -- just the opposite. Investigations of character are always premised on the belief that one is guilty and the resulting reports are only used clear your name and exonerate your character --- Innocence must be proven! If the Ohio Historical Society is indeed having problems with crime upon persons, property or finances at its sites, they should immediately and thoroughly investigate THOSE incidents -- bringing in outside law enforcement -- to catch those responsible and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

Never once during my time as a volunteer, has any member of the Society's paid staff travelled to attend an event that the Muffin base ball club participated in. Never. Opportunites to meet the public and answer questions about the Society's purpose, to raise awareness of its value and why support is needed --wasted. Instead, it has been left to the very same individuals who are now suspected of hiding crimal backgrounds or being morally deviant to carry out this task.

"I have here in my hand a list of two hundred and five [people] that were known to the Secretary of State as
being members of the Communist Party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping the policy of the State Department." --- Joseph McCarthy

"I trust no one, not even myself." --- Joseph Stalin