Since those whiney people follow this message board - I'll crosspost this here - I found it on the nj.con board.
Hey whiney people - please pass this on to the big boss...Tell him we do not want to go to Montclair in an attempt to talk to him after services. We understand that parking there is a nightmare and really don't want to make that LONG DRIVE followed by a parking nightmare.
Rockaway Township citizens would like HIM to hold a meeting with RT residents to answer our questions...If he's got reasonable answers, maybe he'll find support here.
Mr. Jennings - why don't YOU suggest cc hold a meeting with RT residents - bet you'd get another front page story out of it and maybe we'd get some answers (or more likely, more ducked questions)....
3234. questions for ireland by ShameOnCC, 12/3/04 23:24 ET
If I go visit mr. ireland....
Will he give me growth projections? After all, you don't spend tens of millions of dollars without having any idea if you can afford it (not with a phd in planning!).
Will he tell me what is CURRENT membership numbers are? The 5000 number we keep hearing is about a year and half old and I find it hard to believe that he has 0% growth (why would he need all that space if he's not growing?). Yet, all his traffic numbers are based on his 5000 member number - what a conundrum - give new numbers and he needs to update his traffic study...don't give new numbers, and people from Rockaway Township will continue to accuse him of hiding information from us!
Will he tell me why he has had lawyers (during an early planning board meeting) threaten to sue the RT planning board members PERSONALLY? Does he believe it was worthwhile to THREATEN planning board members in the town he wishes to move to?
Will he tell me why he hired a professional PR firm - even before there was any opposition? Did he know that any project this size would face stiff opposition, so he prepared for it in advance?
Will he tell me why he allows lies to be told IN HIS NAME, but yet does not refute them? MANY lies about VORT members and our town have been told on this board. If ireland refuses to refute the lies told in his name, he accepts them as his own. He has a very well paid PR firm that could easily stop the nonsense, but yet it has continued for over a year.
Will he tell me what how he plans on handling any growth that occurs? Even if he insists he has no predictions, he must have plans if it occurs. What will happen when he grows to 10,000 or 15,000, 20,000, or even 25,000 members? What will he do for our township when his membership outnumbers our town population and our roads are clogged beyond belief - will he give me answers?
If he is willing to answer difficult questions like this, then I ask - why should I go to see him personally to have these questions answered. If mr ireland wants to move to OUR town - MY town. If he is willing to answer difficult questions, he should do so HERE - in OUR TOWN - where HE WANTS TO MOVE - and the entire town, and the press should be invited.
So how about it mr. ireland - take the advise of those who defend you (with lies and personal attacks) on this board and MEET WITH THE PUBLIC of Rockaway Township. Do not duck us as you did the citizens who wanted to speak with you at your last 'press conference'.
"Will he tell me what how he plans on handling any growth that occurs? Even if he insists he has no predictions, he must have plans if it occurs. What will happen when he grows to 10,000 or 15,000, 20,000, or even 25,000 members? What will he do for our township when his membership outnumbers our town population and our roads are clogged beyond belief - will he give me answers?"
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All of your questions are excellent and need to be answered. However, the above question has been answered by Ireland in a planning board meeting already. He has told this town that the Impact of any growth that his church may experience in terms of its effect on RT is not his problem. So, at least one of your important questions has been asked and answered.
I still think a meeting would be a great idea...A meeting with the rev and a few other leaders from cc and the citizens of Rockaway Township. I'm sure he could rent the high school for such a meeting and I'll bet he'd get 500 to 1000 people to attend - (hey whinestone - great publicity for ya). The rev could speak freely to the public and the public could freely question him...No planning board, no vort, no PR firms, no lawyers (all could attend, but as citizens).
The public has been frustrated at pb meetings - not knowing the details of the legal system, how many people have come to a meeting to ask a question only to be told 'sorry, not discussing that issue tonight - come back when we are'....If ireland held a town hall meeting, he'd be open to ALL questions...He'd be able to really calm the fears that Rockaway Township residents have - much better than in a mailing that everyone throws away.
I'd like to see real pressure put on the Daily Record to HOST such a meeting (think of the headlines Jennings - maybe even picked up by AP) and if not HOST, to at least STATE in one of their numerous front page articles that the citizens of Rockaway Township feel that rev ireland refuses to talk to us and ducks our questions and that we want to meet with him IN PUBLIC.
How about whinestone - set up this PR event so your bosses can have their say???
Or is rev ireland hiding some info from us...Some secrets that he wants no one to find out? Maybe about growth projections or current population (can someone from the press PLEASE ask how many people cc has now - that 5000 number is REALLY old)...If the rev keeps ducking, it will show a true lack of character on his part.
3236. When will ireland talk to us? by ShameOnCC, 12/4/04 13:45 ET
The people of Rockaway Township have spoken. We would like to see rev ireland come to OUR TOWN and hold a town hall meeting with US - not a private meeting with a handful of people, but a public meeting with the citizens of Rockaway Township present. No planning board members (unless they come as 'citizens'). No lawyers. No PR firm...Just the senior leaders of cc visiting with the citizens of Rockaway Township.
It would be a great opportunity for rev ireland to tell his story to the people of Rockaway Township - directly.
Why does he continue ducking every chance he has to speak to our residents. What is he afraid that we will find out? What is he hiding? Why won't he speak to ALL of us?
We're not going to stop asking until you deliver ireland at a public meeting.
The citizens of Rockaway Township deserve to meet with him, and if he speaks the truth - that cc will do no harm in RT, then why do you fear meeting with us???
Dont forget to ask about his statement that if Rockaway doesnt want him he wont come. Thats not just someone's personal take. He said that to a meeting of all Rockaway area clergy way back in the beginning. He would have to either admit that he said it, if so why does he persist, or call all the other local clergy liars for repeating what he said to them in their meeting.
On a morality basis, I am sure that Ireland exceeds in righteousnes and morality all of the local RT clergy combined, making his claim accurate and theirs a pack lies. After all, look at what G-d has bestowed upon ireland in terms of congregation numbers and income vs. all the other clergys. That proves who is morally superior! LOL!!
I know that this whole thread is tongue in cheek, and we all know that it will be a cold day in hell before ireland ever confronts this community in the forum suggested by Gadfly. But it a great taunt nonetheless - - - great to have the offer on the record! And, I am sure also that the other Record (daily raggard) will not pick up on Gadflys request. I wonder why?
3303. Still waiting for ireland to meet with RT residents by DuckourTown, 12/8/04 13:10 ET
The question remains - how long will mr ireland duck the requests of Rockaway Township citizens to hold a town hall style meeitng with us to dispell the 'myths' (as he calls it).
Today is day 2 of the count. Will mr ireland see us this winter?
mr ireland - The good citizens of Rockaway Township request that you clear 2-3 hours of your busy schedule to spend it with us, the citizens. The purpose of the meeting will be for you to dispell the 'myths' and lies that you say have been leveled at you. It will be a chance for you to give us your side of the story and for us, the citizens of Rockaway Township, to ask you questions about your planned move in an informal setting. I'm sure we'll get hundreds of citizens to come to the meeting. I know that's a small group for you, but it would be worth your while if you want to win over the hearts and minds of Rockaway Township residents. This is a golden opportunity for you to clear the air and dispell the myths.
Meet with us informally. Answer our questions. Make your statements. No lawyers, no planners, no PR people...Just the residents of Rockaway, members of cc, and of course, the press to publish the results of the meeting.
How about it, rev ireland - you claim you want to join our township. You claim there are lies being spread about you. Please use this opportunity to clear the air and set us, the citizens of Rockaway Township straight. Please do not continue to refuse our request to meet, or the vast majority of Rockaway Township citizens will have no choice, but to assume that you have no intention of ever cooperating with our township and it's citizens. Please don't let this happen. Come talk to us now. Use this opportunity to open doors in the community you want to join.