I copied this from Kens message board and was wondering if you could find the time to comment on it like you do with other people's posts.I'm sure you could make great humouros staements about it, well anyway good luck and I am looking forward to reading your input on this.
edstaffin Jul-09-03, 07:25 AM (Central Standard Time)
"Recent Elan visit after 25 years"
Hi all,
Well it was very interesting. My wife and I were in Maine to pick up a new sailboat and so I thought it might be interesting to stop by Elan. First a little background.
I graduated from there in April of 1978. My first day there was Sept. 1st, 1976. I was the very first graduate of Pinehenge high school. After graduating from Elan, I was staff for about a year and a half. After that I went to college and got a degree in computer science and have since had a wonderful professional life as a software developer. I live with my wife, Irene, in the Florida Keys and life is very good.
Anyhow, in making plans to visit I had several phone conversations with Jeff Gottlieb. It was good to talk with him, but it was strange. I wanted to come up on a Friday and perhaps spend a day or two there. It would have been convenient for my schedule to be able to visit with the kids on a Saturday or Sunday. However, I was told that this would not be possible. I didn't think much of it then, but it plays into the changes there, as you will see later.
As we drove up from Boston, I was full of anticipation. I was looking forward to seeing Jeff again after so many years.
Anyhow, to say the place has changed would be a monumental understatement. It seems like a much, much, much less difficult program than when I was there.
First of all, it is no longer run by prior graduates. This is unbelievable to me. One of the basic tenents that was important to me when I was there was knowing that anyone ... anyone above me ... up to and including Joe himself, had been through the program. Now, apparently, they have professional "organizers" who run the place.
In my opinion, the place has gone soft. Maybe today's kids don't need the same kind of "tough love" that we got back in my day. I don't know. But it sure is different. Heck, they've even gone "Politically Correct." They don't call haircuts, haircuts anymore, but rather, "verbal reprimands." We used the term verbal reprimand to explain what a haircut was. No more ring, no shingle/chief expeditor blasts, no signs, no pressure POs, no tight houses. Amazing!!!
Unfortunately, I was only able to visit for about an hour or two at the facility. It seemed very similar to what I remember, but much more muted. The place is very highly structured now. Not as chaotic as when I was there. The reason I couldn't visit on the weekend is because it might disrupt the "flow." Oh well.
I have no comment on how well the "new" program works. For all I know it could be 10 times more effective now than when I was there. I just know it is very different.
I am amazed, quite frankly, at the amount of bile and venom that seems to come out of people who were there in recent years. Seems to me they have nothing to complain about.
Overall, it was a kinda disappointing visit. There was utterly no warmth coming from Jeff. We had a pleasant dinner, but it was very distant. I would have liked to have seen Marty and I would have thought that he would have liked to have
seen me, but I guess not.
"well the reason why you didnt see Marty is because he was most likely out raping a 7 year old boy"
All I know is that as a youngster, Elan saved my life. The fact that I am here writing this as a happily married, almost retired, successful businessman is in no small part due to the guidance I received at Elan.
I went back there to try and give back some of what I got and out of curiosity. My curiosity was satisfied, my hope to give back was not.
Life goes on. Elan goes on.
Just thought whomever reads this might find it interesting.
Later ... Ed
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