Aug. 24, 2020

I felt I needed to explain to you all who know me from the Mandolin Cafe as to why I can no longer be found there.

Several weeks ago I responded to a FEATURED classified from Acoustic Disc and ordered 3 downloadable PDF's from The Book of Dawg. They were, according to the immediately emailed invoice, to be emailed within 24 hours to my address. Several days later, after receiving nothing, I began a week of emails sent to their listed SUPPORT address AND their posted phone number. NO emails were answered and ALL phone attempts ended with a recording that the number had been "Disconnected and/or Out of service."

I spent the next few days trying to get in touch with Scott Tichoner,first thru the "Cafe", then thru Face Book and or Twitter, perhaps both, I don't remember. After hearing nothing, I felt that, havng myself been a member for  nearly 20 years, folks needed to be made aware that something was not, did not seem right, and that folks should be cautioned before sending any further moneies. To do this, I used the only option left to me by posting a "heads up" in the classified ads. I came to no conclusions nor did I make ANY accusations, I posted THERE exactly what I am posting HERE, a "cautionary notice."

THAT IS WHEN I FINALLY HEARD FROM SCOTT. IT WAS AN ANGRY RESPONSE CHIDING ME FOR AN INAPPROPRIATE USE OF THE CLASSIFIEDS, BRANDING ME A TROUBLE MAKER AND TELLING ME I WAS NO LONGER WELCOME ON THE "CAFE", ALL for doing the best I could to let SOMEONE/ANYONE know to be careful before sending money to AD or ANYONE, FOR THAT MATTER, over the internet.

Scott was adament; I was dumbfounded, and my Classifed, known to many was REMOVED. About w week later, Acoustic Disc got in touch with me and my PDF's were sent to me with no real explanation of why it took 3 weeks to get them but I was thrilled to have them.

So, as the following days passed I had an epiphany, I believe that becaues of the CLOSE ties between the CAFE and David Grisman's Acoustic Disc,Mr. Tichoner took an innocent "heads up" to my fellow players as some personal attack on his friend and over reacted with his decision.

For nearly 20 years I have been a contributing member. As one whose tiny company of ONE has used his classifieds, I have shown my appreciation by donating money to his site on a regular basis as often as I could, even though there are those who don't or have yet to.

Last week, I did something I said I would NEVER,EVER DO in my life, (and I just turned 72 yrs.), I sent an apology to Scott for something I felt strongly needed NO apology. I NEVER HEARD BACK.

IT IS NOW AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY CODE IN LIFE TO TREAT FOLKS FAIRLY. AS A CRAFTMAN FOR OVER 50 YEARS IN BOTH FURNITURE AND LEATHER, MY NAME HAS ALWAYS BEEN ON EVERYTHING I PRODUCE. THE "BUCK" STOPS AT MY FRONT DOOR! I BELIEVED THEN, AS NOW, THAT THE PEOPLE I SERVE DESERVE THE BEST I CAN GIVE, THE BEST THEY DESERVE. AND THAT CARRIED OVER TO THIS RIDICULOUS SITUATION I SPEAK OF NOW.

BEING ACCUSED OF BEING A "TROUBLE MAKER", FOR THE RIGHT REASON IS A BADGE I WILL WEAR PROUDLY, EVEN IT MEANS THE END OF MY LITTLE COMPANY! NOW DECEASED REP. JOHN LEWIS SAID, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET INTO " A LITTLE 'GOOD TROUBLE'". I GUESS THIS ONE WAS MINE. STAY WELL!!----ALAN