Please read the following correspondence (two letters) between Kurt Auffenberg
and myself.  Perhaps they will clarify some things and put and end to this
thread.
 
In a message dated 98-04-22 12:16:36 EDT, Kurt Auffenberg  wrote:
 
<<
 Dear Doug,
 Maybe it's the way I write, but I've been getting these apologies over and
 over.  I want to get this straight.  I was not offended by the leg: thing
 because no one but me knew what the situation called for at the time.  If
 people want to make observations, that's fine.  I know what I did was right
 for the situation at the time, I made the collection available, put in on
 the Web and continued to upgrade the labels as time permitted.  It was all
 I could do and the satisfaction I got from accomplishing this was the only
 reward I wanted.  People have continually praised me for my work and this
 is greatly appreciated, but I just did my job, which I enjoyed.  People may
 think that I am fragile, or over-sensitive or whatever, but there really
 hasn't been anything said that was offensive.  A few of you expressed your
 confusion on our use of Leg:.  I explained how it happened and why it
 happened.  I wasn't being overly sensitive or overly defensive, I just told
 the truth.  What perked people up were my comments on people's expectations
 on labels in general and that I thought they were expecting too much due to
 the tremendous backlogs and deadlines most of us face.  All museums and
 private collections have errors in labels, filing, etc.  We are just humans.
 
 With regards to the Alabama (and others) transfer, I only gave the history
 of the transfer because no one else had given it and I was there.  Although
 it was indeed a coup for FLMNH, I certainly never felt guilty about the
 decisions that were made at that time.  It is well-cared for and has become
 a tremendous asset to our research collections.  It is unfortunate that the
 situation in Alabama at that time caused such a difficult and far-reaching
 decision to be made, but it did.
 
 I guess this general feeling that apologies are in order comes from my
 writing style which gets sort of passionate sometimes.  I try to live in a
 gray world, as opposed to black/white.  Sometimes I don't come across that
 way.  I try to convey a reality check and this often comes across as
 defensive and/or a different kind of black/white, if that makes any sense
 whatsoever.
 
 Please no more apologies.  Nothing has really been said that I even
 disagree with, much less be offeneded by, except a few of the museum
 priority comments which I have already addressed ad nauseum.  If you wish
 to forward this to others or the list in general, go ahead.  Rest assured.
 I am not angry at anyone.  Damn, now where did I put that Uzi......after
 the last person complained about my labels.
 
 XXX,   Kurt
 
 
 At 10:58 AM 4/22/98 EDT, Doug Shelton wrote:
 
 >Kurt,
 >       I am really sorry if in our discussion regarding Leg. or the
 >disposition of the former Univ. Alabama collection I offended you in any
way.
 >That was certainly not my intent.  I wish to make some statement to CONCH-L
to
 >clarify my thoughts and make amends .  I am passionate about the loss of the
 >Alabama collection, but I am grateful FLMNH was there to receive it.  Who
 >knows what might have become of it otherwise?  I would like to think it
would
 >have been transferred to some other institution, but who knows?  I am
grateful
 >it is in Florida where I still have relatively easy access to it.  I am also
 >grateful it was in your care when it was transferred and accessioned.  I
would
 >appreciate any comments and/or advice prior to making a
correction/retraction
 >to CONCH-L.
 >
 >Doug Shelton
 >Alabama Malacological Research Center
 >2370-G Hillcrest Road #236
 >Mobile, AL 36695
 >
  >>