Dave2112
Level of Cherry Feather
- Joined
- Apr 17, 2001
- Messages
- 10,298
- Points
- 0
I'm going to reiterate the sentiments I posted when I nominated Jeff back in '05.
While I do support the nominations of those already nominated for the same reasons they were nominated for, there are certain criteria that I personally feel a person should meet for the "Pioneer" award. "Special Contribution" is an award for those who've done something valuable and positive in that year...the Pioneer award is perhaps the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the community and, in my opinion, should go to someone who's shown consistancy over a long period of time in whatever it is that they do to make the community a better place.
My nomination goes to Venray.
Why?
1) He's shown an active involvement in the community since the beginning. Where many often come in, give and take what they will and move on, Ray has been actively involved in so many ways right from the start. Even the many trials of his personal life have not kept him down for long.
2) His involvement in the community is several-fold. From direct involvement as a former moderator to the day-to-day dealings with anyone and everyone, Ray has been "our rock", so to speak.
3) Since the TMF is a social setting, it is important to note the value of balancing the often overemphasized "need to be liked" with a sincere desire to use one's wisdom and experience to help others, regardless of the possibility of losing "popularity" for the day in light of the larger picture.
4) While the nominations for those who forged TMF Radio are seriously valid and have my sincere support, what Ray and his lovely wife Tracy have done with thier show has paved the way for some seriously positive things. "Making Friends Online" is devoted in its very theme to the community itself. When the show moved into uncharted territory, giving voice to those who've suffered in ways directly related to the nature of our community and fetish itself at times, it humanized many of us in ways unimaginable. And that led directly to a support group that may very well be the best thing that's come out of the TMF in a long time. It showed that we are capable of so much more than just having fun, that we can put in enormous effort to help people that in many case we haven't even met.
5) Again, since the very nature of our community is just that...community, Ray has embodied that nature in everything he does, be it providing humor and fun or tackling the many problems the forum has faced over the years to the best of his ability.
For these and other reasons too numerous to count without making this a page-long post, I whole-heartedly nominate Venray for 2008's Pioneer Award.
While I do support the nominations of those already nominated for the same reasons they were nominated for, there are certain criteria that I personally feel a person should meet for the "Pioneer" award. "Special Contribution" is an award for those who've done something valuable and positive in that year...the Pioneer award is perhaps the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a member of the community and, in my opinion, should go to someone who's shown consistancy over a long period of time in whatever it is that they do to make the community a better place.
My nomination goes to Venray.
Why?
1) He's shown an active involvement in the community since the beginning. Where many often come in, give and take what they will and move on, Ray has been actively involved in so many ways right from the start. Even the many trials of his personal life have not kept him down for long.
2) His involvement in the community is several-fold. From direct involvement as a former moderator to the day-to-day dealings with anyone and everyone, Ray has been "our rock", so to speak.
3) Since the TMF is a social setting, it is important to note the value of balancing the often overemphasized "need to be liked" with a sincere desire to use one's wisdom and experience to help others, regardless of the possibility of losing "popularity" for the day in light of the larger picture.
4) While the nominations for those who forged TMF Radio are seriously valid and have my sincere support, what Ray and his lovely wife Tracy have done with thier show has paved the way for some seriously positive things. "Making Friends Online" is devoted in its very theme to the community itself. When the show moved into uncharted territory, giving voice to those who've suffered in ways directly related to the nature of our community and fetish itself at times, it humanized many of us in ways unimaginable. And that led directly to a support group that may very well be the best thing that's come out of the TMF in a long time. It showed that we are capable of so much more than just having fun, that we can put in enormous effort to help people that in many case we haven't even met.
5) Again, since the very nature of our community is just that...community, Ray has embodied that nature in everything he does, be it providing humor and fun or tackling the many problems the forum has faced over the years to the best of his ability.
For these and other reasons too numerous to count without making this a page-long post, I whole-heartedly nominate Venray for 2008's Pioneer Award.
