Thank you. Hopefully this will ease some hearts and minds....

| Search Fishin.com |
Below is my respose to an e-mail (the edited version do to my anger at the time) I sent when I was questioning the ban from the site in response to questions raised.
1. I have NO CLUE what questions you are talking about, but if you ask them I would be happy to do so.
2. I called Ryan, Daves delivery man, and ended up getting called for an interview the afternoon I was going to meet him on his break from work (just as a added point here, I did not realize he was a cop in speaking with him as he just mentioned meeting on a break). I also got a check in the mail that day for $100 from someone to get the boys fishing stuff, which I did. I bought 2 Zebco 202's and 2 "kids" fishing backpacks (one spiderman and the other cars) for the youngest two. I used the rest for little tackle boxes, hooks, ect for them to fish with. My wife sent a "thank you" note to the address on the envelope from us to the donor thanking them for their kindness, as we were both shocked at the gift. I also had two other "kids" poles being sent to me from the KY Fish and Wildlife people, for free (thanks to EKU Ryan), for the little ones once they can handle them. I did not think it would be right to take MORE stuff from Ryan when I already had enough for the kids. I thought it would be kind of rude to take more than I needed when there are other kids out there who could use the equipment.
3. If anyone bothered to read my post about the tourney "costing money" they would see that I was going with Chuck Isreal (a fishin.com member), who is paying for me to fish, go, and stay. He needed a non-boater so he could use his boat in the KFBN tournies and said he would pay for them if I would fish them. Cost to me is nothing, he even loaned me the tackle and a rod to use since I did not have any at the time. I have since got some FREE stuff from another member (Bob), who gave me his old bass fishing stuff and said I could compensate him when I got a job. In the stuff was a couple baitcasters, rods, lots of tackle, ect which is why I posted asking about how to use them ect. Ask either of these two if you do not believe me and they will confirm what I have written here. (another added not here is, when I came on this morning I did notice they HAD posted the confirmation of what I wrote here).
4. Excuses, well I have 4 kids and am trying to conduct a decent job search, coach a U6 soccer team my boy plays on, and finish my tennis season (which I do not pay for because I told them I had to quit when I lost my job and the team put me on "scholarship" so I would keep playing with them), go to medical appointments, and meet for group theropy 2 times a week. So yeah, I do have things going on a lot of the time, but the boys WERE taken care of by the kindness of some people on the site. I am NOT going to take more than I need(ed) and take advantage of people. I got SO MANY offers to help and tried to respond to as many as I could, but I did not need all of it. I did not know someone was sending money, and really don't know who it was as my wife handled that part, but it was enough to get the boys what they needed.
I DO owe an apology to those who offered help and I could not take up, or might have not responded to in the mix of things. I SHOULD HAVE contacted Ryan/Jim and let them know about the donation and equipment I was able to secure with it, and for that I am sorry. It looks like they did what I would have hoped and spread it to other kids who needed the stuff, which is AWSOME.
I understand the lack of communication causing an issue, but I stay logged into the site for hours at a time and am doing other things also and just checking back periodically. I would NEVER have seen the questions I saw this morning if not for someone telling me to "check out the kids fishing post if you haven't already". Unfortunately, I just saw that this morning do to my absence from the forum.
To those who think my integrity in question, I offer you this (as I find this rather insulting, as would anyone), I will send you a copy of my Army AND VA disability rating schedules, my DD 214, copy of my next Unemployment check, and anything else you feel I may have lied about. All I ask is that you PM me with an e-mail address and I will send these items to anyone who needs proof in an effort to clear me name.
I appreciate the "donation" from whomever it came from, but I would like to return it to you after all this has happened. I can take a "cash advance" on my credit card and send it to you ASAP. I do not have your address, or name for that matter because the wife handled that, but if you would please send it to me I will find a way to get you your money back so you don't feel like you have been screwed.
You can rest assured I will NEVER ask for anyone's help again on the site, but I would like to still have this forum to come to and read the dialogue, if that is ok with everyone? If you do not think I belong on here, after all this, I will willingly step away and not participate in the forum ever again. This is your forum and I know its a priviledge to use it, if you think I don't deserve it, than I will honor the decision of the "team" and stay away.
Sorry for the lengthy post, but I felt it was necessary to try and answer as many questions about me, that have recently been posted, as possible and would rather do it all at once. If I have forgotten to address something please let me know and I will do so. Good luck.]
Rob
Thank you. Hopefully this will ease some hearts and minds....
I can tell you that nowadays you don't know who to trust and this world had hardened so many hearts it make me want to weep, Sometimes as men we seem to question everything because everything isn't black and white, God will bless us for giving unconditionally whether you give to someone who doesn't need or deserve it or someone who is sincere as I believe you are. I read your original post the day you posted it and never read where you asked for money just "where to find tackle for your kids" I read the replies I saw the offers, never thought anything of it, you didn't ask for someone to "donate": a loomis rod for your kids - I got it. As was responded "I will pray for you and your family" and hopefully you seen you were blessed but Satan will turn good into bad and make us question everything and look for something wrong, especially when there isn't anything but good concerned. I didn't send anything except prayers, I didn't offer to help - I prayed for you there's a bigger helper than me and he'll see you through.
Thank you for clearing the air on the explanation for all. As I stated in my original post ( I could be wrong ), I guess I was, but the doubt was there since on reply had been given for an explanation. Hope everything works out for you and your family and you find employment soon. Have a nice day....
Obviously if you had no intention of taking the rods/reels that Ryan and I purchased for your kids you should have let Ryan know that...there was 3 weeks period that passed that you could have let he or I know this...you did not. You actually sent me a message telling me that you were letting everyone know that we were taking care of the rods/reels for your kids...so that you would not be getting more equipment than you needed. The message telling you to look at the post where I asked you to explain was up for two days prior to your being banned. The action was taken because of your lack of effort to respond...period. 3 weeks is long enough...even I can respond to a message working 16 hour days, 7 days a week. It was your lack in inaction that caused the suspicions..period. This is now over...you had your say and I had mine.
