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Trudy's on the warpath

Southern Airboat Gallery Archives

Wayne Sage
Me And The Wife
Photo_May_01_3_36_25_PM
Me and my best friend!
Twelve Foot Coral Snake
Halfway Races
wow! again she has put a lot of thought in her meaningless babble. i
personally have never met anyone whose family member has died as a result of airboat noise.and as far as chemicals igniting because of an
airboat,i would tend to think that a regular outboard motor or outdrive unit
would be more hazardous with their water cooled motor that gets its cooling from the water it goes through.i would like to point out that i am not saying outboards or outdrives are dangerous just making a point.
 
Florida citizens have been begging for relief from airboat sound proven to be hazardous to human health during normal conditions. The Katrina victims were already stressed to the point of suicide in some instances. They could not have sustained the horrendous bombardment of sound from airboats. Even the helicopter rescues were already affecting those being rescued - but that sound is three-dimensional and not as severe as the two-dimensional airboat sound.
Click to expand...

That first sentance should start with some or even more accurately a few Florida citizens have been begging...

How can she say what they could or could not have sustained? What is her basis for that ABSURD statement??!!!??

WHAT THE HECK IS three-dimensional sound?!!!?? Helicopters make MUCH more sound than an airboat. PERIOD. If the "sound vibrations" are damaging as she claims, (with no proof) then the helos cuase MORE damage because they are louder. Sheesh!!!!


There are many reasons why these renegade airboaters should not have been admitted. To use this disaster to promote the airboat industry is unconscionable. The dead floating in the waters required more respect than to be run over by a speeding airboat.
Click to expand...

But she has NO PROBLEM using the disaster to promote her campaign. Hippocrite!

I'll write a letter. Let's ALL do and hopefully they will never print her tripe again.

matt.
 
Go the website and under the CONTACT US section you'll find all the names of the people at the paper. EMAIL THEM. I just sent off my reply...

Adam
 
Writing one now... sending it to robyn.tomlin@starbanner.com the Executive Editor of the newsroom.

Edited to add the letter I sent. I hope it was not too long. But I had a LOT to say about that!!!

********************

Hello Ms. Tomlin,

I am an airboater and I am shocked, appalled, and dismayed that you would print the article written by Trudy Dickenson without checking her facts.

Some problems I have with her article that make it misleading:

We airboaters were not motivated by greed. We were sitting here watching the hurricane hit and having our hearts broken because we had the tools to RESCUE people who needed help. Brown turned away a few, but many of us did get in there and SAVED THOUSANDS.

A few Floridians are begging for relief from airboat sound. Not ALL Floridians or even SOME Floridians as your article implies. The 'few' are very vocal about their cause. But they are few.

You have allowed a writer to state as fact fringe theories about the hazards of sound vibration effects on the human body. There is NO widespread and accepted facts that general sound encountered by everyday people is in ANY way hazardous to health. There may be data referring to weapons grade experimental sound-based weapons, but these are not anywhere near the class of sound that an airboat, loud stereo, or even a helicopter produces. Bottom line is, you printed a lie.

She mentions "three-dimensional sound" and that just makes no sense whatsoever! Sounds like something from the National Enquirer.

The writer of that article states that the victims of New Orleans were stressed to the point of suicide and airboat sound is something they could not handle. THAT IS AN ABSURD STATEMENT!!!! You have NO WAY to even begin to back up that frivolous claim! How can that be printed as a fact??!!

And she claims that airboaters were running over dead bodies floating in the water. Again, what fact is that statement based on? She claims it is unconscionable of the airboaters to capitalize on the disaster to further a cause. Yet, she uses the same disaster to further her own cause.

Trudy Dickenson has been making some of the most absurd arguments against airboaters. It is obvious to the airboating community, the FWC, and even the few anti-airboaters don't even listen to her anymore. She has some kind of personal vengeance against airboaters and has used your paper to spread her unrealistic lies.

Thank you.

Matt Hasty
 
Copy of the email I sent to the "Managing Editor". The top portion is a second email after I found the section the "report" was in.

I have found the article now under the opinions category. I originally received the link only to the rantings on a message forum. But, just in case you want to verify and publish my thoughts, here is the other information you require.

Address:
11660 NW 35th Street
Sunrise, FL 33323
Day Time Phone: 561-994-4454 (this is my work #, please be considerate)
-----Original Message-----
From: Russ [mailto:russ@gisondico.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2005 1:31 PM
To: robyn.tomlin@starbanner.com
Subject: Disgrace


I selected your name from the lists of contacts because your title appears to be at the top of the people responsible for the content of your reports. The web page does not indicate if this is an opinion of the author, such as a letter to the editor, or in fact an article. In either case, how could anyone let such utter lack of respect and lies be put in print. The fine folks from Florida, and other areas, who loaded up their airboats, at their own expense, and went to do what our government could not seem to do deserve better than this. Floridians, of all people, should know the feelings of desperation and need after a hurricane. I truly believe the people that were rescued by airboats could not have cared less if there were mufflers on it or not. Sure, airboats make sound. Sound that some people don't like, although not very different from a hot-rod car, straight piped Harley, or even some of those little scooters the kids ride. The airboat community is working on a compromise for this situation. But that is beside the point. Airboaters risked their property, their jobs, and their own lives to help others in need and will continue to do so with or without mufflers on the boats. Do the right thing and interview someone who was rescued. Or at least talk to some of the airboaters who went when there was a need. Let me know if you need a way to contact them as I am sure none of them have contacted any media personally to promote any so called agenda. Maybe you have seen a press release from the FAA giving some details of the operation and perhaps an interview by one of your competitors of an individual who went to help. But, there has been no attempt to promote an industry. Anyone hear of the gentleman who can't sleep now because of what he witnessed? Your publication should be ashamed of itself for presenting such a one-sided, unfounded bunch of trash.

Russ Davis
Proud Member of The Broward County Airboat, Halftrack, and Conservation Club and Southern Airboat.Com
 
Wow what a poor misguided soul her life must be a quagmire of misery too bad she spends her entire life trying to bring misery to other people. She must be related to my neighbor who has shot at and threatened several air boaters with deadly force. He claims disability but doesn't have one. So us working tax payers pay for him to sit on his ass and live of the system while he is terrorizing us. I bet she lives off the system also. We must find out what she likes to do (besides harassing air boaters) and do our best to make it illegal.
 
My reply to Ms. Tomlin

Ms. Tomlin:

Below is a link to a story that is based on facts, plain simple facts. I am not going to berate you for printing Trudy's story that would be senseless anyone with a half a brain knows how silly the things she tries to state as facts actually are.

Yes our boats can be loud at times. There are a few idiots who own airboats just like there are idiots in any group. The majority of us have no desire to buzz peoples houses late at night or any other time. This can't always be avoided because of the encroachment into the wetland areas by housing developments. We are taking great efforts to reduce the sound our boats make. There is currently much research and development being done for ways to lessen the sound of our boats by the owners, manufacturers and the prop manufacturers.

The law enforcement community for many years accepted that any attempt to muffle these boats was adequate. Times have changed and so has is the law in that regard. The FFWC is currently holding workshops and public hearings on this issue and the majority of owners are in favor of the proposed changes even though it will cost much more to own an airboat which complies with the proposed enforcement of the law being implemented.

I must admit that there are still a few idiots who drive boats with no attempt to muffle the engine noise and with absolutely no regard for property owners rights. These idiots are close to extinction even if they do not know it. The law enforcement community and the airboat community will not tolerate this behavior much longer. I believe that given a chance this problem will soon be resolved. Ms. Trudy is just as far to the side, be it left or right, on this issue as the idiots I mentioned above. Common sense operation and reasonable mufflers are inevitable and now is the time.

Airboaters in general are law abiding citizens much like the motorcycle riders are. They are easy targets also for complaints just as personal watercraft, atv's and numerous other recreational vehicles. Please keep this in mind when you see an article like Ms. Trudy's.

If you would like to do an accurate story on airboats please feel free to contact me directly. We have an upcoming TOY DRIVE for disadvantaged children that is scheduled for the first weekend in December and we would love to have you there.

Thank You

John D. O'Neill
Professional Surveyor & Mapper
Licensed Real Estate Sales Person
Licensed Mortgage Broker

(PRWEB) October 8, 2005 -- The Florida Airboat Association was presented with a “Certificate of Recognition� issued through United States Representative Adam Putnam and Representative Mark Foley, of Florida for the Association’s involvement in the evacuation of flood victims in New Orleans, at the its quarterly meeting Saturday.

The Certificate was accompanied by a letter of appreciation detailing the Florida Airboat Association’s involvement in the New Orleans evacuation effort signed by Rep. Putnam and Rep. Foley.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans, the Florida Airboat Association mobilized over.....

Here's the rest: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/10/prweb295137.htm
 
Nice one CNTRY!!!

Here's mine....

Mr. Rogers,

I am find it extremely disturbing that your paper would publish such a one sided and obviously negatively biased article regarding the use of airboats in Florida. This woman is KNOWN to be a vehement anti-airboater. She has, and continues to, fabricate reasons why airboats are wrong including coming up with unsubstantiated medical findings as well as her OWN personal religious rhetoric.

The men and women of New Orleans and the other affected areas who were saved by VOLUNTEER AIRBOATERS would have a wholly different story to tell than Trudy's. These vessels allowed rescue personnel from the LOCAL AGENCIES (who had a better grasp of what support was needed than Mr Brown's FEMA) to reach many in need who may have died otherwise. I have yet to hear any reports of drownings resulting from SPEEDING airboats. In fact, in most instances the boats were idling in their search and rescue role. The NOISE that the writer refers to was probably more like music to many victims ears.

I would hope that your publication would try and be more objective in its future coverage of this issue.

Adam Wetherington

Florida Airboat Association, Kissimmee River Valley Sportsmans Association, SouthernAirboat.com

(863-551-9870)
 
Phil Walters also passed this one on to me.....

(it was sent to the editor as well)

I was personally offended by Ms. Dickison's letter. I have been working with many different groups to keep public access open to Floridians across the state. This has brought the Air Boat issue to my attention, and I have met with several airboaters from the panhandle to South Florida. I have not met one airboater that would even think about exploiting this tragedy for their own gain. In fact, it has been quite the opposite.

Just to clarify at this point, I am not an airboater, nor does anyone in my family own or operate an airboat. I am a concerned citizen who is tired of public recreation being given the shaft by self-serving, self-appointed idealists that want to control any public recreation on public lands using public monies to do it.

The airboaters of our state were willing to put their equpiment (in some cases that means their livelihood) their time, their money and their lives on the line to help many who were in need. To merely mention, let alone out-right accuse (as Ms. Dickinson has done) that there might be an ulterior motive to the willingness of any American to help others in need does the victims, as well as the willing volunteer more than just an injustice; it is a slap-in-the-face. We all know who takes advantage of tragedies, and uses them for their own gain, and none of those folks were written about as stepping up and offering up their services, their livelihoods or their lives to aid other Americans!

Ms Dickinson mentioned that some folks might be drowned in the wake of "speeding airboats". However, if you are on a rescue mission you are not speeding around willy-nilly, but moving slowly, looking and listening for folks calling for help. Airboats, moving at such slow speeds are no louder than an idling car. Quiet enough to hear a child calling for help, hardly making waves that would drown a mosquito. Slow and quiet enough to maybe hear that child who drowned because Floridians were not allowed to give their time, effort, money and very life to save her. We will never know......will we Ms. Dickinson?



Sincerely,
Lisa Pardus
 
I can't bite my tounge on this one. I'm writing a letter and I hope as many people on here will also do so. I am so sick of this nut case.
She should be sued for harrassment. I had to warn her not to write to my personal e-mail any longer.



That write up infuriates me.
 
Faron,

This one is going to be a plus for us I think. She is so far in left field this time that she will be discredited but good. Write the letter man!

Jim
 
hey i saw trudy at the gas station and tried to talk her about her hatred towards airboats. she wouldn't say why she hated them. she only said she would pray for me.??????????????? strange..
 
Just to inform: Trudy is a retired miami school teacher (thats probably what warped her mind), and she lives a MILE from the water off Lake Panasofkee. She drives an old ragged Ford p/u with anti-airboat stickers all over the back window of the topper. She has been known to harrass airboaters at the gas pumps. And even though her letters irritate us, she is (by writing letters like that) doing more for our cause than is apparent.
BUT keep writing the newspaper and let them know how you feel. She did!
Thanks everyone,
Bob/Swampjet
 
10/13/2005

To the editors of Ocala Star Banner

robyn.tomlin@starbanner.com, tom.mcniff@starbanner.com, frank.stanfield@starbanner.com, alison.brown@starbanner.com, larry.savage@starbanner.com,


Dear Editors:

The Florida Airboat Association recently received Congressional commendation for their efforts in providing rescue and relief efforts in the disaster areas of Louisiana and Mississippi. In a Letter from Congress dated October 5, 2005, to the airboating sportsmen of Florida, were commended for their acts of courage and selflessness in assisting those affected by the hurricane. The airboating community responded to the need for assistance in a time of disaster. Airboaters evacuated the medical personnel and patients of two hospitals in the New Orleans area. They rescued people stranded on rooftops and in attics. They safely transported those victims to safety that might have otherwise perished without their efforts.



Airboats are uniquely suited for search and rescue as they can gain entrance into otherwise inaccessible areas. The airboats posed no threat to the lives of the victims instead they gave them hope for rescue. Airboats posed no threat to the environment, but easily navigated the otherwise nonnavigable flooded streets of the city. The airboats that volunteered their time and effort as well as the airboats captained by governmental entities such as Sheriffs Dept. and Fish and Wildlife officials, gained access to areas where no other watercraft could go. Many lives were saved because of airboater’s willingness to respond.



Please report these facts to your reading community.



Sincerely,



Lauren K. Brown, RN

Lkbrown46@aol.com

(386) 871-8945
 
Stir a hornet's nest & you get stung! I think the Star-Banner is smarting about now!

Good job on the letters. They all work towards letting folks know we will defend the good name & actions of the sportsmen of Florida who use airboats. Believe me, your letters will produce good for airboat sportsmen.
Speaking of letters, here is one from Lane Stephens of the newly formed Allied Sportsmen's Association of Florida.

We need to make friends with all the sportsmen groups of Florida. I think we have one here. When an attack is made on Second Amendment or hunting, we also need to respond in mass....

Thanks & good job!
PW

*********************************
As the executive director of Allied Sportsmen's Associations of Florida,
the growing voice for Florida's sporting organizations, I find myself
compelled to respond to the letter to the editor written by Ms. Gertrude
Dicksinson.

First, let me say that the Florida Airboaters Association is not a
member of our organization, so I'm not doing this to defend a member
organization. Nevertheless, the members of that organization are
citizens of this state and many of them are sportsmen, and I will standup
and defend any sportsman that comes under attack by anyone.
I find it absolutely reprehensible that this lady would express her
opinions and views as if she were a victim of Katrina. She talks about
the sound of helicopters and air boaters used during rescue as if she
were in New Orleans or any of the surrounding flooded parishes. I'm
sure that those who waded in water up to their necks or were stranded on
their rooftops could have cared less about noise from any vehicle that
came to their rescue. At least someone would have been there.

I'm not writing to criticize or praise the actions by FEMA or any other
state agency (however, I do know that many good folks from our own Fish
and Wildlife Conservation Commission provided great services to the
people along the stricken area). I do not know why, or even if, FEMA
turned air boaters away. I have not be privy to that information, and I
would surmise that Ms. Dickinson has no such direct knowledge either.

Ms. Dickinson suggests that Florida air boaters tried to use Katrina to
their political advantage...well, we know for a fact that she is using
the plight of the poor souls in Louisiana to her advantage. She should
be ashamed of herself.

Whether you are an air boater, a sportsman, or simply a citizen, I call
on you to stand with us to oppose the opinions of close-minded
individuals like Ms. Dickinson. She has every right to express her
opinion about unmuffled air boat noise, but she has no right to attack
those who would offer to help others in a time of national crisis.

Respectfully

Lane Stephens
Executive Director
Allied Sportsmen's Associations of Florida
[/b]
 
Matt, Russ, John, Adam, and Laura .... great letters all. THANK YOU!

K.
 
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