Who is Michael Eshleman? Why should you care?

[Kildopan]

Let's start with the basics.

Until recently he was the Venture Officer for the Raleigh-Durham area with 5 years of service as a venture officer (2 as a Venture-Lieutenant, 3 as a Venture-Captain).

Michael is an exceptional 5 star GM who goes out of his way to support and help both new and veteran players of Pathfinder and Paizo products. He treats everyone fairly and goes out of his way to make sure everyone is having a good time. Eshleman is welcoming to new players and takes time to explain the rules of the game. He organizes and runs AtomiCon twice a year, AtomiCon Mini twice a year and has worked hard to foster the growth of Pathfinder Society, Card Game and Starfinder in Raleigh NC. He also volunteers at countless conventions all over the place.

Here are some extraordinary things about Michael you probably didn't know:

• GM'ed 650+ Pathfinder Society games (that's almost a 5 star GM 3 times over)
  
• An active member of these Paizo forums where he helps all player with 2,883 posts and climbing (handle: GreySector)
  
• Has been published in numerous 3rd Party resources
  
• Loves organization and spreadsheets and freely shares them. Here is a link to my personal favorite: Flip Mats & Map Packs Used in PFS & SFS Scenarios (yes it is updated frequently)
  

If you want to learn more check out his paizo people profile, look at his posts on the forums.

Please share some of the countless amazing things he has done in this thread. Let's show Paizo and all of the players why he is so important.

If you feel like some who has done all of these amazing things and more is a valuable member of the Pathfinder Society

Sign the petition to get him reinstated

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To the forum moderator: Please note this information can all be found on Michael's public Paizo forum profile GreySector http://paizo.com/people/greysector/profile
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To the community: Keep your posts positive. It's important that they remain up and thread active.
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[TimD]

I love that flip-mat / map-pack sheet!
I've been using it for awhile now, it's been one of the best "additional additional" resources for PF I've found.

[Kitsune Kune]

From my point of view, the local Venture Officers are practically the public face of organized play, and almost the entirety of the hobby from paizo in general. I work in a Customer Service department where I am employed. Michael show's so much passion and enthusiasm for the organized play structure,(both in PFS and SFS). Has such a friendly, charismatic and charming personality; and is so openly willing to dedicate such large amounts of his time to ensure everyone is enjoying themselves. If only half my department had that same passion, I could sleep easy knowing every single customer we work with, would walk away happy.

I had been gone from Organized Play for several years. When i decided to give it a shot again, Michael made it an extremely pleasant experience. Not only did his GMing lead to an awesome adventure. But he also remembered my name and welcomed me back warmly the next time we spoke in person, three weeks later. I cannot put into words how welcoming that feels. He has taken the time to calmly answer several questions I have fielded him in person and over PM here. I don't know that I would still be playing in the Organized play at my local store, if it wasn't for that level of welcoming attitude and willingness to help.

[Nefreet]

I personally owe him a cookie.

[pogie]

Wow, dude received his 5th star in under a year.

[Sara Marie]

Removed a post and reply at the request of its author and provided text so they can rework it if they choose.

[Zach Davis]

I've never had the pleasure of meeting Michael, but I have benefited from his wonderful spreadsheets, and the positivity he brings to these forums. Thank you Michael for your many contributions to this community.

[zefig]

pogie wrote:

Wow, dude received his 5th star in under a year.

That takes a lot of dedication.

[Duiker]

I'm not going to sign a statement in favor of someone without knowing why they were removed, regardless of what community goods they have produced. And elsewhere on the boards Paizo has said they cannot disclose that because of privacy rules. I trust that Paizo had good reason, and a petition like this screams of implying that someone who produces things shouldn't face consequences unless accusers go public.

[Kildopan]

While Michael's community contributions are significate. We are asking that someone who has volunteered significantly more time than most people, deserves a slightly more extensive review of the situation. One that takes the impact that the removal of his presence has on our state-wide program, the local retailers' revenue and all of the players into consideration when determines what if any the proper course of action that needs to be taken is.

Let's put some conservative numbers behind this so it doesn't sound like an opinion:

2,600 volunteer hours = [650 games * average of 4 hours a game]
this extremely conservative number does not take any of his non-GM volunteer time into account or the fact that he has GM's more than 650 games for PFS and no Starfinder, AP and Pathfinder Card Game hours are included. It would be reasonable to add another 500 hours minimum to this number

178 members of Atomic PFS group

112 people signed a petition and feel that this has some level of impact on them (there is overlap with the previous number)

4 Conventions yearly - organized by Michael

4 Local Retailers - that are involved with the area that Michael VC PFS

It is my hope that all Society Volunteers that have an impact like this on so many, deserve slightly more consideration when it comes to them and receive it.

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To the community: Please try and keep your comments constructive and positive if possible - Thank you

[TriOmegaZero]

What will you do if Paizo has taken that consideration and decides to let the removal stand?

[Kildopan]

Paizo and Pathfinder Society are great organizations that have created content and communities that have generated a countless amount of joy for so many people. There are very few companies in the world that can say this. It is important that everyone involved remembers this and continues to support both groups.

If the ruling stands. I personally will work hard to help minimize the impact it has on Atomic PFS and encourage my fellow gamers to do the same. Most importantly it is my hope that Michael knows that he has had such a positive impact on Pathfinder as a whole and so many people support him and appreciate it.

[Wei Ji the Learner]

Has the person in question been banned from playing at local venues, and if so, has the reason for said ban been made publicly known to the local venues?

That sort of information kinda needs to be available locally, so that all parties concerned are aware of what the exact restrictions on someone removed from a local leadership position are.

If not, then perhaps treating this as an officially mandated 'vacation' might be in order?

[Kildopan]

No. He is not banned. Only removed from his position as a Venture Captain.

Whatever happened to cause this to transpired was between him and the Regional Venture Captain in regards to some Venture Office business.

I do not know the Regional Venture Captain. I know that some people have opinions about him. I ask that their opinions and feelings not be brought into this thread. Please try and keep the focus here on the good that Michael has done.

[GreySector]

First, let me thank all of those who posted supportive and positive comments about me in this and other message threads. I really appreciate it.

I have shared my perspective on the events which transpired with the Venture Officer staff, omitting any details which I feel may impinge on any affected persons’ privacy. While in the future I hope to be able to explain myself more completely, I will state in my own public defense, that all actions which I undertook were in direct response to complaints from players in the Charlotte area who had previously sought relief through the proper channels available to them but found none. I cannot see how I violated any Paizo policy, nor do I feel I did anything morally wrong in any of my actions. I attempted to help solve a problem which had persisted in our region for several years using the tools that were granted to me by Paizo. I wish there could have been a different, less drastic, resolution for the Charlotte area. However I have hope that the player base will heal and be stronger going forward.

[CeffylAedui]

Michael, thank you for all of the work that you have done and continue to do.

I am based in the Raleigh-Durham area and play at one of the stores where Michael is a regular DM. And he is fabulous. He and several other DMs (including Pete) make the PFS events amazing.

I've always found Pathfinder to have a little too many moving parts, so I'm a reluctant player. However, Michael's welcoming attitude and willingness to answer questions has been great.

He is one of the major reasons why I keep coming back to play.

[Tallow]

Kildopan wrote:

No. He is not banned. Only removed from his position as a Venture Captain.

Whatever happened to cause this to transpired was between him and the Regional Venture Captain in regards to some Venture Office business.

I do not know the Regional Venture Captain. I know that some people have opinions about him. I ask that their opinions and feelings not be brought into this thread. Please try and keep the focus here on the good that Michael has done.

For the record, while I was a VC up through September 2016, I know for a fact that the RVCs don't have administrative control over the VCs. As in, they can't affect the "firing" digitally, themselves. Only Tonya can do that. Which means she'd have to approve of such a move. It sounds like in her recent post, that perhaps she's put too much "blind" (probably the wrong word here) trust in the requests her RVCs put before her, thus she's asking to start a new review task force.

[Tallow]

GreySector wrote:

First, let me thank all of those who posted supportive and positive comments about me in this and other message threads. I really appreciate it.

I have shared my perspective on the events which transpired with the Venture Officer staff, omitting any details which I feel may impinge on any affected persons’ privacy. While in the future I hope to be able to explain myself more completely, I will state in my own public defense, that all actions which I undertook were in direct response to complaints from players in the Charlotte area who had previously sought relief through the proper channels available to them but found none. I cannot see how I violated any Paizo policy, nor do I feel I did anything morally wrong in any of my actions. I attempted to help solve a problem which had persisted in our region for several years using the tools that were granted to me by Paizo. I wish there could have been a different, less drastic, resolution for the Charlotte area. However I have hope that the player base will heal and be stronger going forward.

I have always found you to be well-spoken, friendly, fun, and an upstanding person. Not necessarily in that order. I hope everything resolves in your, and your region's, favor.

[Tallow]

Duiker wrote:

I'm not going to sign a statement in favor of someone without knowing why they were removed, regardless of what community goods they have produced. And elsewhere on the boards Paizo has said they cannot disclose that because of privacy rules. I trust that Paizo had good reason, and a petition like this screams of implying that someone who produces things shouldn't face consequences unless accusers go public.

There are certainly some things that should not be swept under the rug because of "all the good that has gone before." I don't get the impression this is the case in this situation.

[Sara Marie]

Removed a post and reply. Please keep this thread positive.

[The Human Diversion]

Steven Schopmeyer wrote:

What will you do if Paizo has taken that consideration and decides to let the removal stand?

I've already taken the action of no longer playing PFS. I've also stopped purchasing Paizo products, and I am strongly encouraging everyone I meet and game with to do the same.

[TriOmegaZero]

I apologize for that post, as it is not in keeping with the spirit of this thread.

[Philippe Lam]

The Human Diversion wrote:

Steven Schopmeyer wrote:

What will you do if Paizo has taken that consideration and decides to let the removal stand?

I've already taken the action of no longer playing PFS. I've also stopped purchasing Paizo products, and I am strongly encouraging everyone I meet and game with to do the same.

It might be great on a personal standpoint, but unless at least 50 percent + 1 customers of Paizo do the same thing, it's unlikely to have a lasting impact. Not a judgment, merely a possible consequence.

[trollbill]

Philippe Lam wrote:

The Human Diversion wrote:

Steven Schopmeyer wrote:

What will you do if Paizo has taken that consideration and decides to let the removal stand?

I've already taken the action of no longer playing PFS. I've also stopped purchasing Paizo products, and I am strongly encouraging everyone I meet and game with to do the same.

It might be great on a personal standpoint, but unless at least 50 percent + 1 customers of Paizo do the same thing, it's unlikely to have a lasting impact. Not a judgment, merely a possible consequence.

While I get your point, we aren't talking about the BOD here, which would require over 50%. We are talking sales figures and I pretty sure Paizo will notice a sudden, significant regional sales drop long before it reaches 50%. But, yes, it is going to take more than a few stalwart boycotters.

[TwilightKnight]

Tallow wrote:

For the record, while I was a VC up through September 2016, I know for a fact that the RVCs don't have administrative control over the VCs. As in, they can't affect the "firing" digitally, themselves. Only Tonya can do that. Which means she'd have to approve of such a move. It sounds like in her recent post, that perhaps she's put too much "blind" (probably the wrong word here) trust in the requests her RVCs put before her, thus she's asking to start a new review task force.

I cannot speak to what was told to you back in 2016, but I can say that I have now and always have had the ability to not only approve VA/VL candidates under the VCs in the Great Lakes, but I can remove VCs if I feel the action is warranted. There is no "official" policy that I obtain the permission of the CC/OPC/OPM, but I would never do something as significant as that without consulting with Tonya and getting her feedback. The same goes with any significant action such as banning a player for violating our behavior policy, etc. Its an issue of courtesy and communication in the case an action is appealed.

And I express that the VO who volunteer in the region give me the same level of courtesy. I will advise a VC on their VO staff, but at the end of the day they are responsible for the VL/VA who are on their staff and if situations occur that the VO needs to be removed, I would expect them to consult me. Not so much for approval, but so they can get another perspective and so I can support their action if it is brought into question.
I'm sorry to derail the thread, just wanted to make a clarification.
I am not what I would call friends with Michael Eshleman, but I know him through our work as VOs and general volunteers. He has volunteered at Gen Con on more than one occasion. I found him to be a nice person, well liked and well received by his peers and players at a table.
That being said, I'm not trying to imply any of the recent actions were unfair and that I am petitioning for his reinstatement. I'm just saying that of what little contact we had, I found him friendly and pleasant. I hope that Michael and all of the Carolina community can get past this unfortunate incident and get back to enjoying the game we are all here to play.

[Tallow]

So you can actually remove them as a VO on the website? If not, then my post above is absolutely, 100% correct. But your post does seem that Tonya does perform the administrative task of an RVC requests to remove a VO without much oversight. Which looks to be changing slightly by Tanya's recent post.

[Yeebin]

People in general take the path of least resistance and Paizo is made up of people just like you and me. That being said, the least resistance is usually dumping on whoever will accept it, even if they are right.

Michael's character is of someone who doesn't want a lot of drama and problems therefore its easier for him to get dumped on and then people unaware of the situation to think he was at fault. Its a sad thing but that is human nature.

The people of Raleigh see this injustice and therefore are aggressive to intervene on his behalf. But unfortunately the gatekeepers have a ruling to enforce and can not flip flop despite the witness testimony that is contrary to their decision.

I wish Paizo the best of luck and while I would love to be all in on 2nd edition, I am off the PFS/Paizo bandwagon for good.

[Glorf Fei-Hung]

From my perspective as a player and occasional GM for about 2.5 years in the Raleigh/Durham Area, Michael IS the Face of Paizo in this area. And short of hiring Scarlett Johansson to take his place, I don't believe you could find anyone better to take his place in that role.

Michael puts in hours of prep time each week not only for the games he GM's but to help new/less experienced GM's be fully prepared for any games they are running. He gets to know every player that not only plays at his games, but even comes with questions and a passing interested in what Pathfinder and PFS are about. He puts in countless hours working to help players in this area with little or no recognition or incentive for himself as he already has every measurable bonus Paizo has to offer.

Yet I have no true understand of exactly what he did that warrants his removal as VC. Thus it seems odd that the act of removing him as VC is hurting the Paizo and PFS Brand in this area significantly more so than whatever actions he took that sparked this issue.

[Othinnson]

Hey,
I missed the why should we care part of this post.

I'm a casual player who has bought numerous books and loves playing with Michael--looking to sit at a table with him intentionally.

but I don't know what the point of the VC and VO and VA are other than being the people who create the warhorn signup page and organize conventions--people who help us non-volunteers play. What is actually gained or lost being in these roles? How are casual players affected by who is the VC or VO?

Where can I find a list of roles and responsibilities of VC VO and this Tonya person I keep seeing? Are these all paid positions at Paizo and this is an internal HR personnel issue? Or are these just an associated group of volunteers that get some undefined benefit other than a title?
Does this group have bylaws, rules committees, elections, judicial committee? I've heard tell of an NDA whose contents is a secret which I assume would just pertain Paizo's storylines not yet released, or books and mods etc not yet published (no spoilers), but what else could be in that? I can't imagine it would be a "behavior detrimental to..." statement because you'd want that list of banned behavior public so people know to not do it.

Just seeking some clarification on what matters vs what does not.

[GreySector]

You can see the list of Venture Officers here, and the responsibilities and benefits here.

[Secane]

Sorry, but what is going on exactly?

All I am reading is that a well respected VC has been removed from his position?

Why was he removed and why does it require a petition to bring him back?

[TriOmegaZero]

It doesn't.

[Fromper]

Secane wrote:

Sorry, but what is going on exactly?

All I am reading is that a well respected VC has been removed from his position?

Why was he removed and why does it require a petition to bring him back?

Agreed. Since the rest of us don't know why he was removed from the position, we have no basis to judge whether or not it was the right decision. So why would any of us support a petition? And what's the point of this thread?

[Kitsune Kune]

Fromper wrote:

Secane wrote:

Sorry, but what is going on exactly?

All I am reading is that a well respected VC has been removed from his position?

Why was he removed and why does it require a petition to bring him back?

Agreed. Since the rest of us don't know why he was removed from the position, we have no basis to judge whether or not it was the right decision. So why would any of us support a petition? And what's the point of this thread?

So, your very reason for not wanting to sign the petition, is the very reason I did so. I am from the region this directly impacts, and yet I know little to nothing more than you yourselves do from reading the starting post here. All I know, is that the pillars of the local Organized Play were removed from their position (or stepped down in response to that removal.) The result of which, is that organized play is suffering drastically for it.

The local venue/retailer used to have 2-4 tables of PFS every week, and 1-2 tables of SFS every week. As a sign to just how much work Michael and Pete put in, now that they have stepped down those numbers have dwindled. Going forward I see 1-2 tables of PFS every week, and (as of this writing) SFS has its final table listed for a week from tomorrow.

In short, while I am directly affected by the choices of the powers that be. I have absolutely no reference for what has happened, yet myself, the local community, and the venue are clearly suffering the fall-out of the situation. As such, I see no reason not to sign the petition, and if it helps bring balance back to area, then I have every reason to do so.

[Duiker]

Kitsune Kune wrote:

Fromper wrote:

Secane wrote:

Sorry, but what is going on exactly?

All I am reading is that a well respected VC has been removed from his position?

Why was he removed and why does it require a petition to bring him back?

Agreed. Since the rest of us don't know why he was removed from the position, we have no basis to judge whether or not it was the right decision. So why would any of us support a petition? And what's the point of this thread?

So, your very reason for not wanting to sign the petition, is the very reason I did so. I am from the region this directly impacts, and yet I know little to nothing more than you yourselves do from reading the starting post here. All I know, is that the pillars of the local Organized Play were removed from their position (or stepped down in response to that removal.) The result of which, is that organized play is suffering drastically for it.

The local venue/retailer used to have 2-4 tables of PFS every week, and 1-2 tables of SFS every week. As a sign to just how much work Michael and Pete put in, now that they have stepped down those numbers have dwindled. Going forward I see 1-2 tables of PFS every week, and (as of this writing) SFS has its final table listed for a week from tomorrow.

In short, while I am directly affected by the choices of the powers that be. I have absolutely no reference for what has happened, yet myself, the local community, and the venue are clearly suffering the fall-out of the situation. As such, I see no reason not to sign the petition, and if it helps bring balance back to area, then I have every reason to do so.

Awesome. So for all you know he was removed for multiple sexual harassment complaints, but the fact that you have less tables to play at really is the only thing that matters here.

[Suede]

The rumor mill leaked the reason once it became known it was not being revealed due to abuse of the NDA. He used his privelages as VC to confirm if another VC was maintaining his requirements to be a VC after complaints were made by other VOs. He reported his findings to the RVC and was removed for doing so.

There are a lot more sordid details to it and actions that are being questioned in regards to how the organized play rep handled the situation. But if you want details I would advise you read the locked threads that contain them or read the thread on Reddit which summarizes things well so we don’t get this thread locked like the others for bringing up details.

[Pradeep Pradjeet]

Duiker wrote:

Awesome. So for all you know he was removed for multiple sexual harassment complaints, but the fact that you have less tables to play at really is the only thing that matters here.

If that were to have happened, as I understand it, he would have been removed from society play entirely and banned from the stores in the area. Beyond that there are activities which could result in the banning from VO status but acceptance as a player, I am sure. Projecting the unknown sends individuals to extremes. The extremes suggested in your post would have far harsher punishment.

[Fromper]

I don't know Michael Eshleman. From the way he's described here, he sounds like a good guy.

But I do know Paizo. I've been a PFS player and GM for 7 years. For the first year I was a player, the area where I lived had no venture officers. The first guy who applied for the V-C job got it, but he was a jerk who drove female players away, and he was quickly removed from the position. I've known several good venture officers who have never been removed by Paizo, though some have stepped down over the years, as life got in the way. So from what I've seen, Paizo does a pretty good job at deciding who needs to be removed from V-C positions when something goes wrong.

So who do you expect me to side with?

The point is we don't know the specifics of this situation. And if the details can't be posted here in this thread, so we can all find out what went down and judge for ourselves if it was fair, then this thread is pointless. You can't expect everyone on the Paizo forums to go wandering all over the internet looking for information on a situation that doesn't concern us.

[Doonamis]

Fromper wrote:

The point is we don't know the specifics of this situation. And if the details can't be posted here in this thread, so we can all find out what went down and judge for ourselves if it was fair, then this thread is pointless. You can't expect everyone on the Paizo forums to go wandering all over the internet looking for information on a situation that doesn't concern us.

Most of the concerns raised that you should care about here is that there have been several posts trying to talk about this on these boards. The entire threads (not just posts) have been removed (permanently deleted, not just locked) from these forums. If you choose to allow Paizo to censor the things that you are asking about, then you will never get the answers (or accountability) that you (we) seek. The only way to get the answers is to look at places that Paizo doesn't have that level of control.

[Noven]

I would like to care about the situation, but the entire thing has been scrubbed from the Paizo forums, which I guess is their right to do so.

[Kitsune Kune]

Duiker wrote:

Awesome. So for all you know he was removed for multiple sexual harassment complaints, but the fact that you have less tables to play at really is the only thing that matters here.

No, I operate under the assumptions that someone is innocent until shown guilty. As such, I try to make an informed decision based on the facts I have at hand. Especially when we currently only have rumors as to what occurred, which have no way to be verified, and run as rampantly spread as your provided extreme, to the one provided by Suede.

As such, I am forced to work with only the following.
1) Whatever occurred was not so egregious as to cause Michael to be banned from the venue, or organized play. Only removed from office, which makes extremes seem unlikely.

2) Individuals who know more about the situation than myself seem generally to feel this was an over-reaction, and even the people who made the decision seem to feel it was a tough call based off posts from Del and Tonya. (Although that could simply be my interpretation of their writings, and others could feel very differently about the same text.)

3) The resulting attendance at the events is something I can provide the hardest evidence for, and as the prior two points sit as they do, leaves me to the decision I made to sign the petition.

Now, that is my reasoned response based off the few facts I have, and the assumptions I made from them. You are well within your rights to make different assumptions, and by extension, different conclusions.

Fromper wrote:

I don't know Michael Eshleman. From the way he's described here, he sounds like a good guy.

But I do know Paizo. I've been a PFS player and GM for 7 years. For the first year I was a player, the area where I lived had no venture officers. The first guy who applied for the V-C job got it, but he was a jerk who drove female players away, and he was quickly removed from the position. I've known several good venture officers who have never been removed by Paizo, though some have stepped down over the years, as life got in the way. So from what I've seen, Paizo does a pretty good job at deciding who needs to be removed from V-C positions when something goes wrong.

So who do you expect me to side with?

That is a completely reasonable stance, and one I can imagine myself taking in your position. However, you and another asked why we who signed the petition felt it should exist. As such, I provided my reasons. (Perhaps not as eloquently as I should have, based off the first response to me.) In the interim, I have no expectations that it would sway your opinion. I simply wanted to provide what facts I can, so that everyone who reads the thread can make as informed of a decision as they can.

[Phantom of Truth]

Doonamis: I'm rarely inclined to side with those who accuse the forum's moderators of censorship - I've heard that rhetoric countless times before, and it never ends well for people like me. You're not making a very good case for yourself with rumor-mongering and accusations, or by directing users to external sites where you can throw around whatever wild claims you please.

[TOZ]

And even have those wild claims locked off by those sites admins.

[Shaudius]

Phantom of Truth wrote:

Doonamis: I'm rarely inclined to side with those who accuse the forum's moderators of censorship - I've heard that rhetoric countless times before, and it never ends well for people like me.

I would encourage you to read the Locked "deleting threads is not forum management" thread. It has a lot of good information in it about the situation but does skate around a few issues to avoid getting deleted.

Phantom of Truth wrote:

You're not making a very good case for yourself with rumor-mongering and accusations, or by directing users to external sites where you can throw around whatever wild claims you please.

Only if those external threads aren't moderated, the difference between them and here is not that they aren't moderated it's that they aren't moderated by Paizo itself who obviously has a conflict of interest in this situation which causes people to tread lightly when interacting on their own forums (and the main thread regarding the issue is locked here but not external sites.) Although it looks like the main Reddit thread has also been locked.

Not for nothing but I'm on the organized play discord which is moderated by online venture officers and I've had people PM me privately saying that they agree with me regarding issues I brought up in that other thread but don't feel comfortable commenting publicly because of their involvement as a venture officer in organized play.

[Hmm]

Hmm sits for a moment, staring at her VC hat. She decides to leave it on, because this is something important.

Hey all. Mike Eschelman had always been a VC that I admired, and I don’t want people assuming that he has done terrible things. Sometimes good people make mistakes. It is unfortunate that his dismissal lies under NDA, because that makes people assume the very worst of him, and I earnestly do not believe that he deserves that.

I cannot comment on the specifics of this case. But I can post about ‘Who is Mike Eschelman’ and ‘Why should you care?’ Mike is an outstanding volunteer. In losing Mike as a fellow VC, I feel that we in Organized Play — not just North Carolina — have lost a treasure in our ranks.

To illustrate his character I note that Mike is still doing many of the things that make him an outstanding volunteer. He’s still GMing. He’s still maintaining his helpful spreadsheets. He’s still serving not only his region, but all of us.

Yours,
Hilary Moon Murphy

[Sebastian Hirsch]

Not taking off my VO hat, this is kinda colored by my VO experiences, and it takes forever to get it back on with all the spikes in my head

My only contact with Michael has been on the boards and in a task force, where we argued about some important things and quite a number of things that might not be quite that important.

Frankly, I did not know how impressive his stats really were, I managed my 5 stars within (what I thought) a relatively short time, but Michael got his much earlier.

While the workload of organizing conventions is shared locally between me and my fellow VOs, it is a lot of work and really can only be done if you are motivated to provide a great experience for your player base. The fact, that he had the energy to organize 4 conventions and even volunteered to support others is quite impressive (and makes me look lazy but I am fine with that ^^).

He has given a lot of time to his community from running an impressive number of tables to supporting his GMs and players in other ways.
If I what I am told is correct, he is still running public tables, honestly after losing your position that is quite the impressive task and I am not sure if I could do the same.

Last but not least, while he is still active within his community, in the last couple of days I only read positive comments about him, how he was welcoming to new, old and returning players and how he made his tables a welcoming place for all.
I kinda hope to meet him one day, I suspect, that after all those years he will have good advice for younger VOs.

---

Obviously, I can't talk about any aspects of his dismissal, but I can't help to be impressed (and kinda stunned) by his accomplishments.