THANK YOU REDMEN!

            I would like to personally thank all the true REDMEN that have made this remarkable campaign possible. We were able to accomplish so much due to a great deal of sincere and heartfelt effort.  And even though the Natick School Committee - consisting of Stephen Meyler, Anne Blanchard, David Murphy, Karen Adelman Foster, Dirk Coburn, Rick Wynn and Anne Zernicke - decided not to listen to our collective voices, we all have a great deal to be proud of.  Together we took a stand and refused to allow our treasured team name be thrown on the scrap heap of history due to political correctness run amuck.  But the Anti-Redmen agitators found an overly sympathetic, and in fact like-minded, School Committee all too willing to concede the issue in both 2007 and 2008.

            Our non-binding referendum vote from March 25^th, which was totally disregarded by the Natick School Committee, showed just how deeply at least 6,085 of us love Natick and the traditional values that built and define our fine town.  That election showed that at least 65% of Natick residents are still desirous of a traditional values system.  But it is painfully apparent that the Natick School Committee is more concerned about individuals who do not even live in Natick than they are about us.  But then again, what would you expect from this group of seven individuals since not a single one of them ever attended the Natick public school system.  They are not Redmen, and I dare say they would say so themselves with arrogant pride.  By their individual and collective actions since the March 25^th vote, it is clear now that they had no intention of listening to us or our votes.  They simply believe that they know what’s best for us.

            As a result of the Natick School Committee’s Anti-Redmen vote of June 16^th, the Redmen Forever Committee considered ways to bind the School Committee to restore the Redmen name.  A petition drive was considered in an attempt to get a second referendum before the people of Natick, because after all, the name Redmen belongs to you the residents of Natick.  However, the Redmen Forever Committee’s legal advisors have determined that such an effort would have no real impact because even if the voters of Natick decide once again that they want the Redmen name, there is no assurance that it would be implemented.  This defiant School Committee could act to trash the name again and again, so our Binding Petition would be at best only a temporary fix.  This cycle pitting the Redmen Forever Committee and Natick residents against the School Committee could go on ad-nauseum.

            Therefore, the Redmen Forever Committee has decided to hold our efforts in abeyance, at least for now, and discontinue the petition drive and referendum initiative. Our Committee continues to receive advice on means that may be available to continue this all important fight.  You are urged to continue to stay in contact with us as we keep you updated on our website at www.RedmenForever.org.

            One thing remains certain - there are ways to make our votes count. We turned out in great numbers for that March 25^th election.  Question #3, the Redmen issue, received more votes than any candidate on the ballot.  It even received more votes than Question #2, the override, which was strongly endorsed by this School Committee.  What does this mean?  We have the ability to replace any current School Committee member during the Town’s next general election. Remember that in a democracy such as ours, the loudest voices are those that originate in the silence of the voting booth…even if the Natick School Committee does not believe it!

            Thank you again for your continued support.  Please contact me at anytime if you have questions or comments.  And remember:

 IT WAS REDMEN THEN, AND IT WILL BE REDMEN AGAIN!

Jimmy Brown     6/20/08