Canceled Due to Scheduling Conflicts?
Not Even Close...
Last week we wrote of the growing schism in OCPAC over the takeover of OCPAC by rabid AHA supporters including the leader of OCPAC, John Michener and how it has driven lower attendance and in general much controversy within the group. What we didn't say was that we knew that OCPAC was being forced to postpone their annual awards dinner due to the lack of ticket sales. That's right, for the first time in their near 30 year history the group has had to cancel their major annual event due to lack of interest.
OCPAC's John Michener of course claimed it was "scheduling conflicts" with the award winners. The winners of the award are only a handful, Nathan Dahm, Josh Breecheen, Jason Murphey, Tom Gann, Rick West, Chuck Strom, and Tommy Hardin. The two top winners are OCPAC regulars and a Friday night on the first week of session anyone is going to have scheduling conflicts?
OCPAC's support of Dan Fisher has alienated way over half of the rank and file OCPAC members and made the group a bit radioactive for mainstream politicians. Tying in with a radical group that protests at churches and attacks pastors for not doing enough on abortion is not good political strategy so people voted with their pocket books and refused to purchase the tickets that paid for the annual award dinner. Without a doubt more than a few of the awardees might have refused to attend and thus be tainted with the AHA stigma but I can guarantee that it was not scheduling conflicts as this event was announced four months ago.
