mather
Newspaper Vendor
Posts: 2
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Post by mather on Sept 13, 2008 9:21:09 GMT -5
Hi Everyone,
Someone contacted me recently, concerned that the address of the the school I used to direct was posted to the forum. It's an interesting challenge for someone who used to act and now has a normal, professional life. When you are an actor, everyone who works with you is mindful of keeping your contact information confidential-- partly to minimize incursions by enthusiastic fans into your life and partly to protect you from the very real risk of stalkers. When you have a normal job (like school principal), the mindfulness is different. When I was informed that the school's address was being posted, I contacted the staff and reminded them not to share any personal contact information.
Waltons fans are the nicest people anyone could ever hope to meet. However, once in a while somone comes along whose interest in the Waltons has shifted into obsession. When I was in college a fan called me at the restaurant I was working at and insisted we meet because she was so sure "we'd be the best of friends". I kept pointing out that she didn't know ME; she knew Elizabeth, but this didn't matter to her. She kept saying she could tell what kind of a person I was and she KNEW we'd be best friends. Of course you can't really tell what someone is like based on a character they played on television. There is no way to tell whether you have the same beliefs, passions, interests as an actor by watching them act. In fact, I learned that when I really, really admire a performer, I'd rather NOT meet them, since their reality is typically disappointing compared to what I am imagining about them.
Anyway, this a long ramble and what I really wanted to communicate is my preference that mail be sent to the fan club or the museum. Both entities know how to reach me and both forward mail. My practice is not to reply to anything that comes to former/current workplaces, just to ensure the peace and safety of my family and myself.
I am a notoriously poor replier to ALL mail (ask my relatives and friends). When I receive mail asking for autographs it goes in my stack of things to do which includes unbalanced checking account statements, unfiled paid bills, unmended children's clothing, partially written grants, books drawn by my prolific 8-year-old that need to be dated and put away, a request from a teacher for a letter of recommendation, unfinished needle felted pumpkins I promised my child's teacher and so on. AND today, instead of working on my pile of things to do, I am going to a football game. I am a very very very naughty person!!
So, I beg your forgiveness for letters I didn't respond to because I do not want to encourage correspondance sent to my former workplaces and your patience regarding letters forwarded by the museum & fanclub that I haven't responded to because I am so pathetically disorganized.
And now I have to check what Cotton and his pal Guthrie are up to as it is awfully noisy play for 7:15 am. Then I have to get ready to head off to the Colisuem to cheer the USC Trojans in their epic battle against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Fight on!
Kami
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Post by Dianne Grant on Sept 13, 2008 10:04:22 GMT -5
Well said kami!
Dianne
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Post by Tracey on Sept 13, 2008 10:08:09 GMT -5
I totally agree with you Kami... How funny because both of my friends are going to be at the game. One is a big fan of USC and the other one did graduated from OHIO State Buckeyes, but for me I rather stay home and watch those two on television. But I'm a big fan of UCLA.. Sorry Kami  |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 13, 2008 10:29:12 GMT -5
Kami, you have treated this delicate subject with complete sympathy. Everything you said was nothing but simple truth. To contact anyone, actor, sportman etc a fan needs to go through the correct people.
And yes there are obsessives and sometimes these can be very dangerous people. Thanks for your input into this.
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kayen78
Typesetter
And Me, Harlow Wilcox by Kristi Zanker Nostalgia Digest (Spring, 2017)
Posts: 79
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Post by kayen78 on Sept 13, 2008 15:11:48 GMT -5
I also totally agree with you and completely understand. I wrote you a letter and sent it to that address because someone had posted and I thought it would be okay. Now, I know better. I'm sorry for sending it there. When I write you again, I'll write it to the museum because I'm not a member of the fanclub (yet). But I understand what you are saying and thank you for posting here and letting us know. It's a shame you had that run-in with that "fan" at the restaurant. They ruin it for others. I also understand that you are an extremely busy person and I just wanted to write to you and introduce myself and tell you how much I enjoy The Waltons. Well, I'll write my letter again and I'll to the right place this time.  -Kristi |
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Post by eringirl on Sept 14, 2008 10:47:45 GMT -5
Well said, little sister. I couldn't have said it better. I too, so my best to get to the requests, but I have tehes 3 teenage girls and sometimes life is just busy. I thanks all of you who have cotacted me for understanding.
I feel very private about my personal information and contact info. My last address was posted on the internet and put in a book somene published and I started getting mail from men in jail. Now I understand why they wrote and know some were just doing their time, trying to get better and start a new life when they got out, but I was a single Mom and to know anyone could show up at my door and my baby girl could answer was a bit frightening. I never let Syd play in the front yard after that. You just never know who knows where you live!
So I thanks Kami for explaining it to you. Thanks Kami.
( and I can confirm she is busy and doesn't answer E-mails right away) HA HA!!
So thanks for understanding and all the care and honor you have for us and the show. I feel lucky to have been part of such a great show.
Mary
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Post by Forum Administrator on Sept 14, 2008 12:37:29 GMT -5
Hi Kami,
Thanks for posting. I have updated the cast member address webpage so that your personal information is no longer public.
I totally depend on others to provide this address information, and I just assume that they have the permission of the individual to make the info public. If you know of anyone else who would prefer that their address not be posted, please let me know and I will remove it also.
You don't know how much we fans appreciate you, Mary, and Eric for taking time out of your busy schedules to post here.
Brenda
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Post by Ryan James on Sept 14, 2008 14:04:54 GMT -5
Hello Kami, Thank you so much for the detailed message you posted. I'd like to apologize for all the trouble I've caused by sending my email to your school. For the members who don't know, I contacted Kami's school via the School email and aksed if she had received our letters. I realize now that was probably wasn't a good idea as that might be considered "stalking" to some people.  I guess I do get carried away with my Autograph collecting in some ways, like doing follow up calls or emails to check to see if my letters arried at the destination etc. Please beleive me Kami, when I say that I never meant to alarm you or feel like I was stalking you in any way by sending my email. I do hope you will accept my apology. Thanks again for taking the time out of your BUSY schedule to let us know. Hope you had fun at the football game.  RYAN J.  |
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Post by jackiladypoet on Sept 14, 2008 15:02:54 GMT -5
I agree with what Kami has said and the others that have commented.
By the way , Kami, well put and thankyou for coming on here , it's nice to hear from you , and address all the fans . Cotton sounds like one adventurous little man...lol !! I wish you well in your future endevours and the best to you and your family !
Brenda: Thankyou for bringing forth your concerns on this posting, , you always continue to provide us with a piece of mind on here.
We all have have a right to privacy and respect.
I'm a firm believer in " treat others as you'd like to be treated".
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Post by bigbruno on Sept 14, 2008 15:20:44 GMT -5
Kami, we are looking forwward to meeting you and having a wonderful time at the Walton Reunion this October.
Beth and Big Bruno (Beth's sister, Sharon, will be there as well).
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Post by Carolyn Grinnell on Sept 14, 2008 18:54:03 GMT -5
Hi Ms. Kami, Thank you so-oooo much for your post regarding autographs and letters to those who wish to hear from you. I will be happy to forward any letters to you or any of the cast members. People do not have to be a fan club member for me to do this for them, I'm looking forward to seeing you, Mary. Audrey and ALL of the Walton fans who will be joining us at our fan club reunion on Oct.25th. I sure do hope Mother Nature smiles upon us and the leaves are still beautiful. A walk along Rockfish River when the leaves are still beautiful is something everyone needs to experience. I'm so excited! Give Cotton and Calli a hug for me and hi to your hubby. And Ms. Mary if you read this give Syd a hug for me too. Carolyn |
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Post by Ryan James on Sept 14, 2008 21:21:30 GMT -5
Hi Carolyn! If it'n not to much to ask, Could you please post the Museum fan mail address?? ;D RYAN J. |
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Post by Carolyn Grinnell on Sept 14, 2008 21:46:00 GMT -5
Hi Ryan,
Here is the address for the museum and for Walton's Int'l Fan Club:
Waltons Mtn. Museum
P O Bx. 124
Schuyler, Virginia, 22969
Walton's Int'l Fan Club
P O Bx. 1055
Kernersville, North Carolina, 27285
Your collection of autographed photos is a treasure!
Carolyn
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Post by bmcgill on Sept 14, 2008 23:29:45 GMT -5
Well said Kami. It is a shame there are people out there that do not respect people's privacy and can even be dangerous. I have e-mailed Mary and she has responded several times. I really appreciate her taking the time to reply to me, a nobody, considering as well known as she is. I always ended my e-mails to her with " send back when you have time or if you have time " . I'm sure she lives a busy life too. I told her on my last e-mail that I did'nt want to become a bother to her or I would send her more e-mails. I also told her to let me know if I was sending too many e-mails. I think she is OK with me sending her e-mails but I don't want to run it in the ground. I am going to the reunion and I am looking forward to meeting you. By the way, I watched The Ordeal on Youtube, all 9 parts of it and your acting was fantastic on that episode. Good luck with keeping your privacy. See you at the reunion.
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Post by Ryan James on Sept 15, 2008 11:07:08 GMT -5
Hi Ryan, Here is the address for the museum and for Walton's Int'l Fan Club: Waltons Mtn. Museum P O Bx. 124 Schuyler, Virginia, 22969 Walton's Int'l Fan Club P O Bx. 1055 Kernersville, North Carolina, 27285 Your collection of autographed photos is a treasure! Carolyn Thanks so Much Carolyn!! Yes, I treasure all my autographs very much. Do you know if the fan club address will work for: Judy Norton, John Walmsley & David Harper as well?? RYAN J. |
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