Topic 
Starting Member
USA
9 Posts
Posted - 01/28/2003 :
16:54:34 
Running a search on Google, I came across this... The guy actually is paying Google to run this as an ad.
Of note, this is in reference to "The Other NERO" game. (Good for us, provided the average viewer knows the dif)
http://lee.org/reading/gaming/larp/nero/frayed%20knot%203-2002/
-Kris
NERO Florida
---------------
membership@neroflorida.com
kris@neroflorida.com
NERO Iowa GM
USA
478 Posts
Posted - 01/29/2003 :
08:21:28
ouch, well I wont go to much into the past but ive spoken with Mike V several times and I would have to agree about the worming out of questions or at least trying some mis-direction.
Jeremie Collins
Chapter Head
Nero Northrn Iowa
Avid DAOC player
Alert Moderator
New Member
USA
50 Posts
Posted - 02/03/2003 :
18:44:23
Poor Lee... mis-lead by Mike V. and then screwed.
(For those of you that don't know, Mike Ventrella runs an illegal NERO organization called NERO Alliance which is in direct violation of Patent and Trademark laws.)
I wrote Lee this evening and hopefully swaying him in the correct path to the real NERO game.
Best Wishes Lee!
~Chris Hom
Making NERO better and more Fun!
Edited by - Chris Hom on 02/03/2003 18:48:43
Starting Member
USA
2 Posts
Posted - 02/03/2003 :
20:53:15
In my chronically verbose style, I will answer Chris Horn's email and message. Unless a vitally important issue arises, I won't be posting about this matter again.
Chris Horn wrote directly to me saying:
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Greetings Lee,
I'm sure you have received numerous email messages from people who play the real NERO organization already because someone posted your complaints about Mike Ventrella on the NERO International boards (www.nerolarp.com); which I read today.
Mike Ventrella does not run nor does he own NERO; he illegally runs fake NERO chapters that someone in Patent and Trademarks should shut down.
After Ford Ivey started NERO in 1988 he later sold NERO to Joseph Valenti in 1998.
In short, Mike V. was the manager of a chapter at the time when Ford was CEO/President; at some unknown time to me probably in the last 1990's Mike wanted to do his own thing, but wanted to use to NERO system. Anyhow legally he did not have the rights to NERO, so he illegally made himself CEO/President under the same NERO name. I'm sure if you want to get into the details of everything about that the current own of NERO Joseph Valenti would be more than happy to explain it all - or send you the website where it's all documented.
My goal is to show you the correct NERO, and perhaps lead you to the correct path grasshopper.
May you find your way and may your adventures with NERO International be fruitful and prosperous.
Sincerely,
~Chris Hom
Making NERO better and more Fun!
I hope that you will join us!
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris,
You are either ill informed or a fool. Although my statements about Mr. Ventrella stand as they may, it is also true that Joe Valenti, Ford Ivey, and any informed person that stands vehemently against Mike Ventrella on the issue of the break between NERO International and NERO Alliance is a backbiting imbecile.
If you believe what I wrote about Mike on my web page, then you must also believe that Mike's page about the break (http://www.nerohq.com/break.htm) is also true. I was there, and can vouch for a good number of the specifics. Ford, Joe, and a number of other people went quite a distance out of their way to sabotage the foundations of their own game.
The fact that this petty squabble continues unabated to this very day saddens me but is no great surprise. I spent my NERO career keeping a blind eye to such petty disagreements because I knew that the root causes were invariably due to personality deficiencies and not "real" issues.
The very idea of a LARP is a wonderful thing that permits its participants to expand their personalities well beyond what is normally possible. It is analogous to an athelete's weight-room. I become disappointed when I see people putting more emphasis on this "weight-room" itself than the fitness gained from it.
I hope that each reader of this message figures out for themselves what is really important in their lives. Try not to sweat the small stuff.
Lee Sonko
Starting Member
USA
2 Posts
Posted - 02/03/2003 :
21:41:06
OK, something important came up:
After all these years, Joe can still freak me out. See his letter to Chris and I below.
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
Return-Path: <NeroInt@aol.com>
Received: from imo-m08.mx.aol.com ([64.12.136.163])
by curlew.mail.pas.earthlink.net (Earthlink SMTP Server) with ESMTP id
v3u5sj.n6v.37tiu44
for <[Lee]Mon, 3 Feb 2003 17:29:55 -0800 (PST)
Received: from NeroInt@aol.com
by imo-m08.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v34.13.) id l.1cb.18b2246 (3972);
Mon, 3 Feb 2003 20:29:46 -0500 (EST)
From: NeroInt@aol.com
Message-ID: <1cb.18b2246.2b70718a@aol.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 20:29:46 EST
Subject: Re: The real NERO to Lee Sonko
To: [Chris Horn], [Lee]
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="ISO-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
X-Mailer: AOL 5.0 for Windows sub 138
Chris:
Lee is familair with NERO, myself, and Mike V.
He knows the story - we dont need to burden him with it.
forget ventrella - never argue that name with anyone, ever again.
We have cotacted LEe, and hope that he will consider coming and playing, or
possibly running some events and plots for NERO.
Sincerely,
Joseph Valenti
President, NERO
NERO ® is the Registered Trademark of NERO International Holding Company
Incorporated. USPTO Registration. # 2,270,409
The NERO Rule Book © is copyrighted 1989-2002 by NERO International Holding
Company Incorporated, All Rights Reserved.
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
- "ever"? Yipe!
- That sure is a long signature... Is he trying to compensate for something?
As a side note, I graciously turned down the offer from Rebecca King...
without using any subtly threatening language.
This reply came before I knew about this forum discussion:
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
2-2-03
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you very much for your offer. I'm honored that you would consider me for
a staff position in your new campaign. I'm going to have to turn you down for
now. My interest in LARPS has been nill since last year's debacle. I think my
Fantasy LARPING days are over.
I'm not sure but I -think- I remember you. A photo might help me remember. Are
there any photos of you or your characters online? I browsed nerolarp.com but
couldn't find turn anything up readily.
Once again, I thank you for the offer and wish you the best of luck in your
venture.
Have fun! or it's all for nothing,
lee
------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------