Melissa Frey, Exec Director of the PLENTY Coop, spams Chatlist members?

Date: Mon, 01 Jun 2009 21:15:02 -0400
From: Jody
Subject: Why am I receiving PLENTY spam now?

I want to know how many people were also sent this spam message as I was, called “Who Accepts PLENTYs” and headlined “PLENTY o’ Info” from asking “Did You Know All These Businesses Accept PLENTYs?”

I find it quite disgusting that someone would send a garbage boilerplate unsolicited junk mail message to my inbox without any form of prior consent exclusively because I posted on the Chatlist against their cause.  A logical and clear private response written to address my points is one thing, but spamming me because I don’t agree with your garbage fake currency is another matter indeed, and one which I will not stand for.  If you disagree with me, post it to the Chatham Chatlist or actually take a little time to talk directly to me instead of sending me your filthy propaganda mail messages I didn’t ask for and that you *know* I don’t want to receive.

Last time I checked, I didn’t agree to receive spam and get signed up to mailing lists just because I choose to post on the Chatlist.  I’m sure that Gene wouldn’t condone such actions either.  Even if you can find a way to legally squeak by, there’s no better way to further harm your cause than to start spamming people who disagree with an auto-subscription to your unwanted electronic junk mail.

I have reported the message sent to me with full headers to and I encourage anyone else who receives this spam in connection with their use of the Chatlist to do the same.  You need to view the entire message with “full headers” in your mail program, then copy and paste the entire message source with all of the headers included into a new message, and send that message to . There are tutorials all over the Internet on how to do this; the Chatlist is not the place for me to explain the procedure.  Just do it every time they spam you until they stop or their account is suspended for violating the Gmail Terms Of Use.

You all were wondering how us computer guys stay spam-free, weren’t you?  There’s no better way to do so than to report the spammers directly to their mail service providers, and it shows that you won’t stand for it.  As for the “PLENTY,” I hope that junk mail was the last shout of desperation from something that was never a good idea in the first place.  Good night Chatham, and goodbye PLENTY.

Jody

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Unfortunately, Ms. Frey has exhibited this kind of unneighborly behavior before. Back in 2006, Ms. Frey chose to diss one of the local community newspapers –

From the chatham chatlist –

Subject: I am truly and sincerely disappointed

As moderator of the Chatham chatlist and editor of the Chatham Journal newspaper I have always tried to use these venues to promote local Chatham County based businesses.

We’ve had gobs of local business introductions, service offerings, classified stuff on the chatlist along with community information and business news in the Chatham Journal newspaper and web site.

Therefore I am truly and sincerely disappointed by the response I had received from someone who represents an organization which publicly claims to be trying to support local commerce.

As early as last year I had discussed being able to have Chatham Journal newspaper distribution at the Chatham Marketplace.
I even offered to purchase a newspaper rack for use by the Chatham Journal newspaper and various other local newspapers.

On 5/27/06 Melissa Frey, Marketplace’s Marketing Director was nice enough to inform me by email that

“At this point our rack is full.  We have quite a bit of literature of our own to display plus some new publications that are not available other places.  I’ll let you know if some space becomes available.”

I was satisfied with the answer for the time being. After all here was someone who was a long-time chatlist member who had used the chatlist, the Chatham Online online business directory and the Chatham Journal newspaper to promote the food coop concept.

A month later, on 6/27/06 I had the opportunity to stop by the Chatham Marketplace and found an assortment of publications arranged among several racks at the front of the store. This included publications like the Independent Weekly, the Chatham County Line, etc.

My favorite was the stand along rack (top slot half-full, bottom slot empty) for the Raleigh-based glossy high-end magazine (fifteen501) that just rolled out recently with 25,000 copies per issue. I guess you really couldn’t possibly squeeze in a little ol’ 16 page community publication that’s been around for over 9 years and is locally owned and operated.

I have always prided myself on the efforts I have put into the Chatham Journal newspaper and the Chatham Chatlist to promote local businesses.

I did a search of the Chatham Journal newspaper web site and found over a dozen news items about the Marketplace
http://search.freefind.com/find.html?id=7596310&pid=r&mode=ALL&n=0&query=marketplace

I did a search of the chatlist digests I have archived and found over two dozen mentions of the Chatham Marketplace including this very early post on June 19, 2003

——————————————————————————————————————
Date: Thu, 19 Jun 2003 21:55:05 -0400
From: melissa_frey
Subject: Pittsboro food co-op gathering

COME SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR PITTSBORO’S NEW CO-OP GROCERY CHATHAM MARKETPLACE SUNDAY, JULY 13, 5PM POTLUCK 104 HAWK NEST TRAIL, PITTSBORO

****LEARN ABOUT THIS GRASSROOTS EFFORT AND WHAT IT CAN MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY ****SUPPORT THIS PROJECT AND BUY YOUR OWNERSHIP SHARE ($100 SINGLE, $150 DOUBLE) ****GET INVOLVED!  INVESTMENT AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

CO-OPS HAPPEN BECAUSE COMMUNITIES WANT THEM MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN AT THIS IMPORTANT TIME!!
——————————————————————————————————————

I have always felt that as part of a local community we can and should rely on each other for support.

Gosh, I guess I was wrong.

I sincerely wish the Chatham Marketplace the best of luck.

I’m just truly sorry to see that the Marketplace has determined that the Chatham Journal is not an integral enough part of the community to allow within it’s doors.

Note: I humbly request that any Marketplace owners who feel it is appropriate to approach Melissa or any of the other members of the Chatham Marketplace board and politely ask them to allow the Chatham Journal Newspaper, a locally owned and operated publication into the Chatham Marketplace.

Chatham Marketplace board
Melissa, Tami Schwerin, Gretchen Witzgall, Laura Lauffer, John Bonitz, Mary DeMare Stivers, Tes Thraves, Corinne Dunn Kathleen Conroy

We’ll even provide our own brand new wire rack or newspaper box. 🙂

A copy of this email has been sent to Melissa et al

Gene