Main Page/K12 Online Initiative back-office/Nonprofits/educause/sent reply

Dear Mr. Hawkins,

You have my intentions all wrong Sir and please accept my deepest apologies; though I can see in hind-sight where you might have gotten them. I can be a bit of a whirlwind. I had chatted with Garry over 8 months ago, and when I realized be was connected with Educause, I merely thought he'd be a good candidate to broach the issue since he was aware of my effort and we had chatted a few times, and he seemed genuinely interested. Maybe it was wrong to do so--but I was eager to set things in motion, and that's all. I have a very small window of opportunity working from Japan and maximize my efforts by tacking a problem from multiple sides. Sorry.

In regards to your other members. I was just trying to determine who would be the right person to approach, I hadn't heard from you and had no idea you were going to discuss it in committee. Had I had I would not have approached anyone else... I just figured my email didnt reach you. I did tell Diana that.

Sorry for your misunderstanding in this matter, there was no "End-runs to contact Dr. Oblinger and others" as you put it. Mr. Luker recommended that I talk to Diana--so I did. BTW, I had originally had tried to reach him (prior to sending you an email), but he was in South America, I figured a vice president in DC (EDUIT is a DC npo) would be easier to chat with than a President of a large organization. I imagine as most President's you have your hands full and my email (as it does a lot coming from Japan) simple hit your spam folder, since I never got a replay from you.

I apologies for my easiness to try to align Educause "Transporming Education though Information Technology" and with EDUIT "Education via Information Technology." They are a natural fit. I have no desire to usurp your leadership or undermine it in any way. Eduit's mission: is to flatten learning... the K12 Initiative is just the pilot, They have every intention of expanding into the higher education space and have already established a working relationship with affiliates of MIT and other higher education establishments.

I really, hope you will reconsider and not threaten a noble vision for education by my youthful eagerness.

Most sincerely, most apologetically,

Michael J. Trout