Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : TAVA Technologies (TAVA-NASDAQ) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: tom hostile who wrote (27218)	1/29/1999 8:52:00 AM
From: fma	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 31646

Tom, Runner, Patrick - Cynicism is healthy, no apology needed. Let me try a more sober summation addressing your concerns. 1. We all agree PR and IR have been a problem. PR has been directed at a manufacturing, not an investor audience. IR has been unsupported, and IR and PR duties appear to have been confounded. The company's commitment will be measured short term whether a national PR firm is on board by the first week of March. Within three months, commitment to PR will be measured by whether PR encapsulates information to both audiences, and whether TAVA's brand name is included in more general Y2k and Post Y2k stories. You will have ready access to this measure through this thread. Members routinely alert other members to Y2K news, and there is a specific SI thread with our own Ck Houston which addresses general Y2K awareness. 2. IR was repeatedly addressed, and again, there was an acknowledgment that it could be improved. Specifically, you will be able to measure the company's commitment to IR if you read that the PR firm is also taking over an IR role, if you see backlog figures at each quarter (this was John's handiwork), if you see Press Releases that may not mention a specific company but which address a numerical worth for TAVA's work, say for an industry or sector, and if you see more courteous and cooperative exchanges with the IR officer (Viktor, we're relying on you for this assessment). 3. Management's integrity - I don't need a further committment on this one. I'm sold. But .... there are several things to look at. The options plan proposed according to corporate counsel was legal. We made it clear we didn't like it, and wanted to have clearer authorization procedures in the future. The options were in the money options, and revert to a qualified taxable income if not authorized by SHM at the meeting . JJ has sold his holdings for tax purposes, and to add to his position at a more favorable price. Kevin Fallon has been steadily adding to his position over the past year. The company recognized the problems with one director's insider sales and has implemented more controls as well as discussing the matter with him. The management promised an amazing performance (those words are strictly mine, not their's) stating "Judge us on our performance." I plan to do just that, and the measure is the information in the earnings report and SHM which is now less than ten days away. I'm not waiting though, I'm adding to my own position now. Tom - I'm a forensic psychologist. I sometimes make awful investing mistakes when I invest in companies because I don't have JDN, Hardrocker, and many of the members on this threads analytical skills in evaluating market and company conditions. I get fooled occasionally by deceptions, manipulations, and malingering in crooks and bad guys .. but when I invest in a management team and get the opportunity to review their histories, meet the individuals, interview colleagues (e.g. Rick Bullota and others), shake their hands, see them acting in different environments --I don't get fooled. For you nose to the numbers guys this probably sounds incredibly naive, but what we have here is the genuine article. I'm going to support their running this company, with our greater involvement, but I am not going to ignore the measures listed above. If confrontation is necessary, its necessary. But I am no longer going to pick up my marbles and go home. I'm an investor and owner in this company, and my decision after this meeting is to stay here for some time. fma

To: tom hostile who wrote (27218)	1/29/1999 11:52:00 AM
From: JDN	Respond to of 31646

Dear Tom: While I havent always agreed with some decisions made by JJ I have NEVER questioned his honesty or diligence. I think I have enough experience dealing with the TOP brass of companies to judge. In my opinion, if JJ says he is going to do something, its probably already half done. JDN

To: tom hostile who wrote (27218)	1/29/1999 1:20:00 PM
From: Hardrocker	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 31646

Tom, I understand your skepticism and I'd like a shot at addressing it for you. I'm posting to you, but most of this message is really for the board at large, not you individually. I've also had the good fortune to have been in contact with numerous CEO's, from small BB-sized companies to giants such as Bell Atlantic. Depending upon the flow of conversation, the actual spoken words, "pregnant" pauses, tone and such, I've either walked away feeling comfortable or perhaps feeling skeptical. I've also had the good fortune to have discussed various matters with John Jenkins over the past year and a half. My outstanding opinion of him did not change one iota during yesterday's call. (I have never had occasion in the past to personally speak with Doug Kelsall or Kevin Fallon, so I'll reserve my observations to JJ only). While there were some revelations yesterday regarding an upcoming PR campaign and reasonable clarification of the other concerns, the "open" policy was certainly nothing new for JJ. He is, and has always been, a very approachable CEO. I find this remarkable considering the pace he keeps. And I do not mean to imply that I communicate with him on a regular basis. In my 18+ months' experience with TPRO/TAVA, I have called him approximately three times prior to yesterday. If unavailable at the moment, he returned the call within no more a day and seemed truly interested in discussing whatever was on my mind. He never made me feel as if I were wasting his time and left me with the feeling that he valued my interest in TAVA. For the benefit of those who may have never spoken with him, he is soft-toned, professional, and rather laid back in his approach, with little exterior flash to give a clue as to the dynamo that I suspect is churning inside. (Didn't mean to wax so poetic!). Bottom line: Good things are happening right now, I believe it. JJ has always been available to any one of us, so yesterday's call is not a signal that he's "got religion" because of the upcoming SH meeting. My humble suggestion to all, however, is that none of us abuse his time and that we collectively allow him to run the company as we are paying him to do. Five minutes here and ten minutes there can completely consume the day before you know it. I have tried to limit my calls to the discussion of potential business opp's for TAVA. So, now what is the real news? If I told ya, I'd have to kill ya. (Just kidding!) I'm sorry to be so windy, but these fingers are flyin'. I really appreciate everyone's expressions of gratitude (and I know I speak for fma and JDN, as well), but in the flurry of kudo's, I need everyone to realize that the real gratitude should be expressed to Messr's Jenkins, Kelsall and Fallon. And before anyone "reads between the lines" to assume that I'm advocating shareholder approval of the additional stock options, let me assure you this is not my intent. Proxy issues are for each of us to decide based upon our own personal opinions. I really mean a more personal knowledge and feeling that these guys are top notch and are working in our best interests. We all wear the same uniforms on this team. In deference to my SI moniker, GET READY, TAVA'S GONNA ROCK!!! Best Regards, Hardrocker