I put this answer on the wrong line: I think it’s awful that Gregory got
fired!
From: Healing Song Massage
Sent: Tuesday, July 19, 2016 1:00 AM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] ot from narator Gregory Gorton
This is unbelieveable!
I’m on Gregory Gorton’s personal Email list, since I had written him scads of
Emails. I realize this is off topic. However, if any of you liked his narations
of books, please feel free to write letters and help get him reinstated.
Bea.
My dear friends:
This is your friend, Gregory Gorton. First, I must apologize for this mass
email. It was the easiest way I know to bring you news that I would like to
share with you.
I have had the pleasure of narrating books for you for twenty-four years and I
know many of you have enjoyed the Library program for even longer than that.
It is with great sadness that I must tell you that I have been fired from
Potomac Talking Books, where I did the recordings that you’ve all listened to.
This was the culmination of a very trying time for me when I was working in a
difficult work environment that caused me great stress and anguish, not to
mention loss of sleep and constant anxiety.
I will not go into the particulars here. I would be happy to explain to any of
you individually if you want to email me. I will say that, this action IN NO
WAY involved the Library of Congress or the staff that oversees this program.
They have always been very supportive of me and know the value that I have as a
narrator for all of you and millions more.
Now comes the part where I need to ask for your help.
The people at Potomac Talking Books will not listen to me or anyone else. It
will do no good to try to speak to them or try to convince them to change their
minds.
However, I believe that if enough of you were to contact the individual (note
below for details) who is in charge of this program at The Library of Congress
itself, that would carry a great deal of influence. A letter to the effect
that my dismissal is a major disappointment for you; that my talents and
abilities as a narrator have been proven in the course of twenty-four years and
over five hundred books narrated. For the people at the LOC to know that you,
the clients, want to see me back and narrating for the program will make them
stand up and take notice.
I would not have to return to Potomac Talking Books as I have a home studio and
could record from here. I also live about fifty miles from the center of
Washington DC, which is where the Library has its own studios.
I am asking you this with the deepest humility. I have had the great pleasure
of meeting many of you and think of you as my friends. So, if you could please
compose a letter to the head of the program at The Library of Congress,
expressing your outrage and disappointment at the prospect of no longer hearing
my work, would speak volumes to the people there. But, and I cannot emphasize
this too strongly, please contact as many individuals whom you know to be in
the program. These can be either regular postal letters or emails. (Note below
for detailed contact information.)
It is also very important that you never give them the indication that I asked
you to do this for me. I know that each of you enjoy listening to my
narration, and that if you feel strong enough about wanting to hear my
narrations once again, you will assist me with this request. I have faith that
your personal heartfelt letters will help me get reinstated with The Library of
Congress. Since, I am lacking email and mailing addresses of many of you, I am
asking you to please utilize your personal phone lists by sending a copy of
this email to as many people as you can, throughout the country. I believe
that this action on your part, reflecting the client’s desires will have a
positive effect in gaining the attention of the individuals at The Library of
Congress, on my behalf.
Please send your letters asking for my reinstatement as an LOC narrator to:
Margie Georgen-Rood. That name is pronounced, GUR-gen- RUDE.
The complete mailing address is:
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS,
National Library Service for the BLIND and Physically Handicapped,
attention: Margie Georgen-Rood,
Washington DC, 20542-4962.
The email address is mgeo@xxxxxxx
Please reach out to as many people as you can. Doug, reach out to all of
Virginia, even the newly drawn districts. Ralph and Melvin, reach out to
Mississippi and the entire delta. Joan, reach out to Alabama and run it like
the Crimson Tide. Don, reach out to the Carolinas up and down. Kim, get in
touch with everyone you can from San Fran to Sacramento. Tom, hit up all of New
Jersey and anywhere else in New England. Ellen and Ted, call all the folks you
know in the program there in Washington State. Jonathan, Boston?? Wherever you
are, please spread the word. Ken, my friend, you know where I am coming from,
and I hope you can help me through this. And Father John…please, I could use
your prayers, as I have no other income as yet.
I really miss narrating for all you wonderful people, and look forward to doing
so again.
I wouldn’t think of telling you what to say. I know each of you will speak from
the heart and write some wonderful letters. But, please keep in mind, that this
dismissal was not simply a matter of questioning my talent, but was also an
attack on my character.
I cannot thank you enough for anything and everything that you are doing. I
hope to see all or most of you at a convention in the near future. This would
give me great joy, as I so enjoyed speaking and performing for all of you!
Again, I send my deepest thanks and appreciation. God bless you all, Gregory
Gorton : July 15th, 2016
