Kylla

Firstly, I am aghast that you could come up w/ such an assumption, that I was “playing each side for everything you could get”. I wasn’t “playing” anyone. I am not of that mindset, I just
wanted to get to know each side, and since no-one had done me any harm, I could not feel any animosity toward anyone. I really just
wanted to see the lines of communications open up, and for the meaness and mudslinging, and character assassinations to stop.
I have never said an unkind word about Desiree. I feel that there is someone who has been spreading some very vicious lies about me, and people who know me would know that I am not capable of the manipulations that I have seen displayed by others. As for your remark about There was another Woman who is a WIT member who was included in that post. She also receive some donations and you became incensed that anyone would give her money when it was YOU who was becoming homeless and she just had recently got a roof over her head. This certainly is not a loving reaction to someone in distress and also suffereing.” This is a woman who I have gifted, and who I spoke with again yesterday, and I will be gifting her again. Perhaps if you heard the WHOLE story, and the TRUTH, you wouldn’t be saying what you did.

I have always thanked the people who have helped me, and I continue to do so. Don’t you read my twitter posts? I can’t thank Mike Rone enough for all he has done for me. In my video, “Attitude of Gratitude” I have thanked everyone for all they have done…that I would not be in this better position without all of their encouragement, support, etc. Trust me lady, you have no idea of the depths of my gratitude, and frankly, I refuse to allow anyone to malign me further. And I don’t know who came up with the expression, “Poster Child for WIT” and it was hurled about as an insult to me. Frankly, Desiree has always stated to me, “If they want to help you, LET them. Let them DO THEIR JOBS”. I am, have been, and will continue to be grateful to the good people who have helped me, everyone from Trucker Desiree, to Mike Rone, Marge Bailey, Matthew C, and there are many others. I talk to some of them on the phone on a fairly frequent basis. There is much that you do not know, and you have made unkind statements and assumptions. Someone has been spreading some poison, it started a few months ago. Someone to whom I have never said an unkind word, or done a moments harm to. If you want the truth, or have questions, all you have to do is email me, and we can get to know each other. Don’t listen to manipulators who bear false witness in order to boost up themselves.

In the meantime, I am past my bedtime, and I will not drive fatiqued. Have a blessed day.
NJKatwoman´s last blog ..Molly and Tenbrooks by JD Crowe

Now let’s move on to the issues at hand.

Desiree has seen that the propper research was done in bring “FACTS” to light regarding the issues discussed in these articles. A “FACT” is just that, a “FACT”. There will allways be “another side of the story” but “FACT” cannot be argued. I am proud and honored to be friends with someone who put herself on the line to bring us these “FACTS”.

Issues have been braught to light that otherwise would have stayed under the rug where they have been swept for a long time. Those who have had a hand in the “sweeping” have been exposed and hopefully will be held accoutable for their actions. I do not mean that harshly. Being held accountable can be as easy as admitting their shortcomings, saying they are sorry and moving on.

As hard as this has been for you Desiree, I know I speak for many when I say “Thank You”, and whether you realize it or not, you truly have made a difference.
Jan´s last blog ..Respect Yourself and others will too!!!!

You tend to use Christianity as a crutch instead of an empowerment. I have watched you pick and choose where to insert Christianity and frankly I find it insulting. You have spent much energy assassinating others over the past few months yourself, even degrading those who have gone out of their way to help you. Your post might have more credibility if you actually practiced what you preach.

Ellen Voie is no doubt a very smart, well educated woman. Being smart and well educated does not make someone perfect or beyond reproach. It also does not guarantee that one will make good decisions or that ones decisions are not going to be seen as controversial and therefore questioned.

Desiree Wood is also smart and educated. She is also very compassionate, out-spoken and generous. She doesn’t sit on the fence about the things she believes in, and money is not a motivating factor for her. She is not perfect and doesn’t claim to be, everything she does comes from her heart and she asks for nothing in return. The qualities Desiree possesses within her soul are, in my opinion, a gift given to a very special few.

The important difference, pertaining to the communications between Ellen Voie and Desiree Wood, and the biggest reason that Desiree is not “the whipping girl of the month” is simple. Ellen Voie has chosen to head up and build a business, earning her living through an organization she chose to name WOMEN IN TRUCKING. Ellen, through her own choices and actions, is in a position of obligation and is expected to conduct herself and her business in a professional, truthful manner. This includes answering questions and responding to accusations that may arise. Desiree Wood is not binded by such obligations, she is a driver, motivated by her own experiences and the need to help other women from going through the same. In short, you are treating this as if two organizations are bickering about who is right and that is not what this series of communications was about at all.

I can’t help but wonder if you have ever had the desire or inclination to help someone without expecting or anticipating some type of benefit in return.

There is nothing wrong with debate, if everyone thought exactly the same we would live a dull and stagnant existence with no need or inclination to correct and improve.

Dana Stanley

You were torn between two factions because you wanted to play each side for everything you could get. At the time Trucker Desiree published your “Co-Driver Nighmare Video”, it was only as a visual aid. No one expected your follow up Video “Thank You Trucker Desiree” which was clearly made while you were in a confused state. In that video you told how you were about to be homeless and had DAC Issues that prevented you from working.

Mike Rone from RMR Consultants did a wonderful job fixing your DAC from the goodness of his heart. http://www.rmrconsultants.com

Ellen Voie would not have given you the time of day had it not been for Trucker Desiree posting the comments she did to prompt ACTION!

There are other Women who have been WIT members and unemployed and they were not given FREE Memberships, Gift Cards, and a Job with a New Truck to Promote Ellen Voie. You knew you were to be a poster child for WIT for accepting those things and it has not been an easy road.

Mike Rone corrected MANY things before Marge Bailey began looking into getting you reemployed and I know she worked very hard in doing this. We have learned in this series of questions that Marge Bailey does go above and beyond the call of duty to help someone get hired.

What we are seeking answers to right here is how does a new female student apply Ellen Voie’s “How to go to CDL School” to become employed by Wal-Mart, Frito-Lay, or Tyson Foods” There is a missing piece of the puzzle.

Donna & Allen Smith of “Ask the Trucker” http://www.askthetrucker.com made a post within hours of your “Thank You Trucker Desiree” Video and people were sending you money on paypal and by mail which you did not fully declare to everyone involved. I understand it was several hundred all told. You mention the gift card from Ellen Voie’s Doggie but why none of the others?

There was another Woman who is a WIT member who was included in that post. She also receive some donations and you became incensed that anyone would give her money when it was YOU who was becoming homeless and she just had recently got a roof over her head. This certainly is not a loving reaction to someone in distress and also suffereing.

Emails have been sent around that appear to cause harm to ALL parties. They were received and shared. They seem to be in an attempt to instigate problems rather than smooth them over, some are from you.

We appreciate Marge Bailey clarifying Trucker Cupid . There is no doubt that this would help experienced drivers meet someone.
We feel stongly on this site that this is the wrong message for female students entering if a carreer in trucking for themselves is what they are after.

As you well know, being labeled a truck hopper as a student implies you are a potential sex partner either willingly or through badgering.
Therefore , you are offered little company support or not taken seriously much like “The boy who cried Wolf”.

Unfortunately, these ladies who do this make it bad for those of us who seriously want to work.

Christy, many of your emails have been collected and matched up from various “factions” you mention.

I suggest you quit while you are ahead.

Congratulations on your new Truck and Job and PLEASE do not emabarass Ellen Voie and Marge Bailey any further.

I was sickened by the negativity and accusations, and had urged both parties to open the lines of communications. In my personal conversations with “Trucker Desiree”, I came to love her, and admire her passions and convictions against the injustices and harassment against the women in the trucking industry. My love and gratitude also extend to Marge Bailey, from the organization Women In Trucking, for all of her perseverance and hard work in getting me re-employed again. This past December, 2009, when I was on the verge on homelessness, it was Trucker Desiree who put out the call for help. Many strangers, friends I have not yet met, responded with incredible graciousness and generosity, and
because of their financial support, I was able to keep a roof over my head, and food for me and my six kitties. Ellen Voie was so gracious…she personally took the time to call me, and even sent me a lovely Christmas card with a gift certificate, “From Shadow to your kitties”.

Why do people keep insisting upon denigrating, and crucifying the organization, Women In Trucking? But what hurts me the most, are the personal attacks against some very good hearted people with good intentions from that organization. Why do these women continue to be villified?

I was so encouraged when I popped into Trucker Desiree’s site here, and saw that Heather Rose had opened the lines of communications. I love her blog, and think well of her.
When Marge Bailey told me that she and Desiree have spoken on the phone, my heart was so filled with joy, I love them both more than they know…I just KNOW that issues can be resolved, and questions answered. We don’t need a miracle from God, but just calmer and clearer heads here.

I also struggle with anger issues, but I now pray more, and focus on the positives instead of the negatives. For me, it’s about balancing the ying w/ the yang, the bad w/ the good, the negative w/ the positive. Why do I not see anyone focusing on the good that WIT has done, and is doing? On the other hand, anyone, if they wished to, could do the extreme opposite to Trucker Desiree, and only focus on the negatives, and she could be the whipping girl of the month. What is the point of that?!

I know that Desiree and Marge can agree on this…that I am naive in many ways, and I see so much good on both sides. Ellen
Voie is a very smart, and caring person, and to accuse her of some
of the unsavory comments I have read, must be very hurtful to her.
Is compassion and understanding a relic of the past? Does anyone here believe in God, or His teachings? Who remembers the “Golden Rule” or practice any of the Ten Commandments? “Do not bear false witness against another”. To me, false witness is “murder by character assassination”.

You have questions, and it seems to me that WIT, Ellen Voie, and others are more than willing to help anyone to understand their mission, and where they stand.

I wish I could say more, but I will only get a few hours sleep as it is..and I get emotional, and unable to express myself in a more coherent fashion…

To err is human, to forgive, divine.

In a Male Dominated Industry like Trucking, one female who is either having and affair or has become intoxicated with the attention of many men around her will often become more inclined to defend them and retalitate or cover up things she should not.

This seems to be what is happening in many instances.

I have included a link above and this one from a Business Journal on the topic Sexual Affairs may create Hostile Work Environment

This is one reason Women in the Trucking Industry need retraining as well. They may be accomplices to retaliation because they believe they carry more clout due to the affair or additional attention the receive from the male population which encourages them to defend rather than investigate

The problem is, I never felt that there was a safe forum in which to complain without taking the risk of being black listed.
I worked for one company, not going to name names, where the harrassment as so blatantly obvious, the terminal manager just happened to be a woman. I kept wondering, why is this being allowed to exist?
Why is she not paying attention?
Why is she not doing anything about it?

Then, I found out, she was having an affair with the supervisor. Bingo!

I could tell you story after story. Problem is, we have nowhere to go without the fear of suffering dire consequences.

In my opinion, everything I read & hear about Ellen Voie is out for Ellen Voie.

She does not give a damn about the women out here. And we have just as much right as any man to be out here!