On this section of the site, I’ll be posting the most interesting letters and emails you send, or those that stimulate the most interesting answers.

Mark Wrenn - 1/31/07

Comment:
As the subcontractor responsible for the Maine Office of Tourism
pay-per-click advertising, I can say without hesitation that I have never
been “severely embarrassed” by my “wildly unethical behavior”. Quite to
the contrary, I am proud of the work I’ve done, and proud to have had the
opportunity to work with Dann Lewis.

I think I would be more “severely embarrassed” by my “wildly unethical
behavior” in using schoolboy bullying tactics to pick on an outstanding
public servant who is prohibited by law from defending himself. I think
only the truly twisted could derive any type of satisfaction from
sniping at someone who can’t fight back.

Please respond by: On the Web site
Peter Warren

Date: Thu, 21 Dec 2006 14:43:50 -0800 (PST)
Message-Id: <200612212243.kBLMhoN5091530@p10db4.geo.mud.yahoo.com>
To: sherry@sherrylewisresponds.com
Subject: A comment from pwarren@wkpadv.com
From: server@sherrylewisresponds.com

Comment:
There was never a frivolous lawsuit filed against Lance Dutson by the
Baldacci administration, including any other department under the
administration. The lawsuit was filed by Warren Kremer Paino Advertising for
reasons such as copyright infringement, defamation of character,
amongst others. The lawsuit was not thrown out of federal court; it was
withdrawn, without prejudice, by Warren Kremer Paino Advertising on its
own terms.

Michael - 1/25/07

Having been in the Tourism/Hotel industry for some 45 years and having known your husband for some 35 years I can only say what a horrible mistake has been made.
There are few, if any, tourism officials with the experience that Dann has to offer and there are few that carry the respect of his peers to the degree that Dann has.
Most tourism officals are political appointees who drift aimlessly along with no substantial plan for the development of tourism in their State, City or County. Dann was the total reverse bringing life to a moribund tourism department and placing Maine on the map domestically and on the international front. I wonder of it has been noted that the ROI for the State of Maine’s tourism budget is in the top 5 in the United States?
On an even sader note and something that we should ALL become aware of is the damage that can be done by a vindictive blogger whose sole aim has been accomplished. Who will be the next victim ? The law does not allow Dann or Sherry to have any legal response. This is sad. Freedom of speech is one thing but when used to destroy a person’s reputation and career then it should not be allowed and the law should be changed accordingly allowing recourse.

I sincerely hope your Governor will take a few moments in public to thank Dann for what he has been accomplished over the past 11 years, in fact, the populous of Maine should stand up and add their thanks. I will join them.

Please respond by: On the Web site
University of Maine & Center for Tourism, Research and Outreach (CenTRO) - 1/02/2007

Read the full letter from Dr. Harold Daniel, Professor of Business School, University of Maine at Orono, and Deputy Director of CenTRO

LINDA - 1/01/07

I just got a little bit angry and posted a very long comment on Lance Dutson’s Maine Web Report. I downloaded the page, and have it saved. The comment did appear briefly.

Yet now Lance Dutson has - once again - deleted this comment, and - once again - he has blocked my IP address.

I am attaching the entire page in a private email, and I sincerely hope that you post it here.

When a blogger deletes comments which expose the truth about him, he has effectively relinquished all credibility.

“When I first discovered Mr Dutson’s blog - way back last May - I was hoping for a platform on which to expose my own experiences.

However, it only took a few minutes of reading to realize that the young man involved was basically………a troll. So - what to do?

I posted comments, sitting on the fence, and hoping to get exposure without any real association with him. (And I admittedly did get sucked in myself a few times……)

I also informed other activists with whom I associate that they would receive exposure if they posted comments here - since that unfortunate lawsuit (which the MOT ultimately decided and advised against) had given this troll exposure, and (almost) brought him up to the level of a credible human.

Most of the people with whom I was corresponding are intelligent, educated, and rational adults. And not a single one of them would have anything to do with this troll.

They did not want to lose their own credibility.

Now I sit and I read these insane and inaccurate headlines about the horrible things that these (innocent) people have done. I become concerned, and immediately follow the links to see for myself.

But what do I see??……NOTHING. Because there’s nothing there.

I see hyperbole, exaggeration, speculation - not only WITHOUT PROOF, but often exactly 180 degrees from the truth as even HE himself presents it.

He openly posted an email from the director of the MOT which said:

“How can we mount a counter offensive to get the facts out?”

(Emphasis mine) “Facts”. Got that? (can anyone here read?)

He actually posts an entire supposedly “threatening” letter to his wife’s employer. But when you read it, all you see is an intelligent adult, politely asking if there is some way we can talk this over?? (After all, his accusations WERE posted on the Chamber of Commerce’s website, and were there for several months before anyone even saw them. Apparently, his own wife was in charge of monitoring this “Press release” feature.)

He should have been a carny barker. Apparently he knows that it’s the “Hook” that counts.

I guess with Google, the object is to repeat [lies] over and over again ad infinitem. It makes no matter whatsoever whether there is any basis in fact. All that counts are the words on the screen. Over and over and over.

It defies analysis. It’s just too bizarre.

Does he think that his readers can’t READ??

Or is he now so mindlessly and rabidly engrossed in this pre-pubescent investigative feeding frenzy that his taste for Democrat blood is now even making him contradict himself?

Perhaps he thinks that the only people to whom trolls like him appeal don’t have sufficient attention span to read these links?

Or perhaps he’s just crazy.

I’m late for work. ”

Please respond by: On the Web site

Longwoods International 12/21/06

Dear Sherry:

After reviewing allegations against you and others on MaineWebReport.com, which also mention Longwoods International, it would seem appropriate to clarify some of the allegations.

Read the full letter from Longwoods International

Nancy 12/17/06

I have known Dann Lewis for 40+ years, and he does preach tourism, and he lives tourism. From building and operating a resort on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas, to becoming the founder and first board chairman of the national flag carrier BahamasAir, Dann Lewis is an internationally acclaimed tourism expert. He took over as the top tourism chief in the U. S. Virgin Islands immediately following the disastrous “Fountain Valley Massacre”, and restored its position as the top tourism destination in the Caribbean. He was tourism director for New York State and presided over the launch of the ILOVENEWYORK campaign, when New York City and indeed, all of New York State, was in serious economic trouble. He has founded four regional airlines including three Trans World Express carriers, one head quartered in California, another in St. Croix, another in Pennsylvania, and an all cargo airline head quartered in Texas. He was drafted by the King administration to relocate back to New England to put Maine tourism on the map and establish it as the State’s largest industry. Dann Lewis did exactly what he was hired to do in every instance. The unmitigated false accusations coming out of MaineWebReport about Dann Lewis, his colleagues, his contractors and even his wife, is astounding given the facts of their professional accomplishments. Mr. Dutson, time to post your resume since you are the self-proclaimed expert in the field of domestic and international tourism. Let us all have a look at your credentials so we can make up our own minds about you.

An Ex-New Englander 12/10/06

Congratulations for standing up for yourself, and for the other victims
in this. Good luck!
Peter 12/07/06

Congratulations! Glad someone is setting the record
straight. I know that his has been a difficult journey for you, but it
is important the real truth be told. More to come…

Tourism Friend 12/07/06

What a breath of fresh air after the self serving
drivel that has been emanating from Searsmont for far too long!
Anonymous 12/06/06

Great site - nice to see the facts come out.

Anna von Hartwig 12/06/06

Comment: Thanks! for your concise clarifications on a
blogger’s negative assaults, which are petty.irrational.unconscionable. Your
knowledge, honesty, & integrity (as well as caring) are exemplary –
highly admirable. Maine is lucky to have you both. Keep up the good
work. Victoria Lloyd 12/06/06Comment: No questions, only concern that you and Dann Lewis should be subjected to such subersive and petty comments by blogger
Lance on his absurd website. You don’t deserve it !!!