Winston Statement

It is what it is:

Last week, after nearly thirty years with the R.L. Winston Rod Company, Glenn Brackett, who manages our bamboo rod building area, notified us that he will be leaving the company. He will remain with Winston until February 2006, during which time he will focus on completing existing rods on order and helping facilitate the transition. During his tneure with Winston, Glenn has represented the very best in rod building excellence and commitment to the the tradition of fly fishing.

Winston has upheld a traditioin of building premium bamboo rods since our founding over 75 years ago. Over these years, a great many Winston craftspeople have made significant contributions to this tradition. Though we always look for ways to improve quality and performance, Winston has no plans to change our bamboo designs, rod building process, or to significantly increase the number of bamboo rods we make. Winston remains completely committed to perpetuating its 75 year tradition of excellence, and to continuing our goal of building the finest bamboo fly rods in the world here in Twin Bridges, Montana.

Best regards,

Mike (Woody) Woodard
President, CEO
R.L. Winston Rod Company

No word about Jerry Kustich.

BLUEWINGOLIVE

With the 3 different posts no one has come out with the real reason why Glenn and friends are leaving. I thought B4 someone said it was because Winston wanted to make a lot more rods. Here it says pretty much the opposite. Geez, I know Jerry and other than the fact that he is left of left, (his perogative), which might irritate some people he is a very nice guy.
I would like to know the whole story behind this… Are they planning on having their rods built overseas? What gives?

The statement that I posted cam
e from here:
[url=http://www.winstonrods.com/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=5&Topic=592:64890]http://www.winstonrods.com/forum/viewmessages.cfm?Forum=5&Topic=592[/url:64890]

Ask Kevin or Woody directly.

BLUEWINGOLIVE

Mantis… stated “With the 3 different posts no one has come out with the real reason why Glenn and friends are leaving.”

Observation, if you do not know the real reason they are leaving how is it you know that the 3 different post you reference do not include the real reason?

Guys/Gals this is a personnel issue with this company and I know their lawyers (ugh) will advise them not to make any specific comments. This is just the way it is when lawyers are around. Expect not to ever know the “real reason”.

RoyC

Mantis,

They ran Glenn out over who would decide his replacement…read on…hope this helps…John G.

This is quote from another website. This is a response from Jeff who has worked with Glenn for many years.

"Just to clarify…

Glenn has tendered his resignation and it has been accepted by David. For those who don’t know him, David Ondaatje has owned Winston since '91 and is from Canada and lives in Malibu, CA. Jerry has resigned as well and I am writing mine now. It needs to come first so I won’t spend much time here. Please don’t forget that Wayne Maca has been an important part of the Boo Boys @ Winston and continues to help us while building his own.

Winston needed a successor to Glenn… someday. Even after 20 years in this shop, I don’t have a true passion for fishing (mine is flying) and Winston had made it clear for several years that I wasn’t the guy. In January I let Glenn know that it was time for me to go, putting Glenn in the difficult position of finding my replacement and his eventual successor. This summer he found that replacement and sent that choice to Mike Woodard (Woody) the CEO that David hired several years ago. Woody refused to accept Glenn’s judgement, and said that anyone hired for the bamboo shop would be of his own choosing, not Glenn’s.

Glenn, with over thirty years just @ Winston as part owner and later manager of Bamboo and many years prior, said if Winston would not respect his judgement for what was best for Bamboo, he would resign, which he did.

It’s my understanding from those who had spoken to him, that Woody’s specific comments were that David should have never kept Glenn on when he bought the company and that there should be no Gurus or other identifiable personalities @ the bamboo shop. It is Woody’s idea that the bamboo shop be a factory. Woody’s comments to me directly is that he wants to see sales of 2500 units in bamboo. That in comparison to our decades long history of about 100 a year. It’s my understanding that David continues to support Woody’s judgement.

Glenn is to me the finest man on the planet, words cannot give justice, and I can never repay what he’s given me in terms of mentoring and friendship. If Winston will not respect the judgement of this impeccable man, that’s enough for me. Additionally I oppose Woody in his vision of what Winston Bamboo should be and I will not support him in that goal.

I was told yesterday that Woody was telling Winston employees that Glenn was retiring. Glenn told me and others SPECIFICALLY, that he was resigning from Winston but not retiring. The details I don’t know @ this time, I hope that I can help him in some small way.

Hope that helps. A sad day for me. Jeff "

Roy, in answer to your question which I copy for ref from above.

posted 01 November 2005 03:29 PM ??? ??? ??

Mantis… stated “With the 3 different posts no one has come out with the real reason why Glenn and friends are leaving.”

Observation, if you do not know the real reason they are leaving how is it you know that the 3 different post you reference do not include the real reason?

Because the only guessed reason given was: Co. wanted more rods made… …While the one from the company (if you go onto the link above and read down…, The post from the Company says that they will continue to build approx the same number of rods. So, one guessed, or proposed reason is denied by the other…

Roy, if I missed a line in one of those posts by anyone who has the facts and is not just guessing a reason then please enlighten me. From the tone of your remark perhaps you know but can’t say…

fishnfool, okay, but the one I read that Glenn’s wife posted said (if I remember right) that he did not quit but was forced out… Thanks guys…I hope this all works out. I am sure Glenn would have no trouble selling rods under his own name…HEY, you are Glenns wife!.. Give him a hug for all of us…

[This message has been edited by mantis (edited 02 November 2005).]