Living the High Life
What irony surrounding Reunion 50. Scott Goold, Class President 1975, departed the USA prior to the Class of 1975 five-year reunion to play pro basketball. He met with a couple members, Suzanne Price was one, he recalls, to create the first reunion committee. Scott hasn't attended any reunions; rarely returns to Pocatello from his home in Hawai'i.
Scott was contacted by Chris Mattivi through social media. Told Scott his sister, Susan Mattivi-Gierga, was interested in assisting planning for the upcoming 50th. Scott reached out his "long-time" friend and teammate, Jeff Waldron, on April 6, 2024 (at right).
Jeff seemed enthused, "Great! Are you going to Chair the reunion? Was just contacted by Ann Driever about meeting to plan the 50th reunion."
Scott: "Perfect!!! She's been highly involved. Do you have her phone number?"
Jeff was opaque and weird, "Yes" — but didn't include phone number.
Scott: "Would like to call her. What is it?" Jeff did not respond.
Scott got back to Susan Mattivi-Gierga, on April 6, 2024 (at right).
Scott Goold and Susan Mattivi-Gierga Reacquaint
Although Scott remembered Susan fondly, they were not close in high school. Scott was close to her brother, Chris. Scott tutored Chris in Dave Dewey's Geometry class his JR year. Scott was Mr. Dewey's Real Genius math whiz. For tutoring him, Chris promised Scott FREE Me & Eds pizza for life. Scott, Chris and Susan laughed about this story when they all reconnected.
Susan explained to Scott how she had missed out on her high school experience. She wanted Reunion 50 to be special. Susan opposed the traditional format: Friday Meet & Greet; Saturday Dinner. Susan wanted to do more, and asked Scott to champion an enlarged agenda and format.
Susan Shared Part of Her Life Story with Scott
Many times I showed up at first period — typing — high on marijuana. My friends Jennifer and Georgia and I plucked away at those keys, trying to remember, giggling all the while.
Hours later, fifth period rolled around. I plopped my head down on the desk and slept through US History; in the front row; Georgia elbowing me to stop snoring. And I thought it was funny.
Today, I regret my choice to essentially blow off high school. There was so much to learn there. It could have been a 3-year walk in the park. But, I was so anxious to escape the reality of my life in the house with a flat roof on Jefferson.
Susan and Scott talked deeply about drug use, addiction and efforts to keep kids from using alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. Susan in particular didn't like Friday Meet & Greet, as classmates simply "got drunk" and then were too hungover for a fun Saturday dinner. Scott suggested an enhanced agenda and format would give classmates more to do than simply drink alcohol and eat. Susan was in 100%.
Susan Mattivi-Gierga and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
Susan contacted Scott a number of times on her way to AA. Scott supported her efforts with encouragement, compassion and understanding. Scott is a certified Community Addictions Recovery Specialist. Scott counsels homeless in parks and on streets; works with youth groups; and has made presentations at community events, workshops and professional confernces.
Although Scott speaks about alcohol and tobacco addiction, his primary focus has been the Opioid Epidemic. Scott began the program at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2009; certified in 2011; and has continued training since.
Opioids are destroying America. Alcohol and tobacco are insidous. Fentanyl is deadly. One alternative to opioid pain medication is medical cannabis. Less addictive, likely superior for recovery, Scott has worked since 2006 to change government and social policy regarding medical cannabis. Under President Joe Biden, the federal government is moving to reclassify medical cannabis as a Schedule III drug, rather than Schedule I — huge victory for Scott and millions who teamed to reform this policy area.
When Scott wrote a Life Story about his former classmate, he titled Susan Mattivi-Gierga's history, "Living a Life On The High Seas." Didn't occur to Scott that Susan actually had lived "most of her life high."
Researchers today believe youngsters under 20 who use drugs, such as alcohol, nicotine, cannabis or other illicit substances, suffer high ADDICTION rates as adults. Susan likely was trapped due to her behavior at Highland High School. Tough road to recovery.
Scott writes this story now to help Susan. Scott encourages classmates, committee members to reach out in love, provide support to Susan, and encourage group activities without alcohol or drug use. All of us struggle with life. We need tolerance, kindness and love — not shame. Scott wrote in his Life Story how BFF Kathie Williams Chase shamed him; not intentionally. She reacted emotionally, but the pain of being shunned was still the same.
Sometimes as planners, we are lazy. We do what was "done before," yet frequently, what we did before led people down dark paths. Scott suggested a broad array of fun options, like Karaoke, face painting, t-shirt signing, cornhole and pickleball tourneys, basketball hot shot, football toss, roots-rock reggae dancing and even a casino night.
The LDS Mormons, cruelly and strangely, opposed Scott's enlarged agenda. Not only opposed, Bob Brown, Kathie Williams Chase, Ann Driever and Jeff Waldron pushed him out.
Addiction, Selfishness and Tough Love
Addiction
Scott is not Susan Mattivi-Gierga's addiction counselor. She is not a patient or client. Scott believed they had a professional relationship working on the reunion effort. Susan proved their relationship was not professional. She warned Scott that LDS Mormons were not likely to support the enhanced reunion agenda, and Scott confirmed her cautions were wise on April 21, 2024 (at right).
Scott realized that his presence in daily activities with the committee was causing other members to "dig in forcefully" to their position of simply re-doing the 40th format. Scott left the working group. Scott used the website he had designed for planning Reunion 50 to speak directly to classmates.
Susan appeared to take offense. Susan however did not contact Scott privately. She turned her wrath toward him publicly.
On May 20, 2024, Susan libeled Scott (at right):
"Following your last text, I spoke with one of our committee and we determined what we would like to see (or NOT see) on the class website ie your penis"
The previous month, Susan had argued angrily with Scott about the design of the website database. Created much tension between them. Susan doesn't develop web-based relational database applications that must normalize data formats. Susan was rudely critical.
On April 20, 2024, Susan apologized professionally: Aloha, I was sad after our little skirmish. I see everything now. This is so cool.
Scott extended love and aloha, "Knew you were frustrated. Tough job being a DBA sometimes. We have to play 'data traffic cop' in our role. Sorry I had to be decisive. Information must be disciplined ... and team members have to follow the rules for our data — or we blow up the database and project. And that's also why we don't hire Advanced Engineers for data entry. Data entry staff are specialists in entering data accurately. You see the top of the mountain."
Selfishness
Was hard for Scott to understand why Susan Mattivi-Gierga treated him as she did. Susan asked Scott to champion an enhanced Reunion 50 agenda and format; warned him LDS Mormons were forcefully opposed; yet criticized Scott for pushing committee members to change. Susan now supported their inefficient efforts, "Bob was to get whatever list you have accumulated to add to our master list and then divide them up."
Such methodology doesn't work for large group operations. Scott has developed online event management apps for companies, community groups and Special Needs Athletes, since 2004: eg. See HoopCamp.net. Bob and LDS Mormons only know how to organize a small group Friday Meet & Greet, Saturday Dinner. They continued "old school" methodology.
Scott Goold directs Special Needs Athlete Basketball Camps
If we compare to current events, Hunter Biden was just found guilty for his behavior under the influence of addiction. Addiction diseases the mind ... not like cancer or Alzheimer's. The "addict" is selfish. The "addict" will steal from family; lie to spouses, partners and employers; endanger themselves and others.
Scott Goold cannot speak to Susan Mattivi-Gierga's state-of-mind, but it is his personal opinion that Susan's behavior has been selfish since the May 20th libelous message to the group.
Susan Mattivi-Gierga resigned, quit, stepped-down from committee actions on May 22, 2024, as reported by Jeff Waldron and Roy Allen. Susan Mattivi-Gierga however has not apologized to Scott Goold for the defamatory and false libel.
Most egregiously, Susan Mattivi-Gierga now refuses to forward Class of 1975 materials — the most-recently updated classmate roster — to the Reunion 50 committee. Why hurt other classmates and Scott Goold?
Professionals transfer resources to ensure the next group can be successful. Susan Mattivi-Gierga, along with Ann Jesse Driever and Jeff Waldron, conspire to obstruct the Reunion 50 opportunity. Why the malice? Such behavior suggests a diseased mind.
Tough Love
A jury of 12 Americans found Hunter Biden guilty. Suffering addiction, the criminal justice system is an ineffective solution to help and heal an "addict." It is however part of the Tough Love methodology. We hate the sin; love the sinner. Hunter must be accountable for his behavior and decisions.
Likewise, Susan Mattivi-Gierga must accept responsibility now for her behavior and decisons. Scott forgives her poor judgment to speak about him publicly without reaching out to him first privately. Not professional; not an acceptable way to treat a long-time friend. Scott can recover wild, salacious comments about his person.
Scott, on the other hand, cannot forgive or accept Susan Mattivi-Gierga's actions to harm classmates of the awesome Class of 1975. Scott warned Susan Mattivi-Gierga, copying former committee members, on June 11, 2024 (at right), that he would speak out for her action to "sabotage [the] Class of 1975 Reunion 50."
Scott stated:
"This is my official and final request that you forward the most-updated Class of 1975 roster in Excel format, as I forwarded the information to you."
"If you wish to have my respect, you must be respectful in return to me. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. I will copy the former committee members as I prefer to be open and transparent in my activities."
Susan Mattivi-Gierga neither responded nor forwarded the requested Class of 1975 materials. Nobody can explain this unprofessional, disrespectful and selfish behavior.
From Friend to Foe in 60 Days
For an unknown reason, Susan Mattivi-Gierga works to ensure Reunion 50 committee fails their mission to allow classmates to vote. We are doing the best we can to recover Class of 1975 property at this time. We unfortunately are compelled to share this negative behavior. Your 50th reunion is priceless. We only get one shot at this opportunity.
High in High School, Susan Mattivi-Gierga BULLIES Classmates
June 14, 2024: Susan Mattivi-Gierga to Scott Goold
Don't send me this garbage, please. I don't have the time. Neither do you, Bob, if you're packing. Simply DELETE!Scott Goold responds
Aloha Friday Susan ~
Do you think I have time for this obstruction? You resigned May 22nd. You have refused to forward the most-updated class roster for 24 [twenty-four] days now. I professionally passed classmate information to you. In return, you have cheated me, the Reunion 50 committee and our classmates. And like many women in this group, your response was to "go silent," BLOCK ME ... this is a form of bullying.
I treated you with respect. You bullied me in return. You have time. We all have 24/7. You FREELY choose NOT to resolve this conflict.
And, if you do not have time, you could have taken ONE MINUTE on May 23rd to forward the Class of 1975 materials that our committee needs and NOBODY would have bothered you.
Your unprofessional, bullying behavior is WHY I must do what I do. I will add your hostile comment to your online story. And, again today, I ask you to END the conflict by simply forwarding Class of 1975 property — the most-updated classmate roster — to me in Excel format, as I forwarded this material to you.
I hope you end your violent behavior today toward me and classmates.
Thank you!
April 6, 2024: Scott Goold to Jeff Waldron
I'm have one classmate interested in being the chair for HHS 75, but we don't want to step on toes of those who did work in previous events.
Ask Dean or others if they have info. I'll work on a website for us to have a landing page.
How does:
HHSclassof75.com
Sound?
April 6, 2024: Scott Goold to Susan Mattivi-Gierga
Chatting with Jeff Waldron; said Ann Driever just contacted him as we were talkining inquiring about 50th. Believe she is part of past organizing committees. I'll connect you when I can get her number. Great hearing from you. Best to you and Peter !!!
Susan: Excellent. I'll wait to hear from you. Thanks for reaching out to them."
April 7, 2024
Scott wrote, "Although I requested Ann's number, didn't get it. Hmmm ??? Might be some committee territorial issues here. Likely they're planning and prepping. When I get an update, I'll forward the information to you!"
Susan: Sometimes you have to do more than wait. I wouldn't assume it's a territorial thing until you speak with her. (Maybe you can tell — I'm not one to stand by). I hope that didn't come across as rude. I'm completely happy to let someone else do it as long as it is getting done. It's important to me. Oma used to say I can be a little "bossy."
April 8, 2024
Scott had to contact Jeff again, "Teammate, I have an interested classmate that wants to contact Ann. What's her number?"
Jeff: (no comment) 208-241-9731
Scott to Susan "Here you go. Call Ann: 208-241-9731"
Susan: "Thanks. I'm just going to call her and see how/if I can help."
Scott: "Perfect. I'm sure they'll be happy to have volunteers" ♥️
Susan Mattivi-Gierga Enjoys Cornhole Tourney Option
April 21, 2024: Scott Goold to Susan Mattivi-Gierga
Aloha dear sister ~
Excellent work!!! You're incredibly wise. You warned about idealism; and I heard you. Knew this project could be tricky. Idealistic at 17 is welcomed; after 65 scares people.
Spoke with Greg. I'm off the project. Have Excel spreadsheets for the two of you. I'll send via email.
Your 50 year adventure is truly inspiring. Admired you and Chris much at HHS; more so now today!!! Congratulations of your success. Wish you all the best going forward.
Love & Aloha 🌺
[cont]
One perception I want to clarify. Seems you thought I shared with others the details of an enlarged agenda. Only told you. These issues only related to basic operations at this time.
It's natural for people to be somewhat possessive of their perceived territory. I'm sensitive to such obstacles. There are other behaviors causing this tension. My presence scares them; makes them dig in forcefully. If I'm out of the picture, someone softer like you will be able to accomplish more. I'm certain the event will evolve. I've planted the seed; my departure forces them to reevaluate their position. They will be more open to suggestions now.
You weren't solely focused on an outcome. Neither was I. Didn't have a concrete plan, but this event must be better. You'll get them there now!
May 20, 2024: Susan Mattivi-Gierga to Scott Goold
Scott, I have stopped what I was doing — preparing dinner — to respond to your letter. From my perspective you tend to develop a resentment if your comments are not responded to immediately.
Following your last text, I spoke with one of our committee and we determined what we would like to see (or NOT see) on the class website ie your penis) What you described — gathering phone numbers and emails — with the intention of contacting everyone to see what they would like to see at the reunion &madsh; is exactly what we are trying to do. Bob was to get whatever list you have accumulated to add to our master list and then divide them up.
I am very disappointed, but, I cannot work on this committee.
From my perspective you have turned everything into a YOU vs. US. Now it feels fucked up and I'm out.
June 11, 2024: Scott Goold to Susan Mattivi-Gierga
Aloha Susan ~
I have been patient with you long enough. You are sabotaging Class of 1975 Reunion 50. You sent this attached information to me without my permission. I did not sign any agreement. I am not bound by professional ethics or protocol. I had RESPECTED your wishes for privacy — but you are NOT respecting me or our classmates with your behavior.
You may remember Stormy Daniels. She had the right to tell her story. Trump, Cohen and Pecker paid her $130,000 to keep quiet. I’m not asking you for money. I’m asking you for RESPECT. You give me respect. I’ll be respectful to you in return.
It is Tuesday, June 11, 2024, at about 5:45 PM HST. You have until noon, 12:01 PM PDT, Wednesday, June 12, 2024, to forward the most-updated Class of 1975 roster or I will be forced to explain to classmates why you appear to be attacking me in this matter.
It is my understanding that committee members met May 22, 2024, and voted to resign. Jeff Waldron informed me May 23, 2024. As class president, I accepted the resignations, and as there was no committee, I accepted the chair leadership position and formed the ad hoc Reunion 50 committee. Roy Allen confirmed the resignations.
This is my official and final request that you forward the most-updated Class of 1975 roster in Excel format, as I forwarded the information to you.
If you wish to have my respect, you must be respectful in return to me. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. I will copy the former committee members as I prefer to be open and transparent in my activities.
Thank you and mahalo,
Scott