George MacArthur 3 Kari Court Lindsay Ontario Canada K9V 6B7 705-878-9878 geomac@cogeco.ca georgemacarthur.com March 6 2013
Dr. Wallace D. Loh 1101 Main Administration Building University of Maryland College Park MD 20742-5025 Dear Dr. Loh: I sent a letter to Dr. Pines on January 14 2013. I also emailed Dr. Pines on February 6, and again on February 11 and March 1 with copies to Dr. Chopra and Dr. Nagaraj. I tried to start a dialog about Team Gamera's participation in a reality television series that I developed and submitted to the Discovery Channel. Dr. Pines has not responded. Maybe he was dismayed that I would submit a project proposal to Discovery that would appear to require his approval without approaching him or the University first. I apologize for this minor indiscretion, however, there are reasons why this was the only viable sequence. While my proposal may be unusual, unorthodoxy is not a sufficient reason for disregarding me. That Discovery passed on the series on the first attempt with the initial development team is inconsequential. It is not uncommon for series proposals to be rejected many times, yet eventually find traction with perseverance. The Discovery Channel is the world's only network with a strong focus on science and technology shows. Discovery Channel Headquarters is six miles from the University of Maryland and the Chairman has been inextricably intertwined with the University for some thirty-eight years. For these reasons, Team Gamera belongs in a Discovery Channel reality series about the ongoing pursuit of the Sikorsky Prize. Perhaps you and Dr. Pines would have reservations about my participation in the series as someone heading up a competing team. However, I add water-cooler value, a commodity that is vital for any show in today's ultra competitive television market. In any event, a reality series about the Sikorsky Prize featuring just three University teams is feasible, and I am not opposed to giving it consideration.