In Ocean Grove, all residents must work together for maximum joy. Paul Goldfinger still photo from a movie older than most of us.

Paul Goldfinger,  Editor Blogfinger.net. 2/15/23

In November 2022, the HOA announced a forthcoming meeting:

“Williams said the Jan 28,  2023 meeting of the Ocean Grove Home Owners Association will be a ‘State of Ocean Grove’  forum.”

” Specifically, the topic to be discussed in depth is the relationship between the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and the non-religious population of Ocean Grove in an attempt to create a working dialogue among the two groups”

We responded on Blogfinger on Dec 4, 2022—-Please read that piece below to set the stage for the outrageous announcement which was sent out today, 2/15/23 by the HOA.

Blogfinger post dated December 4, 2022:    Note that the January 28.2023  CMA  forum was cancelled because of the parking meeting.   The CMA forum was rescheduled for Feb. 25, 2023.  The post below applies to the Feb 25 forum

Blogfinger has been trying for years to provide recognition for the largest sub-group in town, namely the residential community of renters and home owners, and to explore how their life-styles could be recognized by Neptune Township, the HOA,  the Chamber of Commercials and the Camp Meeting.  But none of this has to do with religion.  For example we may not agree with the CMA  beach closure on Sunday, but that is a matter of policy.  Their religion is their business.

The “forum” described above is to discuss “in depth”  what they imagine is a  problem between the CMA  and the “non-religious population of the Grove.”

But this proposed division doesn’t exist.   We do not have a religion problem in Ocean Grove.  What we have are a number of factions with their own agendas and a failed governance .  The CMA is one of those factions  and it is religious based, but any clashes with them are about policy and not religion.   It is about how they conduct themselves as citizens in the Grove.

This town has many people who practice their own religions in their own ways, and some  have no religion at all.    There is no such thing as a “non-religious population.”   And there is no history here  of any issues defined that way. (ie identity politics)

The HOA had better carefully figure out what the nature of their “forum” subject will be.

It appears that they have invented a controversy which does not exist.  There is a need for agreed upon rules that would define how the various factions will behave as citizens.

So either they present a well thought-out agenda in advance to explain their “forum,”  or they must cancel that  ridiculous “State of Ocean Grove Forum” before it causes mayhem in town.

The Home Groaners should stop before they turn the town upside down. BF photo

On Blogfinger we have discussed life style concerns in the Grove, and  the CMA is part of such concerns, but that topic is complicated.

The CMA is a historic and vital component of the Grove, and it must be respected and not singled out. Their religion brings much joy to this town, even to those of other religions or no religion at all.  Below is the March of the Ushers–inspiring to all.  Blogfinger video.

Today, February 15, 2023, The HOA has announced another such forum for later this month, and this one will be even more confrontational and more ridiculous.