Well, these VMG folks respond rather crudely, trading personal attacks for business questions. That tells me all I need to know about VMG. However, I would like to defend Kentucky Colonels.

The title, Kentucky Colonel, is given by order the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. One is recommended to the order. It is a true title, which members may use as legal address. It is not an active military title and holds no rank as such.

There is a humorous perspective toward the title. Of course, it is given as a favor and out of respect to many people. Some of the less scrupulous among us trade on this title for some kind of power lever in business. In reality, it is not weighted as a recommendation or guarantee, it is simply an honor conferred by the state. Humorous aspect notwithstanding, many of us proudly claim the title for itself, Harlan Sanders was proud to take title. It fit him well and legitimately helped him in his restuarant business as Colonel Sanders. Other conferees, such as Bob Hope or Dwight D. Eisenhower only rarely used the title, but took it seriously.

So, when fun is made of the Order of Kentucky Colonel, I find this a sad consequence of the lack of integrity with which some Colonels act. But what I find truly insulting is when someone calls themslef by a rank to which they were never conferred by anyone, active military, governmental title, or even social title. To give oneself a rank or title borders on a personality flaw.

So, if the Colonel in question is a Kentucky Colonel, he should proudly claim it. If he is simply called "Col." by his friends based on his military experience, he should prouldy explain it. But if he's using a made up title to trump himself upward and hold some form of power over prospective clients, shame on him.

All the Best,
Col. Mike Dunbar
(Proud member of the Order of Kentucky Colonels)

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You have to practice improvisation. -Art Tatum

Mike Dunbar Music

You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music