SUBJECT:
A personal appeal from Mike Dahn

BODY:
Friends,

This is a personal request from me to you to read the following and
take action.  Many of you know me from the industry or Secuirty
B-Sides.  Today, Chris Nickerson posted to twitter a defatory post:

"#Un-FF @MikD for being a charlatan, a thief, and a liar. B-Sides " an
non for profit org.." Hahah... I think not. FU Mr. Dahn!"
http://twitter.com/#!/indi303/status/145287471058522113

I'd like to start with my background and how Security B-Sides was
formed and then ask you one simple favor.

I've been involved in information security for 12 years.  Before
Security B-Sides ever existed I was the global PCI standards trainer
for Visa and the PCI Council.  I sat on the National Board of
Directors for InfraGard.  I blogged and participated in the industry
with the goal of providing transparency and educating others about
nuance and detail that often times are misunderstood.  I believe that
my name and reputation stand for itself independent of any connection
to BSides.

In 2009, I reached out to Mike Murray and Jennifer Leggio and sat down
with them for dinner to map out the details of how to create Security
B-Sides.  Originally, I wanted to call it Security Fringe but based on
their good advice we went with B-Sides.  Mike and Jennifer didn't have
the time to commit back then and bowed out for the time being.  I
moved forward planning the first B-Sides event in Las Vegas.  Chris
Nickerson offered the use of a house he rented.  Jack Daniel was
onboard to help from the beginning.

The week before the event, my mother-in-law, Amber's mom passed away
suddenly from complications from breast cancer.  Instead of going to
Vegas like we planned, Amber and I flew to Salt Lake City to be with
her family.  On the way to the airport, I called Jack Daniel and asked
if he could be the interum organizer for the first event.

Chris knows about this yet in another tweet today he posted:
"Wake up. DHAN is the "founder" ..it says so on all his profiles. Oh
yea...he didnt even go to the 1st one"
http://twitter.com/#!/indi303/status/145336120706744320

Chris Nickerson has chosen to bully me and throw dirt regardless of
the truth.  Many of you may know that I've been bullied other times in
my life and so understand the pattern.  One thing about bullies is
that others don't like to stand up to them for fear of being targeted
themselves.  I'm asking you to stand up for me.

Here is my favor to you.  If you hear someone say something negative
about me please reply with your pesonal experiences and interractions
you've had with me.  Please feel free to blog, tweet, whatever about
the impact I have personally had on you through our interractions.

I'm asking that you stand up *publicly* for those you like, trust, and
respect.  I'm asking that you don't sit idly by as bullies take out
their aggression on those around them.

If you have ANY questions about anything please feel free to call or
email me directly.

Thank you,
Mike

--
415.420.4331 @MikD