KiS Golf/Appalachian Marketing NUMB......And appologizing for myself Ellijay Georgia

Dear EX-employee,

I too, am an ex employee of Appalachian Marketing owned by Mr. Mike Kleczka. I worked for the company for almost seven years, and I have NEVER worked for a more compassionate, more understanding person than Mike. One would think that if he was really as heartless as you are making him out to be, I would know it. Wouldn't you agree? After reading your report, I must say I agree with you on one thing. Yes, losing our jobs was very hard. However, we knew it was coming. I have a couple questions for you. If Mike Kleczka was such a rotten, heartless man who could give a rat's behind as to what happened to his employees would he have:

A. CALLED A COMPANY MEETING THREE WEEKS BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY, JUST TO LET US KNOW WHERE "WE" STOOD AS A COMPANY, or would he have just skipped town without saying a word? As I recall did make us aware of the issues at hand, and even admitted they had been issues for a couple of weeks. He said the only reason he did not come forth sooner is because "KIS GOLF promised him it would be fixed and it's not." If you want to be pissed at anyone, BE PISSED OFF AT KIS GOLF. Granted they did not sign our paychecks, Mike did. But come on, get real. How do you expect a man with 10 children, a wife, and a grandchild to make payroll when he can't even get enough money to pay his morgtage (that I KNOW FOR A FACT WAS IN FORECLOSURE), let alone the thousands of dollars that is on his payroll.
B. You say you have two children, right? How many times did you miss work due to a sick child, school event, doctor's appt, school being out and daycare closed, or just called in cause you were tired? I bet more than most companies would allow you to miss. You see, the fact that Mike has 10 kids is one of the things that makes him so understanding. We both know that if you worked for any other company, the only excuse that would have been accepted (and not as many times, I assure you), is a sick child. If you ever missed a day to attend any school function, in my opinion, you should be thanking him for allowing you to take the time off to make those memories.
C. How many times did you go to Mike and ask to borrow money? If you even went to him once, I would almost be willing to bet my next unemployment check that he gave it to you with the agreement it would be taken out of your next check. And you know as well as I do, when it came time for the money to be paid back, if you went to him and asked for him to wait til the next week or the week after next, he never had a problem. Why? Because that is just the type of man Mike Kleczka is.

Allow me to close with this. I am also still owed money from Mike ( about $850 if I am not mistaken), but I know that Mike is the man everyone sees him as. As long as I worked for him, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!!! I am a single mother of two boys, and thanks to this, am now a full time student. I believe with all my heart that the very minute that Mike gets enough to give us something he will. Even if he can only give each of us $5 each, he will. If you remember correctly, he has already shown us this once, the day in his office when he took what money he was paid and split to give each of us $28 a piece. Mike is a man of his word and I have faith that when he gets paid we will get paid. I have no hard feelings toward him at all and would still be working for him today had KIS not filed bankruptcy.
Bottom line-Mike was good to us. As long as he saw you were trying, he would have given you the clothes off his back. ANYONE OF YOU WHO FILED SUIT AGAINST HIM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. SERIOUSLY, PUT YOURSELVES IN HIS SHOES. He may have been your boss, and signed your big fat checks every week, BUT HE TOO IS ONLY HUMAN.

AMANDA BLACK
FORMER EMPLOYEE OF 7 YEARS.

Dear EX-employee,

I too, am an ex employee of Appalachian Marketing owned by Mr. Mike Kleczka. I worked for the company for almost seven years, and I have NEVER worked for a more compassionate, more understanding person than Mike. One would think that if he was really as heartless as you are making him out to be, I would know it. Wouldn't you agree? After reading your report, I must say I agree with you on one thing. Yes, losing our jobs was very hard. However, we knew it was coming. I have a couple questions for you. If Mike Kleczka was such a rotten, heartless man who could give a rat's behind as to what happened to his employees would he have
A. CALLED A COMPANY MEETING THREE WEEKS BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY, JUST TO LET US KNOW WHERE "WE" STOOD AS A COMPANY, or would he have just skipped town without saying a word? As I recall did make us aware of the issues at hand, and even admitted they had been issues for a couple of weeks. He said the only reason he did not come forth sooner is because "KIS GOLF promised him it would be fixed and it's not." If you want to be pissed at anyone, BE PISSED OFF AT KIS GOLF. Granted they did not sign our paychecks, Mike did. But come on, get real. How do you expect a man with 10 children, a wife, and a grandchild to make payroll when he can't even get enough money to pay his morgtage (that I KNOW FOR A FACT WAS IN FORECLOSURE), let alone the thousands of dollars that is on his payroll.
B. You say you have two children, right? How many times did you miss work due to a sick child, school event, doctor's appt, school being out and daycare closed, or just called in cause you were tired? I bet more than most companies would allow you to miss. You see, the fact that Mike has 10 kids is one of the things that makes him so understanding. We both know that if you worked for any other company, the only excuse that would have been accepted (and not as many times, I assure you), is a sick child. If you ever missed a day to attend any school function, in my opinion, you should be thanking him for allowing you to take the time off to make those memories.
C. How many times did you go to Mike and ask to borrow money? If you even went to him once, I would almost be willing to bet my next unemployment check that he gave it to you with the agreement it would be taken out of your next check. And you know as well as I do, when it came time for the money to be paid back, if you went to him and asked for him to wait til the next week or the week after next, he never had a problem. Why? Because that is just the type of man Mike Kleczka is.

Allow me to close with this. I am also still owed money from Mike ( about $850 if I am not mistaken), but I know that Mike is the man everyone sees him as. As long as I worked for him, THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!!!! I am a single mother of two boys, and thanks to this, am now a full time student. I believe with all my heart that the very minute that Mike gets enough to give us something he will. Even if he can only give each of us $5 each, he will. If you remember correctly, he has already shown us this once, the day in his office when he took what money he was paid and split to give each of us $28 a piece. Mike is a man of his word and I have faith that when he gets paid we will get paid. I have no hard feelings toward him at all and would still be working for him today had KIS not filed bankruptcy.
Bottom line-Mike was good to us. As long as he saw you were trying, he would have given you the clothes off his back. ANYONE OF YOU WHO FILED SUIT AGAINST HIM SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELVES. SERIOUSLY, PUT YOURSELVES IN HIS SHOES. He may have been your boss, and signed your big fat checks every week, BUT HE TOO IS ONLY HUMAN.

AMANDA BLACK
FORMER EMPLOYEE OF 7 YEARS.

Yes, I am Michael Kleczka, owner of Appalachian Marketing. FIrst of all, since so many appear to be reading this sight, I wanted to once again apologize to all who see this for what happened regarding the company's inability to pay. While doing so, I would like to clarify some facts for the one who wrote this, as well as for the benefit of anyone else that may be reading this.

Kis Golf has not paid Apalachian Marketing a nickel since October 22, 2008. Even then, almost half of that week's revenue ended up to be bounced checks to me. As of this date, KIS golf owes Appalachian Marketing 72, 090.00 in bad checks and lost revenues.

Concerning the comments of the writer of this report, I need to clarify some things that were mentioned.

First of all, It is true that I have ten children. My house, which I have owned and lived in with my family for the past ten years, is in forclosure.

My son in College, had to drop out this semester and go to work full time, because there was no money to send him.

The school that my younger chiildren attend, is not a private school for profit, but moreso a Christian ministry, and thank God they have worked with me and allowed them to stay, even though we have had no money to pay. There are many other families in our school that are in my same situation, so our teachers have even been willing to teach unpaid to allow many children to still be able to attend.

We had no Christmas gifts at all until the 22nd of December, but thank the Lord for my eldest daughter, who found out that we had no Christmas gifts, and gave us some money so that we could have something under the tree.

This was a terrible time. I really did my best to get everyone as much money as possible. I am sorry that there was just no more to give. As for the company being a "horrible place to work, I am sorry that you had that experience. From what I remember, everyone seemed really happy, and I tried to treat everyone fairly. If you want to call me and identify yourself, I will be glad to talk to you about the horrible treatment that you received.

16 employees opted to sue me personally, which cost me 1000.00 to eliminate, money that I borrowed from my eldest son.

Kis golf is still in bankruptcy. As soon as there is money available to pay past payroll, I will gladly do so.

For all of you who were not paid what you were owed, again, I apologize, and I know that you are suffering. But you can be thankful for one thing...that you are not ME, having to listen to hate messages every day, listen to false rumors spread about you and your family, like the one in this report, and live daily with that harassment. Several of you seem to have made that your life's goal, congratulations.

Most of the Appalachian employees have actually been VERY kind and understanding to the situation. I will be forever grateful for that. Thank you. It only takes a few though, to destroy a life, a reputation.

MIKE