GEOS North America: Everything is OK

Shawn..."Peter Voyer" is claiming to have knowledge of poster's identities and is making an obvious threat to use this information to commit some harm to them. Are you in any way involved in either the passing of poster information to others or in planning any harm to people posting on this site?

You are the one that came on this site and threatened, insulted, belittled, harassed and was down right nasty to people for working in eikaiwa or as an english teacher in Japan...and some assclown comes on here and gets you scared shitless with with a bogus claim of "stolen information". You talk real big and act all dangerous, but some joker had you pissing your panties in no time. What a loser.

He is NOT American! My buddy was able to trace one of his postings. He is on here to disrupt things. Do not play his game.

There are several TRUE Americans on this board (and a few Canadians I know), and they are all good people. Please do not get into some nationalistic/ anti-country rant, because that is exactly what he wants. "American" is not who he says he is...Two of us have picked up on a few things he said and are working on confirming who he is. Let's just say we know for sure HE is on here to DISRUPT the board. Less directly than his last try under a different alias, but still trying to re-direct the conversation away from the trouble GEOS North America is in and the sad state of GEOS Japan. He is not just an "innocent customer looking for Japanese lessons one day from GEOS Montreal and then stumbled on this board" as he claimed. Trust me, his ruse is up.

Oh, and he seems to have a serious mental condition along with a height inferiority complex.

Stay tuned.

His postings probably have something to do with a) GEOS NA failing, b) losing a certain head honcho title, c) his favorite hockey team losing to an American one (sucks losing money, doesn't it), and d) that damn height awareness thingy. ;-)

Nobody is complaining. If you haven't noticed, it is usually GEOS Japan people bitching how "irrelevant" North America is in the GEOS world. Stop being thread police and let it go. Last time I checked we do not live in communist North Korea.

That's unless you lack a little power these days and hate seeing info about GEOS NA splattered all over these threads. ;-) Cheers!

Notice how the GEOS NA troll disappeared once again? *wink, wink*

Oh, the stories Martha could tell...

I have frequented this site over the years but these days it appears to be completely unmoderated and out of control. Until such time as YOU Shawn, figure out a way to stop AMERICAN from trolling this site then I SHALL NO LONGER frequent this discussion group AND I am sure that there have recently been many before me AND that many will join me. There are many things happening that impact on instructors, students and staff BUT to see the board domineered by the childish banter of insane fools like AMERICAN really just brings the reputation of this site into disrepute. MODERATION now please OR risk the loss of people who actually do care about what is going on in and about Eikaiwa and have the capacity to make valuable contributions to that further enhance the over-all purpose of this meeting place.

I Agree. We love the site...not the assholes who come on here and screw it up for the rest of us. Bring back registering as a requirement to post on here. It gets tiring reading through loads of insults and bullshit everyday.

And as Shawn is the one who can see IP's, he probably knows a lot better than you do who is trolling and who isn't. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if YOU are one of the people doing the trolling and then turning around and accusing others of it.

Gaijin Pot has almost nothing but jerks posting on it. You seem to be the biggest jerk posting here. No doubt you are the biggest jerk there, too.

Etc...

Does any remember how "American" started posting on here about being some guy who just stumbled on this board. Funny how he

Someone is watching there Google Alerts too closely. *wink, wink*

At the end of the day, everyone must keep a careful eye on GEOS North America, even if that bursts a few me-only bubbles in Japan. That "special payment" made to Turkey to keep it afloat from GEOS Montreal (read: Uri Carnat)? Well, there is more of that going on...Lots of shenanigans. So the future of GEOS lies in NA, whether some see it or want it too. Hence the "American" and others who try hard to do their little thing that we already discussed (M).

A couple of us will update this board soon. Stay tuned.

You guys are seriously complete idiots. Everything you have been writing about me is completely false. Shawn can see for himself where I am posting from. So he probably knows what absolute and complete morons you really are.

Additionally, I have never even mentioned mandatory registration. I have no affiliation to Geos. And I wish people would post Geos information instead of this unrelated garbage. Stop posting silly comments unrelated to the topic of this thread, such as the ludicrous comments that you keep posting about me. In truth, it is YOU who keeps disrupting the board with your witch hunt and your bizarre and false comments about me. And your claims that you "know" something about me and "you are doing something about it" are complete lies as the most basic thing that you keep posting about me not being an American is a complete fabrication.

I certainly hope that Shawn is too smart to believe any of the lies you are telling. It is clear that you are the ones playing around with this board, trolling, posting every sort of lie imaginable. Pretending to know things you don't. Making false claims. And trying to lead everyone down rabbit trails.

I think the very fact that as soon as I figured out how this site worked I started using a name and have stuck with it whereas you use 'anonymous' and a variety of other screen names is the clearest indication of who is being untruthful and deceptive. Your obsessive threats and harassment is the most disruptive thing occurring on this board.

1:39 You are obviously not intelligent (I could guess the country, but won't start a flame war here), since MOST of the NORTH AMERICAN POSTERS on here are actually CANADIAN. I am sure Shawn can see quite a few people from, especially from Montreal and Victoria, British Columbia around the time the bankruptcy was announced. *cough, cough * I am posting from CANADA, but another city. ;-)

Again, certain people would love for the heat to be off North American GEOS. Because that is where the money trail leads to...Stay tuned for some more juicy tidbits coming out in the next while. See remaining managers and connections to postings on here.

:-) Cheers!

I say BAN ALL CANADIANS! I can get a long with Americans in Oz, but Canadians just yap and yap and yap.......No backbone and they are obsessed with comparing everything/ themselves to their southern neighbor. They never shut up about them! Drives us up the wazoo in Australian schools. Definite inferiority complex.

So, get rid of Canadians and the pretend "American", and life would be so much better here. :-)

Well, GEOS Ottawa's Web site stills shows Martha Munroe as the School Manager, picture and all. Smoke and mirrors are important in the GEOS Canada world.

(and, yes, Martha left suddenly)

Ha, ha! Did anyone actually read the full unpaid internship ad? At the bottom it reads "Schools in countries around the world."

Well that is a very specific statement, isn't it. Laughing my ass off because we were just talking about GEOS Montreal still advertising "550 + GEOS school worldwide." Guess they really do read these boards....Finally got the message. Poor little guy's worldwide empire is crumbling. I guess the "world" consists only of Japan and North America.

Dorrection: ... Warning to any GEOS NA purchaser.
(And pull off not pull of. )

The Yahoo report on David Page and the Employment Tribunal has more details than the NZ Herald. And guess who apperas as a star performer??? Yup, it's our old mate, Mr M!!!!!

"Company ordered to pay sacked man more than $190,000NZPA "
http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/7308054/company-ordered-to-pay-sacked-ma...
May 28, 2010, 1:46 pm

A man sacked by a company running an international group of English language schools has been awarded more than $190,000 after he was found to have been unjustifiably sacked.

A determination by the Employment Relations Authority said that David Page had been unjustifiably disadvantaged and then dismissed by GEOS (NZ) Ltd.

The company had counter-claimed that Mr Page had breached his good faith obligations and questioned whether he had charged non-work related expenses to his company credit card, but authority member Denis Asher did not accept those claims.

He said the company had not provided evidence of the credit card use claim and the credibility of the company's witnesses' claims was undermined by the company's gross conduct toward Mr Page.

Mr Page started with the company as general manager/principal for GEOS Gold Coast, Australia, in July 1999. That school was part of the GEOS Corporation owned by Tsuneo Kusunoki, who established English schools throughout Japan and a large number of countries.

In March 2006 Mr Page became regional director for GEOS New Zealand.

He was replaced in November 2008 at a regional conference in Thailand where Mr Kusunoki announced, without prior notification or consultation, that Gary Maserow was to be managing director of GEO International and GEOS New Zealand managers were to report to him.

Mr Page's regional director role was removed and Mr Kusunoki said Mr Page's position was now that of Auckland language centre principal.

In February last year Mr Page received an email from Mr Maserow warning that if the Auckland language centre was not in profit by the end of May his employment would be terminated.

Mr Maserow said the warning was sent after an offer from Mr Page that he be given "one last chance".

Mr Page filed an application with the authority, but proceedings were suspended after the parties advised they had agreed to attend mediation.

But the mediation did not happen and a disciplinary meeting was held on April 14 without Mr Page or his representative present.

On April 17 Mr Maserow told Mr Page by email that he was summarily dismissed.

Mr Asher found that Mr Page's demotion showed a complete absence of due process.

"The failings were fundamental and profound," he said.

He described Mr Maserow's final warning as "an unscrupulous exploitation of the earlier, unlawful demotion".

The dismissal was also lacking in due process, and the sequence of unlawful events preceding it supported a conclusion that Mr Page's dismissal was predetermined.

Mr Asher ordered that Mr Page be paid a total of $192,099.80, which included compensation for lost remuneration, hurt and humiliation, superannuation, holiday pay, incentive bonuses and long service leave."

It will be interesting to observe how Mr Page chases his entitlements.

After reading several comments on this thread and others, I thought it would be interesting to analyze . Feel free to chime in if you have your own take

Someone said a while back about the "money trail" and the near-future of GEOS in North America, etc. I say the best way to look at it, if you are trying to figure out what is happening, is to look more closely at the key player, those still in key roles and those who left. Particular attention should be paid to heads who suddenly left, like some of those in Australia who knew the ship was sinking and got out early. Also, whatever schools are left in the "global GEOS empire" and their heads that stayed even after the company went bankrupt...Why did they stay? What connections do they have to Mr. K. Hasn't anyone found it odd that Mr. K put up a big stink and then just disappeared into the woodwork? Doesn't anyone find it funny that GEOS Gold Coast and NZ operations (under new owners) still seem to be somewhat connected to GEOS Japan? Here is my quick analysis of the players...

Former GEOS Europe: Wendy Teraoka, Former Regional Director
- Some say she bought it out...but at what cost and why are GEOS logos, etc. still on or connected to her new school's site?

GEOS North America: Uri Carnat, Ousted Regional Director
- A lot has been said about this guy (and not very good things for the most part)...While I cannot say I know him personally, I have heard a lot both on here and other sites. It seems, from my account, he is very close to Mr. K. and used to be the regional director of NA when Mike D. quit in NYC. Some say he is key to the money trail in NA, and has on several occasions transferred money to Special K. on command, padded expense accounts on trips to South America and Mexico for Special K's "business expenses", etc. Supposedly he has been stripped of the Regional Director title by the trustee, but still has some connection to Special K. Possible shadow management of GEOS NA with Special K? Possible.

For GEOS New Zealand: Suart Binnie and some other M guy (last name).
- I do not know much about this guy, head more about some other guy...Last name starts with "M"

Not to labour on one area of the world, but since the only "global part" of GEOS left outside Japan is the North American operations, one should look closer there...While a variety of proper points were brought up earlier, mostly the "money trail" issue, I am curious about a few key player, current and former employees of GEOS NA...

1. Michael D. - Former head of GEOS North America and . Does anyone know personally why he left suddenly for a competitor? Was it just his inside knowledge of things collapsing or was there a feud?

2. Martha Munroe, long-time manager of GEOS Ottawa, been with GEOS for eons, leaves suddenly a few weeks back. Was it her deciding or did someone (Montreal?) kick her out? None of the staff knew ahead of time, except maybe Niall, the new manager, and students were shocked. Vancouver staff had no clue. She was bent on retiring from GEOS...What gives? Internal struggle with Montreal? Trustee? She knows something we don't?

3. Naolfa - Former GEOS Vancouver Manager...She is the one who opened the first GEOS school in NA...Vancouver. She was very well liked and seemed to survive in the GEOS world even though her managing style was much different. My knowledge is she had a huge fight with Uri Carnat and decided enough was enough. I know when Uri's GEOS Montreal clan visited Vancouver, the staff there were told to be careful and watch their backs. Have a friend still working there.

4. Patrick Thompkins in Toronto (manager) left last year...suddenly.

5. Several other GEOS US school managers have left suddenly in the last year or so, but I do not know much about them or if they matter. Expect they just flew the coup when things started crashing or the rants became too much.

6. Why is GEOS NA still operating and why no concrete info from anyone in NA or Japan? Mr. K is silent...Has to be money coming from somewhere to operate GEOS Canada for sure, since a couple of schools are definitely bleeding money. Is G. Comm funding things and why? What is the delay?

If anyone can provide any insight into these players, please do so...I say there are still details globally that need to be sorted out to know the true connections and G.Comm's role in the near future. I seriously smell something funny about the whole Kusunoki and management act. Seems like a bad theatre production, but maybe just good enough to trick a few people (or provide excuses).

The "M" is David Matsoyo. From all accounts a bit of a prick, but I have nothing concrete on him.

Anyone else come to mind that might be part of the big GEOS machine?

Matt Darr taking over GEOS SF as "interim" Manager mid-june. Hanna Martin. current SF Manager saying bye-bye. Darr was SF manager in past. Anyone know him?
For those who care, Rita Chen continues to push a desk at GEOS.

Just contacted someone I know...Matt Darr was the former Operations Manager for GEOS NYC...when Rita Chen was there. ;-)

Some notes in regards to the new GEOS NA Agent Newsletter:

- anyone notice which schools have brochure links and which don't? Pay attention to this, as you will see which school and what pecking order applies...

- Rita Chen coming out of hiding? Well, she was gone...but had more to do with her sending anonymous e-mails out and possibly getting in trouble for it.

- Student testimonials (other link on the geos.net site) shows "JiEun, Korea, GEOS Victoria". Too bad that is a picture of a guy (JiEun is usually a female Korean name) and was taken at GEOS Montreal, not GEOS Victoria! So much for the "new GEOS."

-

The Berlitz General Union Tokyo is a failed union due to corruption and internal conflict with Yancey Co, and other crooks. It never was much of a union anyway. The shop stewards were all on the take from the company. They just used the union to extort favors for themselves. Ask the Berlitz union to help a real member in need, forget it.

http://www.berlitzuniontokyo.org/

Good riddance. Let's hope a better union takes it's place.

I do not pretend to know everything, but I do know a few things of interest. This, combined with a few things that have been stated on these board, can provide a lot of insight into where GEOS NA is heading (or not).

First, GEOS North America will not be as big a year from now. Pretty obvious given the bankruptcy, market, incompetence....But more specifically look for the GEOS NA 12 to be cut in half. Yes, look at the agent newsletter and you will see only 6 of the schools have links for brochures.....and these are the 6 strongest ones (or ones where there are some "key" personnel with an agenda).

Montreal
Vancouver
Honolulu
New York
LA- Costa Mesa
Boston

Pretty logical for LA-South Bay to close; why have two school near each other competing for students in a dwindling market. Also same as what happened in New York with the two campuses merging. And then look at Japan, where G.Comm closed branches and forced students to another one nearby (or sometimes far away or they conveniently lost their tuition). Look for a similar move In fact, there will be a huge shift soon (not in a few weeks), with key schools closing and these students being re-directed to the nearest open school. In fact, this is already happening at GEOS Canada.....

Everybody remember Martha Munroe just quit in Ottawa? Well, that is because she knows what will happen to the Ottawa location in less than a year.....Already happening now with students being "encouraged" to study at GEOS Montreal.

Lastly, think Saudi Arabia (and similar countries). Besides the whole Youth Summer Camp push, GEOS Canada is really trying to sweep up the Saudi and Middle Eastern area. A couple of reasons: a) they usually are rich students (government funding, oil money, etc.) and b) do not really give a sh*t about their academic goals or performance. Perfect for GEOS, who needs large upfront payments to keep running and their poor quality instruction and services really do not bother the Saudis....Not to stereotype too much, but the main reason Saudis et al come to a country like Canada, and eikawa school, is not the same as a Korean or even Japanese student Oh, and you do not have to deal with Korean agents, who you have pissed off, or Japanese students who know all to well about the collapse. Furthermore, Middle Eastern students usually do not have an agent (read: no commissions), but if they do they take far less commission. The industry is not as developed or knowledgeable in this region.

Hope that helped a little. Anyone feel free to add any info or correct me.

Are you saying Saudi students are not serious students? I am shocked. Surely they attend class regularly? Surely given the chance to study in a free country they open up and take on the values of Canada / US - openness, hard-work ? My understanding is that all these students are going on to University, so by definition they must be serious students surely?

There are always stupid people willing to spend their (or others) money on stupid things. The Saudi push is exactly as you said; they have no clue what is going on in the language school/ GEOS world.

As for smarts or hard work, well, I have had direct (but limited) experience with Saudis. They are not stupid per se, but their education system is fraught with inadequacies and a patriarchal structure. The men live on their family names and connections; talk is more important than actual substance most of the time. Many of the ones studying in Canada come from very wealthy families where their career and financial futures are well taken care of far in advance. Education becomes more of a social construct for them. I have found most Saudi students to be street smart enough (good at getting what they want by talking), but have little care for their direct academic needs or futures. Many times they really do not know what good education is because they have little experience outside of their national/ family, dated system. So maybe more ignorance than laziness or stupidity. But still perfect for GEOS, which is not the bright light in the academic world. And since most Saudi guys see a visit to Canada more as a touristic and voyeuristic endeavour, GEOS just plays the babysitting and basic social connections role in their lives while in the country.

I agree - how is NA GEOS holding up?. It has to be the Japanese receivers allowing it to carry on in the illusion that it is a saleable asset. To an outsider this would seem perfectly reasonable. In fact there are tons of other very good Canadian (in particular) schools with the capacity and skills mop up any potential GEOS students and look after then perfectly well. GEOS NA has - what - a few ME contacts - presumably agent in Riyadh is paying 45% commission so he makes a quick buck. It beats me how this end game can have carried on so long. Has the receiver put aside several million fees in advance too? If not the Japanese receiver is behaving unethically and recklessly, just as Kusunoki did. What is Plan B for the administrators? What if noone buys? Just what value is there in GEOS NA? Agents gone, good staff gone, tainted brand, run-down premises, any business bought by outbidding the market... Oh dear. I can't see this ending well. Just waiting for the white knight to ride in.... Otherwise good luck Riyadh students.

Are the Japanese still in the loop or has GNYC cut the spron strings and commenced flying solo??? A la Capetown. And with some seed money from somewhere? Who knows....not impossible. You gotta consider that the essential corporate connection between NA and Japan is/was Mr K's shareholding. How that linked to GEOSJ, we don't really know.

@15:46, never did get a handle on the prospective GEOS Ottawa buyers. All I really know is that Niall was running around the place like a loon telling all to clean up and tidy up because prospective buyes were coming to have a look at the Queen Street premises at the end of March.

Sorry Mike, can;t put a name on the prospective buyers. Martha had been saying that GEOS Tokyo were having doubts as to whether Ottawa was viable and worth keeping in business. Tokyo and the little Canadian guy were putting lots of pressure on her and setting financials that were just not achievable. Maybe the move was simply a "let's cut the costs" exercise. Anyway, the move has not helped. From what I hear, the school is still scrabbling to get anywher near its budgeted profit forecasts. And with new light-weight management in charge, it's all likely to stay that way!

Wow, kid's already bigger than her dad..

I am sorry to say this, but there is more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjKsDOYMeJg&feature=related

Some people claim he used to do this for Mr K in Japan but I don't think that is true.

The **** will surely hit the fan if the Saudi Arabian Cultural Bureau guys at the SA Embassy in Ottawa see the first @18:12 video. Lets hope for the little Canadian guy's future that they don't!

Martha. Ottawa. Too much pressure. HO no confidence in Ottawa school. White-anting happening. Martha told us that she was feeling sad and maybe manager change. Stress. Sick leave, here, sick day there. At home for a week. Boom, gone. Oh, hello Martha "you can pick up your things at the front desk, Askwaq or Cathy will have it for you, thanks for ten years of your life, byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee."
King Abdullah scholarship program very good , Saudi GEOS students going all over the place, Costa, Montreal, here etc etc. But big trouble now because they want proper english standard testing by each student after time at school. And some Spanish students now too. Good because we make good money last month.
What link GEOS America now have with anyone company in Japan? We still sending $4k or $5k month each school to New York. Big money. Who GEOS America boss manager now?? No one tell us things anymore.

Hmm, what kind of stuffing are we talking about? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more. Bottoms up boys ! God I miss Japan !

Well, we have been told to keep our noses out of this very little message board or risk a sudden departure like Martha Munroe. You can figure out who gave the warning.

Will the last person who still feels the need to post here please turn off the lights and close the door behind them? Thank you.

Can't help you Old School, but it has got me wondering too. I think the security of this site must have been compromised, and the GEOS critics are now too scared to post.

Feel like dark forces could be at play. Will investigate, and get back to you.

Later, Old School.

Johnnie THE FIST

Thanks for the update Johnnie.

My two bobs worth: ten years ago two teams discovered that the universe will expand forever at an ever faster rate, thanks to an unseen energy.

The leader of one of the groups, Saul Perlmutter, expects that new observations will soon illuminate the universe's dark side.

I wonder what GEOS cronies may or may not exist in or around the universe’s dark side, when it does get illuminated?

Maybe all Eikaiwa are part of a colossal Super Nova?

Who knows? But I sense it too. Dark forces are at work, and we need to be vigilant, and stand ready to protect freedom of speech, lest our world be taken over by dark matter.

I knew Eikaiwa had a pretty bad reputation, but I must admit, I never expected dark matter, and dark forces, originating from the filthy bowels of Eikaiwa, would have the capacity to cripple LJ.

It’s a slap in the face to humanity, that’s what it is, old school style.

Fuck me you lot are bored.

Anyway.... carry on.

To the boss - how about an Aeon going under thread? You know... just to boost the numbers again.

But if you do not currently work for GEOS, they cannot stop you. Fire away, boy and girls. ;-)

Deformation, huh......Sounds like typical GEOS crap teaching.....

Hello, this is me, Me. Long time no post. My friend Mr Park teaching me about dynamic address, proxy server and internet cafe. It nice here in cafe, lots of book and nice coffee here in Ottawa. But maybe you think I in Africa!!! he, he, he

Things go good for us June. Mr Niall very very happy. He chase $85k this month and already he got it. Very happy man. Cathy, Umina, Sarah and Mr Niall all work very hard. Very difficult for Mr Niall 'cos he chase $30k this month but Sarah, she hard worker girl and do much better than him. Maybe Mr Uri give Sarah big present, eh :-)

Mr Niall happy too 'cos he cutting out agent now and going for web and walk in and friend say good place student and scholarship student from Saudi and Libiya and place like that. Forget agent, that way we no pay 30% to people like Tasjeer. That Mr Niall new strategy, good thinking man yes??

But he bit unhappy 'cos he say, "Mr Uri, he loose cannon"...I not know what he mean. Will find out and let friends know, OK?

Must go now 'cos have tp prepare for Chinese President and Queen visit. Eveyone excited...byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

This is a BIG upgrade for Toronto