Amway - The Best of Times and the Worst of Times

Monday, April 10, 2006

 Hello Scott,

 It’s been since 1978 when I and my then husband, Len Guerin, went direct under Larry & Joannie Gammell who were Emeralds under Jim & Connie Agard.  We lived in Litchfield, NH then.  Larry and Joannie lived in Ashburnham, MA.  (Len & I divorced in 1983, a situation that was imminent long before our sponsorship into Amway by another couple who were then under Larry & Joannie Gammell.)

 I only just came in contact with your website last week.  I devoured every word.  It was nothing short of stunning news to read of all the split-ups.  I feel great compassion for Tom Payne losing his two sons and first wife to suicide.  Having come from a family where a brother sibling committed suicide, I can only relate to his pain, no matter what his story. 

After going direct in 1978, my first husband, Len, and I went to Ada, Michigan, met the late Mr. Jay Van Andel and were warmly received into the business.  We went voting member 6 months later.  Broke off several directs in one strong line, but never quite got beyond that. 

 I left the business circa 1980.  I couldn’t take the crap with books and tapes and the religion element which crept up and became more forceful and judgmental with time. …weekends away on family holidays, calling everyone a “loser” who wasn’t in the business, money money money going out with very little coming in, endless line of tapes and books nobody wanted…..   And, we worked the business for several years, 24/7.  It was their way or the highway.  If you did not conform, you were ostracized.   

When we were in the business, David did all of Jim Agard’s sound and mixing for quite a while -- he built two large speakers that were at least 5 ft tall each -- until David also left the business and went through the demise of his own marriage also.  That was over 20 years ago.  As said in the opening lines of a famous novel by Charles Dickens, “it was the best of times and it was the worst of times.” 

It was the greatest learning era of my life.   It was the most exciting.  It was the most painful.  It was at time rewarding. It was a very revealing experience which allowed me to learn a great deal about myself.   I admired Jim & Connie Agard and I feel remorse upon hearing they split.  I did not look upon Larry and Joanie Gammell as great leaders, but they were a nice couple with nice children, Jay and Erin -- a nice young teenager and a cute little girl. I could not relate to Larry & Joannie.  They really did not have anything I wanted, and I think Joannie knew that.   

Nor could I relate to the Amway philosophy with reference to the woman walking ten paces behind her man.  Never bought that crock.  We were prisoners of the Amway philosophy and I did not like that part of the journey. I can’t remember one damned TV show or the most popular music of those lost years.  Where was I?  At meetings and more meetings and seminars and seminars until I was immersed in the muck and every time I tried to climb out, I was pulled back down to embrace the very thing I detested.  What ever happened to just selling soap!   It really took me a couple of years to wake up and see the light.

 But, in spite of all that and much more, these people I met along the way were a positive experience for me.  In learning about them, I discovered a great deal about the real world, about deceit, about what people will do for money, and how much they will compromise their priciples.  I did not like to see men running around acting like bodyguards to some of the big pins.   There was something disturbing about all that.  One day, I realized I was dried up, inside and out, empty and hurting badly.  I took the bull by the horns, hurt a lot of people inadvertenly, and changed the direction of my life.  And, I did.  And, I could write a book, really, a book.  But, no need for that.  

I got myself divorced from Len in 1982, got a great job in Florida -- a company that paid my way down along with relocation monies, got myself a great apartment in Altamonte Springs, Florida.  David eventually came down from NY and chased me until I married him in 1984.  I now lead the life of a diamond.   I have more than I ever dreamed of and when I look around, I have all the trappings now that I couldn’t wait to have back in 1974.  I am a free woman and I do not walk behind my husband. But, the entire Amway experience is probably one of the biggest highlights of my life.  For me, it was an education about people and what separates the genuinely nice people from the greedy ones.  Ironically, I encountered Christ and underwent a deep spiritual experience during those years, but it was not because of what Amway was teaching, but rather by what I detested in Amway, and my experience did not come from within Amway.   Thank God!   

I wonder what ever happened to Jim and Connie, Larry and Joannie, other than getting divorced.  It’s only natural to wonder, after all, they were a part of the daily continuity of my life for several years.  I also wonder what happened to Ron & Joyce Metcalfe of Nashua, NH and of Paul and Debbie from Boston, and many other folks who were part of the fabric of my Amway life in the late 70’s.    

For those reading this who know me, my daughter, Michele, is beautiful, did a ton of modeling in Florida, had a bad two year marriage which resulted in one beautiful 8 year old boy.  She is now remarried to great guy who is a rocket technician on the space program at Cape Kennedy.  They live in Titusville.  We are in the west Orlando area.  David has his own architectural software business.  It’s been a great 21 years with him.   Anyone who knew David will understand.   We are growing old together.

I’d love to hear from anyone who crossed our paths during those incredible Amway years in New England.

God bless you,

Marie (now known as Rusty) (former last name “Guerin”) Wilson