Dear Board
As former chair of the governance committee, I would like you to know that I feel obliged to report to the AGM that this board has acted against its own governance (agreed upon policy), constitution and thereby code of conduct – which is the reason from my resignation from the board, and from my position as Governance Committee Chair. I will write up a one page grievance and hand it out to all the attendees.
The last vote violated the constitution and a policy agreed upon by the board. There was no formal motion made, a second to the motion was made before a formal motion was made. It was not clear that responses were actually votes. There was no establishment of the four day rule, which meant any further discussion was null and void. The vote was counted and assumed over before the four days passed. And the vote contradicted adopted policy about the requisite “emergency” that would make a vote necessary. The vote therefore violated the code of conduct. I would hate to open up that can of worms, but I feel obliged to the membership that they be made aware of the situation.
I would be willing to reconsider this action, should the board decide to abrogate the vote, undo the harm (cancel the check) and follow proper procedures before it is too late. I don’t care how it is done, but it should be done. Conversely, I would like the board to publish my letter of resignation.
I thought about this a long time. I am very fond of each and every one of you but allowing a vote which was opposed to the policy that was set, to allow a vote that did not pass even the adopted constitution four day rule and then to ignore accepted rules of elections like how a motion should be made, how votes should be casy (a clear yes or no should be expected and nothing else). This past “vote” was crammed down everybody’s throats without due process in an unacceptable manner and was intended to limit debate, deprive any discussion. This is how boards are ruined—they just assume whatever they do is justified, there is always a “rationale”, and the hell with the rules or agreed upon procedures. There is always a power of one or two people to push principles aside and force others to do the same without allowing anyone to dissent or discuss the point.
Respectfully
Mona
