A Day in the Life of Jane

A Little bit about today
Today, my husband Ed has vacation. Actually, he has had vacation all week, but today is the end of the work week. I have been putting off overdue papers to spend time with him, and now I have to "pay the piper" and get the job done.

Last weekend I went to a Representative Assembly for my pre-service teacher group. The present President endorsed the other candidate who was running as a sophomore for President. (Yet the eligibility requirements are that she have senior status to run) In previous years the Executive Board has not been permitted to wear endorsement buttons for candidates, because it discourages others from running for office. The Prez and her executive committee all wore buttons. It had the effect of decreasing participation. Sure enough, only 3 races were contested, and one had no candidate for the position. She nominated the candidates she supported and most people followed her lead (She is officially the spokesperson for the organization and its policy leader, so a newbie might believe that they were doing what was expected, especially if she used her elected position earlier in the year to campaign for a yet undeclared candidate).

I am disappointed in my fellow board members for not taking this opportunity to stand up to her and make a change. I can understand not wanting to be on the outside, but they are on the outside...they just do not see the manipulation because they do not have the years of experience that I have. (I give senior status a larger meaning than academic standing)

It appears that she will continue to direct this new board behind the scene. If she could not complete her duties under the Bylaws in two years, why should she be given any more time? I tried to keep a positive outlook in spite of being told by one delegate that he was going to vote for the person our Prez, told him to vote for at Southern Regionals, (campaigning is not permitted until a candidate declares and you cannot declare until 30 days before the race).

Several delegates from SD were extremely rude to me, and unaware that I walked up behind them as they were discussing what had been told them about me. In another incident my opponent claimed that she had raised over $1,000 and created the Children's outreach fund. (The truth is that three of us wrote the grant for $1,000, and the committee created the fund) and I am the responsible party on the grant. Not only that, I have solicited and collected money on behalf of the fund as well.

The current Prez has had a major grudge against me since about midway into our first year when we were roommates. The maid cleaned the room and used some sort of carpet deodorizer. Prez threw a fit, and finally discovered that I put orange peels in the wastebasket. You would have thought I had committed a major offense. I just stared at her as she ranted and raved and figured that she had gone off the deep end. (Where do youn't you put orangepeels? I put then in a trash bag in the wastebasket! Where does she keep her garbage?) She was usually gone for all night or most of the night anyway with her ex-roommate, but that is her deal, not mine. She could have at least been honest with me and just asked to change roommates, instead of putting on such a show.

Anyway, I took the orange peels out into the hallway of the motel and thought that would be the end of it. It was not the end of it, though. She began speaking to me in a very disrespectful demanding tone, and excluding me from my committee meetings by scheduling them when I couldn't attend, sending out the agendas after plane reservations were confirmed. She even removed me as chair of the Political Action Committee. Then she started accusing me of talking about her behind her back. She actually called old board members to pump them for information. I had two of them tell me about their conversations, because they wanted to know what was going on. (Was there something here that I didn't pick up on, did I rebuff her somehow?)

I did protest being removed and excluded from my committees, and I was concerned that the board was not completing the requirements under the Bylaws. No eligibility was reviewed by the board in her two years as president. I tried multiple times to have it placed on the agenda and she blocked the agenda each time. No chapter eligibility was reviewed by the board, either.

The standing rules, governing the job descriptions were in the process of revision for two years without board vote to enact them, yet she constantly berated us about not accomplishing our jobs. I protested when orientation activies excluded consideration for board members with disabilities. And SC members were excluded from meetings due to SC duties yet expected to catch up on what happened. (Of course, our mother organization bans committees from meeting during official SC activities as a condition of being permitted to meet during the time we are there). Another little detail, that she probably did not like me bringing up!

Ever try to get someone to tell you what happened at a meeting when they are not permitted to talk between meetings? The guy that replaced me on the political action committee failed to post minutes, agendas or committee reports on the discussion group page.

At the last meeting, she tried to impose sanctions (without due process) upon me, because someone overheard me talking about the lack of review of eligibility to another board member. The only sanction permitted is impeachment and that has to be done in writing and according to due process. She told me that everybody knew what the job descriptions were from the first day. (Unfortunately, due to a high number of resignations on the board over the last two years, there were many people who were not there on the first day, and the 4 SC Reps were not there.

So I asked for a copy of the Standing Rules that were in effect. No one could produce a copy of the standing rules that were in effect. Somehow she could get an item on the agenda that is not appropriate according to the bylaws, yet fail to put board duties on the agenda for action!

The atmosphere on this board has become worse with each meeting. We are not permitted to discuss board business outside of the board, (yet we have work that is assigned). People are spoken to in a very nasty tone when they raise questions. She likes to borrow the term "meeting outside of the meeting" to describe any discussion that disagrees with her opinion, regardless of what was decided by the board, or even if it applies. (BTW we are not a public body, so the Brown Act does not govern whether we may have a "meeting outside of the meeting." Apparently she doesn't realize the common use of this term and wants to bend it to her definition).

I am suffocated by the obstacles raised that keep me from doing my job and contributinge according to my elected position. My biggest concern is that we need to return control of the organization back to the members and board. Inappropriate control has been exerted from the top down that has served to keep assigned board duties from completion. If board eligibility had been assessed as per the duties of the board, there would be no questions now about my opponent's class level, and we would not now be in an election challenge situation.

I don't know what the outcome of the challenge will be, but part of me wants nothing to do with this organization. On the other hand, I must remember that corruption of an organization at the board level, does not change the obligation of the members to work to set things right. I am truly grateful for all that this organization has done to guide me along the path to get my credential. I feel that it needs to be set back on course.

We need to regain the 500-600 members we've lost over the last two years. We need to work with the chapters and individual unaffiliated members in way that includes them and trains them as leaders, so that we have more delegates and observer. It is indicative of the state of the organization that less that 50% of eligible members attended to vote for state officers even though all expenses were paid, including travel.

Well thanks for the listen. I'm not sure I want the Presidency if the challenge is successful, but something must be done to revive a worthy organization. Perhaps the challenge will open a few eyes (doubtful though!) I would appreciate any comments and advice.

Current Mood: reflective

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