Everything I know about controlling the narrative I learned from Eric Byler. For over two years it has been my pleasure to learn “at the feet of the master” how words make a difference and how to make a difference with words. Today, a well crafted example of his artistry in the form of a resignation from the Coffee Party USA board of directors was posted on Join The Coffee Party Movement Facebook page. This is my personal response. I am very uncomfortable discussing this here - who would not be? But the calls for honesty and transparency cannot be ignored. I expected the tale it told because I have watched him storyboard the narrative over the last few weeks. If you believe his reporting you, like I, might wonder how one of the smartest people I have ever known could be “troubled by the discovery”, have had anything “kept from me”, or even been “not properly informed”? The implication about others is sinister, isn’t it? BTW, Eric voted to remove himself as president. The letter was preceded by posts, comments, emails, texts and chats that, IMHO, further imply he is a victim of something. He is compelling. He has even cued his audience to expect criticism. In truth, the project over which he is willing to resign has not been launched and the fact that his concerns (and the concerns of others) have led to extended conversations and investigations not yet complete are not a part of his story. From my post yesterday: The Coffee Party Board of Directors have been looking at Viridian Cares, a fundraising project for private non-profits. After preliminary investigation, the board agreed by motion last fall to pursue the project. We signed a contract at that time. Our project plan was not complete and in the process of fleshing out our plan, questions were raised that have yet to be answered. Therefore the project has not been launched. Not historically a fan of rules, Eric’s new found affection for the bylaws pleased me at first. I cannot tell you the day Eric switched from a project supporter to a project detractor. I can tell you that was when he decided conflict of interest was the way to kill it. I thought his personal approach to this process was mean spirited and rude. Conflict of interest is a surprisingly delicate issue, we have had many discussions about it, and we have only now been financially able to seek legal advice about the nuances. We are all learning. For example, we learned from the attorney that speaking fees offered because someone is an officer (or founder?) of the Coffee Party should be paid to the Coffee Party and then funds distributed to expenses and individuals accordingly. Should we beat ourselves up about not having known, or should we move on, better than we were? The board voted in the case of Virdian that there was a conflict of interest but that it was not materially significant. We did the math and did not believe Coffee Party was going to generate significant income to anyone else. Still Eric pressed for a new project vote to somehow invalidate his earlier yes vote. Ironically, I have said many times during project strategy meetings (to which Eric was invited but seldom attended) and privately to many that I was not willing to launch the project unless our design made everyone on the board happy. Simply put, no fundraising campaign can succeed without the support of the principles. I had no interest in trying to buck the odds on this one. When he lied to me, saying he would not change his vote, but that the Viridian revote was a means to comply with bylaws, I saw a different Eric. From where I sit, if there is a problem it is that Eric does not trust his fellow board members to do the right thing. It was not enough to allow the project to die a natural death, the one afforded by due process and inquiry. He likes to say he is just one of nine votes, but his actions have spoken otherwise. Again from yesterday: “This foray into non traditional funding is an effort to secure sustainable funding to address past debt and provide adequate resources to promote exciting local and national actions and campaigns.” That is non-accusatory speak for we are still paying off the over-budget Enough is Enough rally two and a half years later, and it is interfering with our ability to do anything that costs money today. We were taking a shot. Now the master of narrative is taking his shot at his colleagues. This upset has spilled over to our having lost our secretary and having no minutes for several months. Accusations abound, none founded, not even Erics. As I said in the thread to Eric’s resignation below: If we all wanted transparency, we would be asking Eric, the president until last week, why there are no minutes. It was his job to make sure the board operated according to Hoyle. I really resent that this is seen as anything other than an overworked, unpaid, unstaffed board that was caught with a vacancy that the president did not consider important enough to fill. I personally refused to do EVEN MORE than the 25 - 40 hours a week I was putting in as Treasurer and Managing Director. When Del gets back to this thread you can ask her why she did not offer to do minutes. Lord knows I brought it up in meeting after meeting.There is nothing to hide. This is a rabbit trail. No one will be happier to see the minutes than I. BTW, our new secretary is proposing his schedule for completion of past minutes at our meeting Tuesday. Bylaw edits to reflect changes resolved by the board about election dates will be on that schedule. (Jeanene)
Posted on: Sun, 11 May 2014 03:00:11 +0000
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