So, I have spent nearly four hours READING all that is publicly available including the blogs and myriad emails available here or referenced with linksfrom here. I'll go to the end of the story then back up. After reading all that is cited above, its clear to me that the two new board members have exaggerated greatly the degree of wrong doingon the part of the board. It also seems clear that the board agreed to spend 10k to defend themselves against potential legal action from these two board members who then turn around and claim thesemonies were spent irresponsibly (see the initial email regarding Leadership). These funds were spent, in the main, to seek advice on how to proceed, and to create new, formerly nonexistent AMSAT polices to guidefuture administrative conduct. This latter goal was apparently long over due and proprietous. However, its also clear the legal fees exceeded the initially authorized amount of 10k This overage is understandable, dealing with issues like this you tendto get tunnel vision trying to sort this all out and within a few days you run over the limit. I'm not even sure this overage is in any way improper Had it been 50k well, yes, but 4 or 5k is really not a major issue.Additionally, it seems, again from all the emails that no formal vote was held to authorize these additional monies. We're leftto conclude that casual conversations were had that authorized these funds. No one has said this that I could find, perhaps some clarity on that point would help? When the treasurer says no dues were used, I think that is misleading, the point of concern wasn't what pot the monies came from but instead thattheir were resources used that could have been used productively elsewhere had their been tighter supervision of the legal activity. Again, its easyto run over with lawyers and not realize it, this overage doesn't rise to the level or even close to it, of criminal behavior. Describing this overage inthose terms is disgraceful and reckless So, the board was initially off put by the blogs I read. That is not an unreasonable response. Could/should more dialogue have been engaged in? Why yes it should have. This absence of reported deep dive dialogue is troubling, but may or may not havelead to a different outcome. Regardless, more dialogue should have happened, the board's credibility would have been enhanced by trying to sort out what the new directors wanted. I fault the board for not doing this, or if they did, I didn't see it in these writings. I am left with the impression that the two board members are folks who thrive on confrontation while spinning, in these emailsup here, that they are really interested in "transparency" I am convinced this is not the case. I draw all my conclusions on the postings here and thelinks to other cites contained within, and the blogs found by the same means. I feel that Stoddard and Thomspson should resign immediately, for in reading all this, I feel they have exaggerated the degree of misconduct and caused considerableharm to the reputation of AMSAT in the process, as is evident from the emails and posting on this BBS. To the credit of Stoddard and Thompson, it appears that AMSAT has not been run, from an administrative side of things, in a professional manner. Missing HR policiesand no evidence I can find of consultation with business leaders on how to operate a complex organization, is deeply bothersome. Further, an outside review is totally appropriate here. Consider, that had their been policies in place before all of this happened, lawyers would not have been needed.What OTHER policies are missing? What procedures are in place to audit the organization? Are the books reviewed by an outside CPA for instance?The credibility of AMSAT needs to be bolstered and having an expert consultant come in and review all of these potential areas is apparently way over due. That AMSAT lacks proper HR policies after this many years in business is deeply troubling and suggests a more professional operating standard is desperately needed here.
Before you pontificate or provide character references for the current board you have an obligation to READ all this stuff, its wearisome, tedious and takes a long time.I read it, YOU should read it BEFORE you go off and make draconian statements. .
PeterW2PPLife Member