Re: [amsat-bb] Another call for forensic accounting and an inventory
That was my mistake, Joseph.
I, too, am sorry for the misrepresentation.
/ch
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 11:26 AM Joseph Armbruster < josepharmbruster@gmail.com> wrote:
Chris,
I am not in Any position of leadership within AMSAT. And I have not meant to mis-represent myself as one if I ever did. I'm just a life-member.
Joseph Armbruster KJ4JIO
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 1:51 PM Chris Hoffman cq.kg6o@gmail.com wrote:
Each thread has a topic, and members are not incapable of intentionally ignoring threads by looking at the subject line.
Remember those little boxy things that are whipping around the world that
we enjoy and have fun, learn, develop expertise, and just chat with like people. Please knock off the BS! 73 Bob W7LRD
Bob and Joseph, as a dues-pyaing AMSAT member, I'm sorry to inconvenience you with my own '...BS,' however, please understand that --to me-- these "...the small things are complicated' or "...watch the birdie" misdirections, and the "...everyone is tired of it, so please knock it off!" comments can serve to undermine your standing as Trusted Leadership in the eyes of Interested Members by making it look as if the board and leadership really do have something to hide.
If this is not the correct venue, then what is?
Put another way, why even respond to these questions in the Email Threads?
Also, Is wishing people would just stop griping and just enjoy the view really a successful strategy?
Seeing these comments as you both speak from a position of leadership makes me worry that AMSAT may be lost in the woods, and not on an intentional path. At the moment, I can see NO better forum than an email list to express these concerns, and to suggest that this should not happen is... galling. Fundamentally, I see your comment as deprecating and dismissive of Members in Good Standing who are using the only venue apparently available with any significant level of accountability to air their concerns.
There have been some important and simple questions asked: Why hasn't the board of an organization to which members pay dues address some valid questions and show that they are acting in good faith, let alone convene in order to do so? What was really behind the irregular use of funds paid to a law firm, and why was it handled that way? Your membership is smart enough to gain their Ham Radio license, and information is shared more broadly and easily than ever before, so it should be no surprise that a "...you just would not understand, so trust us" response --or silence-- may not have the desired effect.
Do you understand that it is some of your comments, combined with [in-]actions --and not the legitimate questions being raised-- which undermine the confidence we have in the board and leadership? At this point, given the proven and highly irregular actions of the board '... we are making progress,' from the board may not be a sufficient answer to keep the Rabble at a low din.
How about we turn this conversation to 'real' subject matter, then? AMSAT is still the preeminent forum within the US to provide new Amateur Radio Satellites. From my chair, however, given how seemingly few AMSAT OSCAR satellites are work-able in-orbit, I'd say we are not as successful in that effort as we have been in the past, and I would like to know why. Can leadership answer these questions for me:
- Has a committee been convened to understand what happened with Husky
Sat?
- What is the full project plan, set of milestones, and real status of
GOLF-TEE?
- Where does AMSAT stand WRT launch strategies, and can we expect to see
more operational FM and Transponder birds any time soon?
- How is AMSAT now involved in helping schools get more satellites into
the sky, and how is that effort changing?
- What resources does AMSAT require to make these things happen?
- We are geeks and enthusiasts and funders, and we want to know: how we
can help?
Respectfully,
Chris Hoffman N6QR Amsat member # *54687432*
(Please email me directly if you would like my cell phone number)
On 08/09/2020 5:07 PM Jeff Johns via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org
wrote:
If AMSAT had regular board meetings, preferably monthly, then things
like this would be taken care of quickly and efficiently.
We would all be reading detailed minutes about all the "boring
ordinary" stuff that should be going on - in the Journal.
Exactly! A forensic audit may not be simple but I would hope that
someone within AMSAT could produce a list of physical assets which could be checked to make sure they are still in AMSAT’s control and inventory. Does a list of assets exist?
It doesn’t matter who wins this election. The dark cloud over AMSAT
will remain until the members and donors are satisfied that their is no malfeasance that has, or is, taking place within AMSAT. All the members and donors can see the smoke and there’s no smoke unless there’s a fire.
It saddens me that no legacy BoD member or Officer running against me
will step-up and join me in requesting that a third-party audit AMSAT. Like I said, there wouldn’t be any smoke if there wasn’t a fire. This leads many members to wonder what else is being hidden. There may well be nothing being hidden but enough has been uncovered that a jury of average people would not be convinced. There’s a simple way to make the bad thoughts that members and donors have. Allow a full audit and inventory of AMSAT’s finances and inventory.
Jeff WE4B http://we4bravo.com
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership.
Opinions expressed
are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views
of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite
program!
Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Chris,
To be clear, I am another Joseph who is just an AMSAT member/worker bee.
The answers to some of your questions are available from official AMSAT sources.
If this is not the correct venue, then what is?
From the "Acceptable Use Policy for the AMSAT Public Mailing Lists" in relevant part:
"Examples of on-topic posts include ... [d]iscussion of AMSAT plans and policies ..."
- Has a committee been convened to understand what happened with Husky
Sat?
See the report from AMSAT Vice President - Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY at: https://www.amsat.org/ans-194-amsat-news-service-weekly-bulletins-for-july-1...
- What is the full project plan, set of milestones, and real status of
GOLF-TEE?
https://www.amsat.org/greater-orbit-larger-footprint-an-introduction-to-the-...
- Where does AMSAT stand WRT launch strategies, and can we expect to see
more operational FM and Transponder birds any time soon?
- How is AMSAT now involved in helping schools get more satellites into
the sky, and how is that effort changing?
RadFXSat-2/Fox1E is completed and waiting for launch on the NASA's ELaNa 20 mission. Launch date is "TBD". See: https://www.nasa.gov/content/upcoming-elana-cubesat-launches
Additionally, AMSAT recently announced a partnership with the University of Maine: https://www.amsat.org/amsat-partners-with-umaines-wise-net-lab-to-develop-ma...
- What resources does AMSAT require to make these things happen?
- We are geeks and enthusiasts and funders, and we want to know: how we
can help?
Volunteers and donations are key to making things happen:
https://www.amsat.org/volunteer-for-amsat/
73 de KM1P Joe
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 2:14 PM Joseph B. Fitzgerald via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Volunteers and donations are key to making things happen:
Even in normal times, we would like to see that our donations are properly and efficiently directed to projects that matter. Members and other donors become reluctant when they see the organization:
* Spends money from its general fund on a legal pursuit against its own members. * Diverts a large earmarked donation from an individual to another purpose than that specified by the donor. * Makes significant financial decisions that do not appear in any board or committee minutes. * Declines calls to hold board meetings regularly, or when requested by directors, which would make decisions visible to the membership. * Spends 3/4 of membership dues on salary (from 2018 Form 990). * Declines calls to make a full financial accounting to the membership.
Thanks
Bruce
Give us a break. You can only beat the horse so many times, that people stop listening.
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 5:51 PM Bruce Perens via AMSAT-BB amsat-bb@amsat.org wrote:
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 2:14 PM Joseph B. Fitzgerald via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Volunteers and donations are key to making things happen:
Even in normal times, we would like to see that our donations are properly and efficiently directed to projects that matter. Members and other donors become reluctant when they see the organization:
- Spends money from its general fund on a legal pursuit against its own
members.
- Diverts a large earmarked donation from an individual to another purpose
than that specified by the donor.
- Makes significant financial decisions that do not appear in any board or
committee minutes.
- Declines calls to hold board meetings regularly, or when requested by
directors, which would make decisions visible to the membership.
Spends 3/4 of membership dues on salary (from 2018 Form 990).
Declines calls to make a full financial accounting to the membership.
Thanks
Bruce
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 5:18 PM H. Stephen Nipper stephennipper@gmail.com wrote:
Give us a break. You can only beat the horse so many times, that people stop listening.
OK. I was trying to respond to Joseph's point, which was, to paraphrase, that nothing happens without donations. My point is that you have to appear worthy of donations. I will assume that you understand that now :-)
Thanks
Bruce
Correct. That is why I made a cash donation to the legal fund. I think we realize that in September more money will be needed.
I read your webpage where you told people to keep posting this stuff. We have heard it so many times you are hurting your cause.
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020, 6:26 PM Bruce Perens bruce@perens.com wrote:
On Mon, Aug 10, 2020 at 5:18 PM H. Stephen Nipper stephennipper@gmail.com wrote:
Give us a break. You can only beat the horse so many times, that people stop listening.
OK. I was trying to respond to Joseph's point, which was, to paraphrase, that nothing happens without donations. My point is that you have to appear worthy of donations. I will assume that you understand that now :-)
Thanks Bruce
participants (4)
-
Bruce Perens -
Chris Hoffman -
H. Stephen Nipper -
Joseph B. Fitzgerald