So I’m not sure what category this should be under, or if I should be contacting someone on the board directly via pm, but I was emailed last night about another member registering a complaint against me. The allegation is completely false and anyone looking at the “evidence” provided will agree it is baseless. I’ve emailed the individual to withdraw his accusation, but if possible I’d like to clear this up with some sort of mediation before the meeting on the 21st.
I have responded in a private message to Adam.
1 Like
Hey Adam,
As a long term member I’ve seen and been targeted by formal complaints over the years. This is really among one of our weakest systems in the group, because the accused have no protection in the system.
As someone accused you of a grievance, the accuser holds the power till the BOD meeting. Only the accuser can cancel the complaint, agree to mediation, or choose to talk to you or not. At this point, you need to be defensive, as anything you do from here till the meeting, can and likely will be used against you.
Once you get to the meeting, everything is up to the BOD. I wish I could say that the facts will come out and this will be decided on the facts. But, that again is not true. What typically happens is the accused is slammed with many accusations without any necessity of proof, as none of the BOD fact check the accusations raised at the meeting, instead they go by gut feeling.
So if your going to try and come out of this with as little damage as possible, I would suggest get as many supporters of you to show up to the meeting as possible. Have your supporters speak to your defense rather than you. The more positive things you can have spoken at the meeting by others the better off you are. Try to have other respond to the accusations rather than yourself. If you can have someone speak for you at the meeting, even though you will be present again makes it harder to attack you. Be a difficult target for the often baseless accusations.
Good luck Adam.
Oi Vey…
You mean just like IRL?
You mean just like IRL? (BoD ~= judge & jury)
You mean just like IRL? You get the opportunity to state and support your side of the situation; if you don’t, or do a sloppy job, or facts aren’t on your side, don’t be surprised by an outcome you aren’t happy with. What more should it be?
That’s just an idiotic over-generalization.
Also, just like IRL. But finally, some common sense.
@Adam_Overman , try not to go into this with a professional victim/butt-hurt attitude…it probably won’t help. Just handle it as one should any other debate/difference of opinion: write down your version as soon as you can to preserve memory; ask anyone else that has direct knowledge of the situation to do the same; ask for video from Admin if relevant; same with any other “evidence” whatever that might mean, e.g. pics, etc. Then come to the meeting and state/present your case.
Best of luck.
3 Likes
I’ve long felt that the BoD should exercise agency in deciding whether or not to hear complaints and dismiss those they felt did not have sufficient merit without forcing a public airing of dirty laundry during a board meeting.
9 Likes
Usually I handled that by simply sitting down with both members and hashing things out (or via email). Loads of complaints never made it to a board meeting because they were often simple miscommunication or misunderstandings.
7 Likes
What about forming a committee whose responsibility is to hear and attempt to resolve complaints then recommend to the BoD any that can not be resolved through this process?
1 Like
There was interest for a while, but no one really stepped up to run it.
3 Likes
I’ll be in contact with you. Please che k your PM
3 Likes
Somewhere Walter is 
big time.
3 Likes