Open Letter to the Members of VVA Chapter 17

Open Letter to the Members of VVA Chapter 17

I am fresh from the January meeting of the Chapter's Board of Directors. Much good work was accomplished. This Saturday's Chapter meeting is our annual Open House meeting. All members are encouraged to attend and bring guests that we might raise awareness of the work that Chapter 17 does in our community.

Importantly, the proposed replacement By-laws will again be read and the authors and proponents thereof have indicated that they will insist on an "up or down" vote on the entire document being taken. To my mind a matter this significant and time consuming would better be undertaken at a regular business meeting than at our Open House meeting with non member guests present. I believe serious issues surrounding the process through which the document was created require examination by the Chapter as do several of its provisions. I further believe that the membership has the right and obligation to so do. 

The Rule of Law has been transgressed in several ways. The Chapter at no time authorized the creation of an ad hoc committee to study our existing By-Laws and recommend changes. The document was created in secrecy. The authors' motives remain shrouded in secrecy as well. They have at no time established a need for the changes they propose individually or collectively and show no sign of willingness to attempt to do so.

It is the oft stated plan of the authors to require an "up or down" vote. They seek to deny the right to amend. I believe such action to be unconstitutional. I further believe it improper to limit debate on such a complex and important proposal in any way and as the executive officer presiding at the upcoming Chapter meeting I will resist any attempt to do so.

There is much here that suggests a clique mentality that disrespects the right of the members of the Chapter to determine the Chapters' course and direction. 

It has become apparent to me and many others that a clique of members has occupied positions of authority in the Chapter for far too long. These members have come to actively discourage, even attack, members outside that clique seeking to participate in Chapter affairs and leadership positions. The proposed replacement By-Laws have been drafted by members of the clique some of whom have on previous occasions stated that Chapter members who do not participate in Chapter activities have no right to participate in Chapter decision making. That sentiment was, in fact, specifically applied last evening to having an open discussion of the proposed replacement By-Laws at our upcoming Chapter meeting.

If they didn't help write them they have no right to comment on them.

This, from one of your Board members, represents an alarming level of disrespect for the rights of membership in our organization and an attack on one of our core freedoms as Americans— the right to be heard and to vote. 

Regardless, in view of the multiple and controversial changes proposed I believe it best  to vote the proposal down and address amending our By-Laws in the manner normally employed and supported by our existing By-Laws, the National Constitution of the VVA and the Constitution of the USA should the Chapter express a desire to do so.

The Chapter runs the Chapter. No one or two members or group. The Chapter controls.

I urge each of you to attend the meeting, consider the proposal, my remarks and vote to return control of the Chapter to the Chapter. 

Richard B Small, President

VVA Chapter 17

Thank You

Robert Serge

VVA 17 Member

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