Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!unix.cis.pitt.edu!pitt!willett!ForthNet
From: ForthNet@willett.pgh.pa.us (ForthNet articles from GEnie)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.forth
Subject: Feedback to the Forth Interest Group
Message-ID: <2498.UUL1.3#5129@willett.pgh.pa.us>
Date: 18 Mar 91 03:27:20 GMT
Organization: (n.) to be organized.  But that's not important right now.
Lines: 169

Category 1,  Topic 2
Message 123       Fri Mar 15, 1991
JDHALL [John]                at 00:01 PST
 
 This is another reason that this media (BBS) is inappropriate 
 for anything other than pure technical discussions.  I do not 
 know how discussions such as these get so out of hand.  It is 
 probably because words on paper cannot carry the true 
 emotional meanings intended.   Since the intent is not 
 accurate, misunderstandings arise, and the fact that it is 
 made public and the public my misunderstand the sender and 
 the receiver's understanding leads to counter-reaction and 
 counter-clairifications and over-reactons!

 I am going to over-react, so to the Point:  

 I, as the President of the Forth Interest Group and as a 
 member of the Board of Directors, need and want to make this 
 point loud and clear!

 *************************************************************

 Jack Woehr and Public:

 Jack Woehr is not and has not been "guilty" of anything 
 according to FIG.  He has not done anything that would 
 warrant anything close to a "hearing" by the FIG Board of 
 Directors.  In no way by any actions or inactions of FIG 
 should one imply anything about the reputation or ability of 
 Jack Woehr.

 Jack Woehr is a good guy and in his way is trying to make FIG 
 better.  He has stated many times that he likes and is 
 enthusiastic about FIG and feels that FIG has performed 
 services that have helped him.  I thank him for his 
 enthusiasm.

 *************************************************************
 Actions that lead to this situation:

 Hearsay:
 Dennis Ruffer and Jack Woehr, on GEnie, discussed ways that 
 Jack could help FIG improve it's declining membership.  Since 
 the last Chapter Coordinator, myself, chapters had not been 
 surveyed and encouraged and Dennis suggested that Jack might 
 like to help in this way.

 Firsthand knowledge:
 At a Board of Directors meeting at the FIG National 
 Convention in Los Angeles, Nov 1988. Dennis Ruffer made a 
 motion and I seconded the motion that the President appoint 
 Jack Woehr as Chapter Coordinator and that Jack's 
 effectiveness be reviewed in three months.  The motion 
 passed.  The President, then Bob Reiling, appointed Jack 
 Woehr as Chapter Coordinator.

 Analysis:
 According to the Bylaws the Board of Directors can create 
 committees, however, in doing so give the functioning and 
 governance of these committees to the President.  This is not 
 this situation.  The Board of Directors did not create a 
 committee or appoint anyone to a committee.  The President 
 can and does appoint committees and committee members and 
 chairman.  The position of Chapter Coordinator is the 
 chairman of the chapters committee and was originally 
 appointed by Bill Ragsdale, then President.  I was the first 
 Chapter Coordinator and my job was to contact potential 
 chapters and register them with FIG.  I also took on the 
 special duties, directed by the Business Group, of 
 reverifying the existence of the chapters and to look after, 
 and report to the Business Group, any special needs of the 
 chapters that FIG was able to provide.

 Firsthand knowledge, Early 1989:
 Because Jack Woehr, Chapter Coordinator, was interested in 
 networks, and Jack felt, correctly, that getting the chapters 
 on GEnie was a way of bringing the chapters closer to FIG, 
 Jack was given a sysop account on GEnie with the address 
 FIGCHAPTERS.  He used it to encourage chapter participation.

 Because, I had been the previous Chapter Coordinator, in a 
 private telephone conversation with Jack, I explained what I 
 thought were the duties and limitations of the Chapter 
 Coordinator.

 Firsthand knowledge, April 1990:
 Jack Woehr put a public notice on GEnie and the other 
 national networks using the title FIGCHAPTERS calling for the 
 resignation of the FIG Board of Directors and implying 
 inactivity and negligence on the part of the Officers, Board 
 of Directors, Business Group and other FIG volunteers and 
 that the financial figures showed that FIG was "going-out-of-
 business".

 I, as a member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer, 
 immediately sent Jack Woehr a private letter stating that I 
 thought his statements were unjustified and only intended to 
 be inflammatory, but as Jack Woehr it was his privilege to 
 say anything that he wanted using his own account, however, 
 as FIGCHAPTERS he should limit his discussions to chapter 
 matters.  I also made it clear to him that he was not an 
 officer of FIG, the Chapter Coordinator was a committee chair 
 appointed by the President, but using the FIGCHAPTERS account 
 for his criticism gave other members the impression that he 
 was an officer  and was speaking for some faction of the FIG 
 Officers.

 His reaction was immediate and obviously with out thought.  
 He made my letter public and told me that he would continue 
 to say whatever he felt and with whichever account that he 
 happened to be using at the time.

 Observation:
 None of any of the frustrations, reasons or suggestions for 
 change had been properly made known to the Board of Directors, 
 the Officers or the FIG Business Group, to whom Jack was charged 
 with reporting.

 Firsthand, Mid 1990:
 When the matter of Jack's public notice was brought to the 
 FIG Business Group, the President, Bob Reiling, observing the 
 disappointment of the Board Members, Officers, Business Group 
 members and other volunteers, asked that Jack Woehr no longer 
 receive the financial statements which he did not understand 
 and had misused.

 Quote from the Business Meeting Minutes, 4/24/90:
 "John Hall reported increased mentions of the FIG Business 
 group on GEnie.  He reminded us that the intention was for it 
 to be a technical forum.  Some of this on-line discussion 
 regarding FIG business has caused dissention and resentment 
 toward FIG and may be inappropriate.  Bob Reiling recommended 
 that the SYSOPs steer discussions toward technical subjects."

 Hearsay:
 Dennis Ruffer, as lead SYSOP on GEnie and present at that 
 business meeting, mistakenly assumed that Jack Woehr was 
 fired a Chapter Coordinator and suspended Jack Woehr's use of 
 the FIGCHAPTERS address pending a review a the Board of 
 Directors meeting and conveyed the previous information to 
 Jack Woehr.

 Firsthand, 11 May 1990, Board of Directors Meeting:
 The President, but not a board member, Bob Reiling, presented 
 the background of what had transpired at the Business meeting 
 and on GEnie as an explaination to the Board.  The Board felt 
 storngly enough that a motion was made and seconded by 
 members of the Board that Jack Woehr be terminated as the 
 Chapter Coordinator.  The motion passed.  Bob Reiling 
 prepared and delivered a letter advising Jack Woehr that he 
 was terminated as the Chapter Coordinator.

 Analysis:
 The Board, having the authority, preempted the President and 
 ordered the termination of the Chapter Coordinator.

 ******************************************************

 This is all that has officially transpired. Anything 
 following these dates until this letter are matters of 
 opinion and not official FIG actions.

 John D. Hall, President, Forth Interest Group.

-----
This message came from GEnie via willett.  You *cannot* reply to the author
using e-mail.  Please post a follow-up article, or use any instructions
the author may have included (USMail addresses, telephone #, etc.).
Report problems to: dwp@willett.pgh.pa.us _or_ uunet!willett!dwp