[amsat-bb] Another call for forensic accounting and an inventory

[Chris Hoffman]

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 at 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 at 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 at 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
>