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

Mon Aug 10 18:38:48 UTC 2020

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 at 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 at 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 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
>>>
>>