[amsat-bb] AMSAT-NA, another perspective

[Fernando Ramirez]

I wonder why Joe Spier didn't sign AMSAT's statement as a Past President
and the one who authorized some of those legal expenses...

Fernando Ramírez
KF7R

On Mon, Jul 13, 2020, 1:31 PM Michelle Thompson via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> We were denied access to corporate records and communications from the
> first day of our terms.
>
> We commissioned a formal legal demand letter and sent it to
> AMSAT's secretly hired law firm.
>
> Two days later, Joe Spier resigned.
>
> Clayton Coleman was (duly) elected in a short emergency meeting.
>
> Clayton Coleman restored access to communications, and some additional
> records were available. He called the first (and only) regular board
> meeting of the year, and we heard some reports, made some motions, and
> kicked off some plans. This was nearly 5 months into our term.
>
> The biggest step forward at this meeting was Clayton agreed to end the
> business relationship with the secretly hired law firm. That spigot was
> off.
>
> Things actually looked like they were improving.
>
> No followup since then. No regular meetings since then. No resolution on
> who actually signed the checks. Could we recover the money?
>
> When the rest of the board finally angrily revealed they really did know
> all about the secretly hired law firm all along, and it was ok with them
> that the lawyers were used specifically to make our lives harder, and when
> some of them decided to run for another term, we decided to speak up.
> That's all we can do.
>
> If members want another year of zero board meetings because the incumbents
> really hate Patrick and Michelle asking inconvenient questions about
> unauthorized expenses, then members will return the same people to the
> board.
>
> Every month, Patrick and I will still be going through the financials
> carefully and asking questions. That's an essential part of the job.
>
> If members want a functional board that publishes minutes and can show
> progress, collaboration, and decision-making, then please vote for people
> that will help do that: Robert McGwier, Howie DeFelice, and Jeff Johns.
>
> Thank you for the opportunity to answer.
>
> -Michelle W5NYV
>
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jul 13, 2020 at 10:06 AM Russ Ramirez via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> > I have been a member on/off since 2012. I have never been removed from
> this
> > AMSAT mailing list, but have not always been able to log into the
> AMSAT.org
> > web site. In spite of this, I have renewed my membership, typically at
> > Hamvention (until this year, but did so online), and made extra purchases
> > to support the work of AMSAT.
> >
> > I definitely echo the message of Hans BX2ABT. Not everyone is bad, but
> > unfortunately too many are not good either.
> >
> > When reading over each point of view of this ongoing dispute, it is not
> > very clear what started this dispute. In a statement in response to
> > allegations of financial mismanagement, Clayton wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > *AMSAT's corporate records give a full accounting of all expendituresand
> > are provided to its Directors upon request, in compliance with
> ourgoverning
> > documents and law of the District of Columbia (D.C.) Ouroffice remains
> > closed due to COVID-19, where those documents reside.Furthermore, AMSAT
> > complies with IRS rules for 501(c)(3) disclosure ofpublic financial
> > documents, such as the Form 990 available on theAMSAT website  *
> >
> > The above statement is either wholly true, or gray, because making a
> > statement like this which is completely false would be illegal.
> >
> > Michelle, you have claimed that you (and Patrick) were denied access to
> > financial transaction records upon your written request. Can we simply
> > focus on *what* specifically started this whole thing?
> >
> > Russ Ramirez
> > K0WFS
> > _______________________________________________
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> > 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.
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> >
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>